The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-07-31
A SAILORS VICTORY.
An Important Ruling by the Sec
rotary Of the Treasury.
Collector Phelps Directed to Send Back to
China the Coolies Imported TO Han
the New Steamer Peru.

The Pacific Mall Steamship Company re-
ceved a body blow from the United States
Government yesterday. its attempt to i'm
port Cinnamon to man its vessels has been
frustrated. The Treasury Department
wired Collector Phelps yesterday afternoon
TO send back TO Hong Kong the "a China
men brought by the City Of Picking to be
transferred in this port to the new steamer
Peru to serve as its crew of sailors, fremen,
coal passers and walters
THE MORNING CALL on July q first in
vited attention TO the palpable violation of
the law. TIE Sailors Union Immediately
took up the matter and remonstrances
reached Collector Phelps through their sec
rotary, Andrew Furuseth. The importa-
tion Of Chinese to be transferred to the
newly built American steamer Peru. as ex-
posed exclusively in these columns, aroused
much Indignation along the water 'front.'
The hremen protested most vigorously and
inquired very pertinently whether or not
wantonly violated by the Pacific Mail
Steamship Company in this transaction.
NO TIME TO BE LOST.
As the Peru is scheduled TO sail for Hong
Kong on August T. there vas no time to be
lost IN invoking the action OF the Govern
ment Another reason for prompttude
was found IN the fact that the imported
coolies had been actually transferred TO the
Peru, which left the harbor last night on a
trial trip. True. they have not been al
lowed to land, and are under the close sur
yelllance OF customs officers stationed on
board that steamer. But the fear that unless
all the circumstances in The case were speed
lily laid before the authorities in Washing
ton the scheme would be successfully carried
out induced Secretary Furuseth to present
| the matter very earnestly to Collector Phelps
and TO the United States Shipping Commits
elOnoT a
including the exclusion act, the Dingey act
and the contract labor act, were examined
and enough doubt was created in Mr..
Phelps mind TO cause him to telegraph all
the facts TO the Secretary OF the Treasury
and request ruling.
The Council of Federated Trades, how
ever, deemed the subject of such vital inn
portance that after discussing it in all its
bearings their president, Mr.. Macarthur,
was Instructed 10 telegraph a protest to
Secretary Foster. Accordingly yesterday
afternoon the following message was sent
TO Washington:
TO SECRETARY FOSTER.
Hon. Charles Foster, Secretary Of Treasury
Washington, ID. c.; Steamship CITY OF Peking
shipped Chinese crew in Hong Kong for the
! steamship Peru built here. Chinese now on
board the Peru. We believe this TO be a viola
act and tile Dingley act. We submit that IL the
crew can be thus transferred TO the Peru they
can Will the same night be transferred TO coast
W w. MACARTHUR,
President Federated Trades.
Up to late hour last night no response
had been received from Washington by MI
Macarthur, but early in the day the fol-
lowing telegram was received at the Custom
house:
SHIP THE CHINESE HOME.
WASHINGTON. y. C., July 80, 1892.
Collector Of Customs, San Francisco: Seven
ty-four Chinese shipped from Hong Kong per
steamer Peklng Tor the purnose OF being trans
TERED 10 American steamer Peru, as crew OF the
latter vessel recently built and low about 10
san for China, must be returned TO China by the
PekiDg; their importation being In violation OF
law. a. b. NETTLEToN. Assistant Secretary.
No action was taken after the receipt of
the telegram 10 transfer the coolies back to
the City OF Peking. The latter is lad up at
the present moment, undergoing extensive
repairs. The Peru. being about to 20 TO sea
last night on trial trip to get her rating
under the steamship postal subsidy law, il
was determined not to transfer the Chinese
to the Peking until the return Of the Peru
tomorrow.
A PLEASED SECRETARY.
Secretary Furuseth was seen at his Office
during the. afternoon, and upon being
shown a copy of the TELEGRAM to the Col
lector expressed himself as highly pleased
at the signal victory of the Sailors Union.
He said the sailors were indebted to THE
CALL for sounding the first alarm, aud ex-
hibted a copy OF the telegram sent to Sec
rotary Foster by the Council of Federated
Trades at the instance of the Pact ic Sailors
Union. Mr. Furuseth remarked that this
latest development would open up a much
broader question which would have TO be
settled sooner or later. This was whether
under existing laws, the Pacific Mail Steam
ship Company is entitled to ship any Chi
nese crews.
He also remarked that the American Con-
sui at Hong-Kong also would be likely to be
called to account for signing the shipping
articles of the City of Picking, which con-
tanned clause to the effect that the "a
coolies were TO be transferred TO the Peru
| In this port Whether or not the Pacific
Mail Steamship Company would be obliged
| TO ship white crew on the Peru would
now depend entirely upon their inability to
| pick up Chinese crew In this city TO man
| the new steamEr