The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-06-08
Chinese Certificates Of Identity Is-
sued by All Customs Officers
and Consuls
Tho Treasury Department Bound
to Admit Cinnamon Pro-
ducin9 the Papers.
Three or -Four Thousand Fraudulent Ger
tIficates Used Monthly for the Last
Few YenyB.

WASHINGTON June IA problem which
has boon giving more or less troube TO
government officials was decided to-day.
II relates to the issuance OF Chinese cer.i6-
cates Of identity and has been ths subject
OF considerable correspondence between the
state department and the troasury branch
OF the service. Some time aao Secretary
Carlisle received a mmun nication from the
collsctor Of San Francisco stating that he
WIS informed by the consul at Hong Kong
that he was unable to ASCERTAIN that the
Chinese governments has given any author
ity to any Of its officers to issue certificates
to merchants and other Chinese persons of
tho exempt class. Under the sixth section
of tho Chinese exclusion act. which permits
such persons to come into the United
States, provided they are furnished with
certificates By their governments Of their
right to entsr this country. their title or
official rank. age. type. physical peculiar
ity. former and present occupation or pro-
fession, and place OF residence in China,
and that of The person TO whom tho certili-
cate 10 issued 10 entitled, in conformity
with our treaty. to come into the United
States.
Upon receipt Of this information secre-
tary Carlisle wrote to the state department
detailing tho facts ~ sst forth and re-
qussted that steps be taken at once to
ascertain definitely and accurately what is
the nstore of the instructions OF the i'm
psrial government TO it, consular ofiicets,
and also whether any action has been taken
by that government with respect to the
issusnos of certificates to persons Of the
exempt class by officers In China. Score
tary Gresham replied with an enclosure
from the Chinese minister at Washington.
officers are authorized TO issue certificates
OF identity to such Chinese persons other
than laborsrs who desire to come to the
United States and that all Chinese consuls
in foreign countries are authorized to issue
such certificates of identity. The treasury
de .artmsnt IL bound to respect the state.
ment of the Chinese minister and the GER
tif1oates Will be accepted.
o. Fl. Simons, United States consul at
Hong Kong, China, has informed the state
department. that he believes. as result Of
fraudulent notarial certificates have been
distributed to intending Chinese immi-
grants eaoh month for the past three or four
months. Consul Simons refused to certify
two certificates, A. the persons presenting
them, while ostensibly having been In the
United states, as their certificates showed.
could not give any account Of the country.
and in fact declared that "Sedan chairs
were the only means of travelling in Amer
ic.." Consul Simons says that most of these
Chinese with fraudulent certificates reach
America by steamers that land at Vancou-
vor, b. G. The treasury officials contend
that nearly all the Chifese landed there
ultimately reach the United States. coming
over the border at night Instructions will
be sent to all collectors of customs calling
attention TO these fraudulent certificates in
circulation and oautioninR them agains.
receiving them.