The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-09-11
CHINESE WILL NOT REGISTER.
b Elk Companies Decide tn Defy tha
Federal Govern MeDt.

5HE"sN8.-" EUucGAt oVVOrUbu0NLs 7H&G4E5--G
San FRANCISCO. Sept. 1O.-The o~onsoli-
dated benevolent association of tho six
tho powerful Chinese orRaniza-
tion. better known ~ "The Six Compan-
les" which comprises all the wealthy mer-
chants Of tie country. and which, together
with the Chinese consul and officers. rsqu-
lates the affairs Of Chinese in the
country, has issued a pfoolama.
ton from headquarters in this city
city forbidding Chinese in the United States
requiring them to register. have themselves
identified by two white witnesses. n bs
photographed before April, 1893. The
proclamation states that the masters OF tho
six cOmpanies, after careful investigation,
have found the repatriation law objectiona-
ble and dstrimsntal to their interests. y
continues: without being registered
Chinese must live in these United States.
and If one should 10 20 on his own
account he must not como 10 us In case he
gets into trouble In this county. Thu six
companies will pay no attention to him II
be does. When . man does register he
loses responsibility in the eyes Of his coun-
In any part of the country and in small
towns % we'll 40 large cities. II, by refus-
ing to register, . mar 10 arrested. i'm
prisonsd or punished. no can dsread Or the
six companies for relief"
The proclamation states that the! Chimes
are required to organize and subscribe
money for the employment of legal aid.
and if necessary enlist the services Of Chi
nsss ambassadors to fight against the al
legged injustice. Two lawyers nave been
engaged here by the six companies. Each
Chinese resident of tho United States ia
required to pay 81 to the six companies for
the expense of q suit to test the legality OF
the registration law. and the money must
be paid before Sept. 30. A Chinaman who
does not pay 10 to DO prevented from re-
turning to his own country when he applies
to the six companies for his pass. The
proclamation concludes by saying the
United States does not treat Chinese right
such things, and no other nation in the
world treats the Chinese as the United
States does.
Collector Quinn was seen regarding the
action of the Chinese six companies. and he
at first did not believe the Chinese had
After reading a translation of the proola-
nation, he said: 1.-THE Chinese have 20 far
neglected to register. but ! do not believe
they will absolutely refuse to do SO. 1t il
too early to say what We propose doing in
the matter. but we will get up a good test
case when the time comes. The law doss
not only state that after May 5, 1898, Chin
ese without registration certificates must be
deported, but it also carries the extra pen
atty of imprisonment for not over one year,
There 10 another provision which provides
for the punishment of those who refuse t.
register. We are not borrowing trouble q,
yet, but We will, at all hazards, sndeavor t.
enforce the law
Attorney Thomas Riordan, of this city
who ia engaged by the six companies to at.
tack the registration act in the courts, say
the Law defeats itself md the act is clearl,
not constitutional.