The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-05-02

to me by person high in off,
cial position in Victoria that there
are about COCO Chinese now in the
province of British Columbia. of which about
5000 reside in the city Of Victoria. They have
some means of knowing the number OF Chinese
by reason of the imposition of the school tax of
So per head annually, and the Chinese who are
miners pay a tax of IS annually TO the govern
ment Thus il seems that the government OF
British Columbia IL making nice little reve-
nue. out of this business and the United States
is the market or course the steamship lines
from China TO British Columbia get the benefit
of the passage money. There seems to be estab-
fshed Q regular business of transporting the
Chinese from Victoria to the United States.
The Senator then referred to the activity
and 'vigilance OF the officers in the Pacific
coast district and the lack of means to en-
force the law. He said that the officers
were baffied in their efforts at enforcing
the law also by the Chinese agencies, with
headquarters in China and a branch in
San Francisco, who by legal bubbles
evaded the law. quoting from reports of
investigations on the subject, and con-
tinued:
The honorable senator from Montana (sanders)
spoke scathingiy and ably and think justly
day or two ago in regard to what appeared to
him to be the great laxity on the part OF the
courts in California; but there Is one point de
seems not to have understood-the figures as
stated in the report OF the committee In regard
to the number of men that have been taken ofoa
writs OF habeas corpus. He thought 1t strange
and that the statement was incorrect that there
were over 1000 taken off on writs OF habeas
corpus during the year 1883, and that only 1892
had been taken off on vrits of habeas corpus
since October l, 1888 / would explain to the
senator from Montana that this great difference,
which amazed him, Is due to the operation OF
the last exclusion act. which went into force
October ], 1883.
Senator Squire referred to the testimony
of Collector Phelps, of San Francisco, con-
corning the habeas corpus proceedings in
landing Chinese, continuing:
The great question in San Francisco is that of
Identification. The best legal opinion in San
Francisco, SO far as ascsrtaiIed by the commit
tee is that the present Law will expire in 1892.
So far as can gather from expressions OF those
of the Senate who have investigated this legal
question, the prepoudersnee of opinion seems TO
be to the same effect We may take il for
granted, then, for the purpose of our action to-
day, that IT is needful to pass additional legis-
lation Immediately, at least SO far as relates to
the re-enactment of the present law; but In so
doing 1t seems to me that We eau properly
add other safeguards for the purpose
of Identification and for the avoidance Of fraud,
and to add punishment by imprisonment as q
deterrent. 1t is very doubtful that the Senate
will agree to pass the House bill as IL stands I
do not believe 1t Is necessary 10 increase the
number of classes of Chinese that shall be ex-
cluded; that 10 10 say, would be willing to ad-
NIT merchants, visitors and scholars, in addi-
ton to the diplomatic and consular representa-
tiyes; but If it shall be found, after further
safeguards are added for the proper
Identification of Chinese and the proven
ton OF fraud, that it becomes necessary
to enlarge the number of classes for
the sake of securing the effectiveness OF the law
against the classes already excluded, then
might be willing TO adopt still more rigorous
measure. II this amendment be carried the bill
will still be open 10 amendment in the Senate
With this understanding shall vote for the
present amendment, believing it TO be the quick
est way TO arrive at legislation for the re-enaet-
ment of the present laws. which re-
enactment is urgently needed, SO that it
may go into effect prior to the 9th
day Of May, 1892 But believe that, in the
present bill, there should be migrated provis-
ions for the registration of Chinese and for the
issuance of q certificate, containing true pho
tograph of the applicant, to each of the Chinese
now in this country. or who may hereafter come
here except those engaged in q diplomatic or
consular capacity. / would not put any in.
dignity upon the representatives of the Chinese
government
II may also be practicable to provide that no
agent for any transportation line in the United
States shall sell tickets or furnish transporta.
ton by any railroad, steamboat, stage line. or
other vehicle to any sChinese, who is not nro.
vided with certificate before mentioned
1t may also be proper TO define the word timer
chant and the word GRADERS" as applicabls N
the Chinese, in order to prevent fraud by res.
son OF Misrepresentation on that point
Much has been said about the yalue of or-
trade with China, and much, too, about the
prospect of the breaking off of relations h.
tween our government and the government n,
China Mr.. President, the American people
have already taken great stand on this owes.
ton, and that one rebounds to our credit The
question OF immigration is one that has not vet
been fully worked out: there are likely N he
other acts OF exclusion placed upon our sta,nts
books. That immigration which threatens ths
dlrest results OF all, the immigration from
CHINA, has been measursbly stopped. Think
what the results wouid have bean had
there been no exclusion act of 1852. Of
1854, ana OF 1888 Probably, instead ~
there being 10000 or $4,000 Chinese I'm this
country, We would have had BY this time mill
Ion or more Chinese in our midst. with All of
the!r denoralizing influence. It Is true tba,
racine coast has thus far felt the burden az ,bIs
evil The Pacific coast is being rapidly peonIed
by former citizens of the Eastern, Middle Was,-
ern and Southern statesL In many places the
schools and churches and other institution. ~
society In the state of Washington remind one
OF the same class of Institutions in the Ns,