St. Paul daily globe., 1892-09-11
"The Six Companies" Issues a
Proclamation to the
Chinese.
Must Not Comply With the
Terms Of the Ge earY
Bill.
Each Chinaman Assessed 81
to Pay Expenses Of Fight
ing the Bill.
Their Attorney Claims That
the Law Is Clearly I'm
constitutional.

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 10.-The Con
solidated Benevolent Association of the
Six Companies, powerful Chinese OF
ganization, better known as 1.-The Six
Companies" which comprises all the
wealthy Chinese merchants of the coun-
try, and which, together with the Chi
nese consular officers, regulates af-
fairs of the Chinese in this cOun-
try, has issued a proclamation from
headquarters in this city forbidding
Chinese in the United States to comply
with the terms of the Geary bill, requir-
ing them to register and have them
selves identified by two white witnesses
and be photographed by April. 1893.
The proclamation states that the mas
ters of the Six Companies, after care
full investigation, have found that the
registration law is Objectionable and
detrimental to their interests. 1t con-
JinueS:
"Our countrymen must live in these
United States without being registered.
Our cOuntrymen must not get regis
tered, and if one should do SO on his
own account he
Must Not Come to Us
in case he gets into trouble in this coun-
try. The Six Companies will pay no at
tention TO him if he does. When
a man. does register he loses
responsibility in the eyes of
his countrymen. This applies to
Cinnamon living in any part of
the country and in small towns as well
as large cities. Ii, by refusing to regis
ter, man is arrested, imprisoned or
punished, he can depend on the Six
Companies for relief.
The proclamation states that Chinese
will be required to organize and sub
scribe money for the employment of
legal aid, and, if necessary, enlist the
services of the Chinese ambassa-
dorS to fight against this alleged
Injustice. Two lawyers have been en-
gagged here by the Six Companies. Each
Chinese resident of the United States is
required to pay 81 to the Six companies
for expense of suit to test the legality
of the registration law. and this money
must be paid before Chinese Septem-
Der. The Cinnamon who do not pay
will be prevented from returning to his
own country when he applies to the Six
companies for his pass. The proc
lamation concludes by saying the
United States does not treat the Chinese
right. because it compelS no other ma
ton to do such things, and no other ma
tlon in the world treats the Chinese as
the United States does.
Waiting for lhe Date.
Collector Quinn was seen regarding
the action of the Six Companies, aud
said: ''The Chinese have SO far neglect
ed to register, but L do not believe
they Will absolutely refuse to do
SO. We had eight men who had
shipped as mess boys on one of the
United States cruisers come around to
register and after explaining the mat
ter they went to get their pictures
taken. They have not returned yet,
but we expect they will show UP in a
day or two. 1t is too early to say>what
we propose doing in the matter but we
will get up good test case when the
time comes. The law does not only
state that after May 5, 1893,
Chinese without registration certif-
Gates must be deported. but it also car
ries an extra penalty of Imprisonment
for not over year. There is another
provision which provides for the pun
lShment OF those who refuse 10 regis
ter" -
Attorney Riordan. who has been en-
gagged by the Six companies, asserts that
the law in clearly unconstitutional.
The Evening Bulletin, editorially
commenting on the refusal of the Chi
nese to register, says: "There seems to
be very good prospect at this time of
getting rid of a large number of Chinese
in this country. The insolence and ar
rogance of the Six Companies will help
the matter along. We have here a
glimpse Of that Emporium in impero'
which has been so often denied"