The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-04-17

soAcu Oy OOiIeCSO1 WoSSOu regarding the
Chinese now trying to enter this port is
pronounced by those attempting to aid
the Cinnamon ~ equivalent to the virtual
exclusion Of all Chinese. Thomas Sing. q
Chicago Chinese preacher, claiming to rep-
resent the Chinese actors now aboard tho
Mogul, has letter from the treasury de-
partment on which he believes the actors
ought to be admitted. This letter simply
announces that Cinnamon can enter to
work on the Worlds fair grounds, ETC.,
and that other Cinnamon can be admitted
under section 6 Of the Chinese act of 1882.
This section provides for letters of Gre
dentials furnished by Chinese officials and
it has been decided unconstitutional by
the United States supreme court, inasmuch
a. ITS provisions are unreasonable because
no ordinary Chinaman can secure such
credentials. Therefore, to exclude China-
men on credentials of Identification here
tofore furnished, virtually leaves them
without any means of entering aside from
personal Identification. and letters of ap-
proval sent by prominent Americans in
China, or from prominent people in cities
in this country. But Collector Wasson
having proved beyond doubt that there is
. systematic certificate forging establish
ment in China. il 10th to accept docu-
mentary evidence which is susceptible of
being forged. It il evident that he has
decided to exercise the greatest care in ex-
Guiding all who are not fully identified.
He was asked today If it would not work
. hardship on Chinese merchants 70 COM
pei them to furnish additional evidence of
identity. He replied that he did not pro-
pose to act beyond his orders and his
orders are not to recognize certificates at
all, and to be furnished with evidence of
personal identity before allowing Chinese
to land. It 10 known that the method Of
forging certificates has been to steal or
forge . notary public seal. take it to Hong
kong or some other place in China, and
then grind out certificates BY. tho whole
sale at $50 apiece. Those doing this work
are fully acquainted with the cities from
which they draw references and the names
of prominent men, which they forge to
certificates. to which ~ bogus no
tary attaches his seal and an
nounces that he personally knows the
men, signatures, ete For instance, CASH
ier Gordon. Of thS First National bank of
Astoria, has issued many genuine certifi-
Gates or letters of Identification to China.
men, it is said. His name has come in for
repeated forg cries. Some of the forgeries
were 50 cleverly executed that it was diff
cult to detect them. When Collector Was
SOC first began an investigation of forged
certificates, he sent deputies TO China and
secured some Of the certificates with Cor
don's name attached. Gordon pronounced
his name forged to them. This led to q
further investigation and the discovery of
wholesale certificate forging. Then the
government ordered all certificates ignored
and now all that Wasson will say is that
he simply proposes to ignore them and not
admit any Chinaman unless he can prove
who he is and that he is entitled to enter
either as merchant or man of means.
The only way the Chinese can get ashore
here is by habeas corpus through tho
United States district court, but Judge
Hanford is at Spokane now and - the
Mogul sails for the Orient 'on Wednesday
morning it will be impossible to pursue
that method. Some of the merchants and
actors on the Mogul feel offended under
the circumstances. Before they will be
able to furnish fresh Identification letters
from friends in this country they will be
on their way to China. Some Of them
who prove their identity, or can show by
speaking English that they have been
here in business before, will be allowed to
land