The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-09-21

They simply said they wished for further
time to consult with one another. and that
when al agreement had been reach ed they
would communicate with this department.
"1 esterday, at O'Clock, was the time set
for me to receive reply from the Sam Yup
Company.
II went to their Office in Chinatown as
agreed. Meanwhile the company had dis
patched messenger to my office with the
announcements that at2 O'clock to-day a re-
ply would be forthcoming.
'At the headquarters of the company
they expressed the desire that | should call
upon them again to-day for the answer.
This l declined to do, stating that as i
had already called upon them twice should
now await their pleasure at my office.
"The hour has come and gone, but no
word has been received"
''Is it not fact, general, that the docu-
Bents published in THE CALL this morning
Is the answer you were to receive to-day?'
! asked.
sit would be unwise for me to say So"
said the general. Il could hardly presume
to f0reStall their reply, nor can take official
cognizanca OF The CALLS enterprsing pub
licatons"
Here the general looked wise and said
nothing.
AS l am not in the Government service it
Is no indscretion for ME to give the resul.
OF diligent inquiry in other directions on
this subject.
1t is that, beyond all doubt. the document
published exclusively in The CALL yester-
day morning. was the answer agreed upon
by the Six Companies to the letter Of Col
lector Quinn, the same answer that would
have been delivered to General McCOmb in
person Yesterday afternoon had 1t not been
for The CALLS coup d'etat.
Perhaps my best authority for this state
ment is Moy Jim Sun. the interpre ter,
whose life has been threatened by the Chi
neSe high binders.
he said the document, as published, was
undoubtedly genuine, and had been intended
as an answer to Collector Quinn.
And this is the general view taken of the
matter by the Federal officials, though they
deem 1t bad diplomacy to say so.
l asked General McComb whether in his
communications and those of Collector
Quinn with the Chinese Six Companies the
department had not thus taken official cog
nizance of that organization.
No. said the general. mo more so than
we do Of the existence of large firms when
We ask them to advise their Chinese en-
pl0yes to register promptly.
W hen the department addresses the Chi
nese people officially, ii does so through the
Chinese Consul General"
Then you have consulted with the Con-
sui about this matter?'' | asked.
/ nave called upon the Consul General"
was the reply.
Later on General McCOmb explained that
"hSh tbO OI our GOVeTn-
ment did not wish to consult with the rep-
resentatlye OF another Government it was
customary for the first to Indicate the same
politely and for the second to withdraw.
This practice, you see," said the general,
"abbreyates to the minimum an interview
that would. If prolonged, be, TO say the
least, fruitless.
Our purpose Of communicating with the
SIX Companies was to ascertain whether
they would use their influence toward in
duclng their people to obey the law.
From their published prociamations wa
were led to believe that they had great
power over the Chinese in this matter.
Collector Quinn's letter was 10 ascertain
II this view was correct and how they
would employ their power"