The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-10-12
ANOTHER TEST OF THE LAW.

Cinnamon Preparing to Go Home and Re.
turn to tho United States.
The Chinese in Montana evidently near
to act according to the instructions of the
six companies, OF San Francisco, in ignor-
ing the latest exclusion act passed BY con-
gress. AS will be remembered. the last act
required all Chinese in the United States to
register with the collectors of internal
revenue, furnishing photographs of them
selves for Identification. They have shown
nc disposition to comply with that act. On
the contrary each Chinaman has contrib
uted his dollar toward the fund that is to
be used in testing the constitutiorality of
the law. The act of May 5, 1892, required
certificates of residence, but limited the re-
quircment to Chinese laborers. The appli-
cation for a certificate of residence requiyed
the Chinaman to state on what date he ar
rived in the United States, at what port
and on what vessel; and that he WAS law
fully here on May s, 1892. together with his
age, residence and occupation. To the APP
pllcation he must attach a true photograph ic
likeness of himself. and he must have two
witnesses to swear they are acquainted with
him and know that he was in the United
States on May 5, 1892. and that they believe
the statements of the applicant az to the
time and manner of his arrival, his resi-
dence and his OCCUPATION, and that the
photograph is a true likeness.
All classes of skilled and unskilled labor
ers, and persons employed in mining, as
we'll rs hucksters, peddlers and pc sons EN-
gagged in taking and drying or othe rwise
preserving shells or fish for home consu mp-
ton or exrortation. and laundrymen, are
classed as laborers. Persons who are en-
ploved in stores, but who are not owners or
part owners in the business. are also classed
as iaborers.
Within a short time past several Mon
tana Cinnamon have made preparations for
visiting their old homes. Under the last
act no Chinese iaborer can leave the United
States and then return, Once ont be is pre-
sumei to be as much excluded as if ne mad
never been here. Merchants doing a bust
ness of $4,000 a year are allowed, however,
TO 90 and come on proper proof of identity.
Those who contemplate a return to China
expect to come back to the United States.
They are not all merchants doing
the required amount of business. But
they ignore the new exclusion act,
and make their preparations as if the
former law was still in force. They have
photographs of themselves taken and at
tached to cel ~titicates of residence. The
cleik of the Unitei States court is called
on to certify that the photograph is a FOOD
likeness. With these, and without register
ing, they return to China. There ia no
a'"oo ~ ehae ~ as puTt OF q ScneIDe to
test the new Law. When the Cinnamon
have finished their visit to their own coun-
tfy. and desire to return to the United
States. they will no doubt be stopped bv the
customs authorities Of the port where thew
desi @ to enter. Legal proceedings will no
doubt be instituted to compel the authori.
ties to allow them to land. This will bring
a test Gaze before the courts in another
form from that which is now contemplated
by the refusal of Cinnamon to register.
Between the two classes of cases n final de-
cision may be STAYED off for q long while az
to the constitutionality of the act of NAV
B, 1892.