Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1893-12-07
Ths NEW CHINESE BIZ.
The Photograph Provision and the Deela
ration Concerning Merchants.

The Photograph Provision and the Deelo-
ration Coaccrnin. Merchants. "a,
Tho senate OF the United States on tho
day before its adjournment passed the
act for the amendment of the Geary cx-
clusicn law precisely as it cana from
the house. In view Of this decision and
Of the overwhelming majority which the
measure had received in the house, il
must stand as tho ,natarel expression Of
the Judgment of the representatives Of
the american people rs a whole. &C
1t is rather noteworthy that while the
period of extension granted to the Chi
ncsc for registration is six months after
the enactment OF this new law, the time
will expire during the first week Of next
May, or almost exactly. one year after
the period fixed in the original Geary
act. That year will have taught much
TO our MongOlian fellow residents, and
they may be expected TO avail themselves
almost to n man OF the privilege now ac-
corded by congress.
The new law requires OF TIE applicant
a photograph, and this provision has
sometimes been stigniatizcd rs import
ing rogues' gallery methods into its ex-
ecu;ion. This criticism is not sound.
Many railroads. IS WIS pointed out in
the house debate. in giving their most
favored customers the privilege of.what
ARC known rs 1900 mile tickets for low
er price than ordinary mileage rates. re-
qulrc that upon such ticket shall he
placed not only the purchasers name,
but his photograph, in order that no.
body else may use it. Most OF those
persons who had season tickets of free
admission to the Chicago fair were in
like manner obliged to attach their pho
:ographs TO the tickets. In these and
similar cases the Purpose is not hu:niiia-
ton, but Identification. so TIA. privileges
granted may not Ec misuscd by persons
who come wrongly into possession ci
them. That is exactly the case with the
Chinese, and there is nothing else in Tic
requirement Of a pho:osTE phfor tine ce,-
.iiicate Of protection.
Another important new feature Of tie
amendment act is that which defines the
word merchant" rs used in the Geary
law. No one can question ;h:.. it is bac-
ter to have precise description Of what
is INTENDED b. this term than thu. :
should he left 10 ccnjcctursl interpret.-
ton outside of Inc l.;w.nahia- power.
\ merchant is ROW declared 20 be. fer
the purpose Of this act. "a person en-
gagged in buying and selling ,nerchardi
az fixed place of business. which busi-
ness is condsc:c! in la hauc. and who.
during the time he c!.ins to be engaged
rs merchant. does no. engage III the
performance cf any manual labor. c.
sep. such as is necessary III the conduct
of his business IS sEch merchant" This
does not appear to b al unjust definition,
or ere unduiy strained fer the purpose OF
excluding persons tro.a tho stlts,s Of
merchants who are fairly entitled To it.
But however that may be. the words
thus used III the amended act are direct
Is drawn from similar definitions. either
IL preceding Chinese exclusion acts or
IN existing treasury decisions interpret
Ing these acts and establishing rules for
thci- execution.-New Yerh Scn.