The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-09-11

ne Binding Clause of the Proclamation.
The presidents Of the Chinese Six Com
psnies met me by appointment at 72S Com
mercial street last night
The officials also came together to con-
slider the effect of the publication Of the
Six Companies proclamation in THE CALL
Of yesterday.
THE CALLS publication was entirely IN
expected.
1t evidently upset some of the plans made
by the Chinese princes.
The correctness of the translation was
not disputed, and much anxiety was dis
played TO learn how and when the copy of
the proclamation had been procured. as it
was stated that no COPIES of the document
had been made public up to yesterday.
Those present at the meeting last night
were: Wong zee Tone Of the Ming 7 ouug
Company. Chan Tie Chew of the Sam Yup,
Lui Sex Hing of the Kong Chow, Shear
Nun Cook of the hop Wah. Woo Gin Wah
OF the Yung Wah, Jung Foo Chin of the
Sen Hing and Chin Fung Chew of the Yen
Wah.
Gee Chong Tone, the secretary Of the Six
Companies. speaks English fuently.
/ carried a letter OF introduction to him
from the Chinese consulate and he readily
promised to do all he could for me, as repre-
ssntative'of The CALL
He may have done so. but If he did Gee
ChoBg Tone can't do much in the way of
extortng information from the long-nailed
nandarins who control the destinies Of the
Chinese IN this country.
In answer to my first question, which
Tone translated to the presidents, they
come back at me, Yankee fashion, by ask
Ing. "What do you want to know fOrP"
/ explained the object was to enllghten
tie readers of The CALL upon the proposed
fight to be made by the SIX Companies
against the Geary bill
When this was translated to them the
presidents talked al at once for five or six
minutes and then Tons condensed the dis
eussion az follows:
1--WE think, say tile presidents, it Is wiser
10 conceal our plans just at present We
are much obliged and very sorry"
Just what they were thankful for and very
soTTy about was not quite clear, but from
the answers to a half dozen questions put in
rapid succession it~was Enthusiastically evil
dent that the presidents did not propose TO
talk any more than they could help.
How much money do you expect to col
lect from the assessment levied ?" asked.
"a great DEAL We will get II all. pay q
dollar each, over 100000 in that way, and
besides this many merchants will pay large
sums into the fund. Oh, we'll have money
enough"
"And what do you propose to do with all
this money!" inquired.
well. we are going to hire two OF the
best lawyers in the United States to help our
lawyers here and Fay court expenses"
"And with the rest of the fund.-"
"Ah," said Tone. without consulting the
presidents, lawyers come high"
Have you appealed to your Emperor In
this matterP"
Yes. We have asked him whether or
not there Is treaty between China and
the United States, and, If there is, what
rights our people have under it.
I'VE know there ia supposed to be treaty,
but 1t has been and is seemingly ignored by
this country, and there is even worse
things than our people have already en-
dured threatened for the future"
DO the Six Companies here control the
Chinese all over the United States?"
asked.
Yes" answered Tone, and then he asked
quickly: What do you mean by control?
We are only benevolent societies and all the
Chinese who come here belong.
I'VE represent certain eantons In China
and men from any part Of the country be-
long to the company that represents 1t. We
don't ask him, he has nothing to pay and If
he gets in trouble we help him."
why do the Six Companies object to the
GeaTy bill? l inquired. "All white men in
this country have to register in order to
vote. Why do the Chinese object to register
iug?"
The six presidents and the secretary
talked and talked.
Tea and cigars were passed to help along
the discussion. Finally, after long argu-
meUt, Tone said:
I'VE can do nothing until after May 8,
1893 We can't contest the law before tia T..
We know our people won't register and
We want to be ready for every emergency.
"Our funds viii be in by November and