The Wichita daily eagle., 1892-12-01
THE cHlNESE EXCLUSION LAW.


WASHINGTON. Nov. 30.-It seems to be
the unanimous opinion OF those intrusted
with it's execution that the latest Chinese
restriction act has fallen dead letter.
The law was passed on the 5th OF May
! last. and requires that within one year
from its passage all Chinese laborers with
In the United States shall take out regis
tration papers before the collector OF in
ternal revenue of their respective districts
and furnish photographs Of themselves for
purposes of Identification.
On the 9TH Of July the internal revenue
Office issued Its forms OF application for
registry TO all the offices having Chinese
laborers residing in their districts, ana
distributed warnings in Chinese through
all the Chinese quarters, enloiuiHg every
Chinaman who wanted to remain Ia the
United States to come up and register,
and to bring his photograph with him,
and to be ready to swear that 1t was y
correct likeness. Up to Saturday just live
Cinnamon in the whole United States had
complied With the law, and they were
residents OF far-off Oregon. Two others
had offered 10 do SO. provided that the
certificates to be issued them covered the
right to go Co China and return. but as
this was someth hing distinctly forbidden
by the law their conditional offers were
rejected.
According to census figures there were
107. AS Chinese in the United States June
l. 1890. These figures, however. are be-
iieved to fall short of the truth. The diff
cu!ties Of enumerating Cinnamon are very
great, and their evasiye powers are tar
above the average. Wong Ching Foo.
secretary of the Chinese Liberal Rights
league, claims that there are not fewer
than 10000 Chinese in this country
possessing qualifications which he con.
tends should entitle them to the right OF
suffrage. This would make the total
Chinese population double that number.
or, at least, 25O. CO., The only penalty pro-
vided in the law for failure TO comply with
its provisions is deportation back to CHINA.
Taking the lowest estimate, that given
by the census people, 107, ,5oO. and the
Average cost of shipping each Chlnaman
from his present place of residence Ia the
United States to some port In the fiowery
Kingdom, at S100--a very moderate estl-
mate-the enforcement of the law would
involve an expenditure of $l0 15O, OO0 The
duty of carrying ont this little program Is
imposed by the statute upon the secretary
of the treasury and the attorney genera |,
and 500, Geo Is appropriated Tor that pur'
pose The additional $40. 100 900 required
for transportation purposes must De appro-
priated by the next congress II the law Is
TO be enforced on the 9Th OF May next, for
it has been made evident that the Chinese
now resident in the United States have
not the slightest intention OF attempting
to comply with its provisions
Assistant Commissioner Wilson. OF the
internal revenue bureau, is inclined to
thiuk that when congress convenes the
question of what further legislation Will
be needed To carry out the objects of this
law will be merged in the general question
of restricting immigration all round.
II WAS iu New Orleans two weeks ago."
he said, "and the surveyor OF the port took
me down the river in the revenue cutter TO
witness The landing of over 200 Sicilians
brought b. one of the Italian steamers.
The big sheds of the Southern Pacific were
rallied off, and stood there close TO the
gangway and watched them land. Such a
repuisive crowd of undesirable immigrants
never saw before. The very youngest OF
them had hard vicious lines stamped upon
his face. Many Of them were as viliainous
looking as Shakespeare's Calibau. "A
frecked whelp, hag-born, not with u
human shape
mo inquiries were made where they
came from, what were their antecedents.
whether they were escaped galley slaves or
brigands, or what they were going to do
in this country. The state just collected
the head money for them aud turned them
loose Bad as Chinese immigration may
be the dangers to the country of the un-
restricted dumping upon US OF such classes
of Europeans as saw unloaded in New
Orleans are in my Judgment far greater u