The record-union., 1893-03-31
The Law VIII be RigidIy Enforced as
It Stands.
Orders Received at the Internal Rev
enue Office Here Show the Cow
ernment's Determination.

HS Aouuu d prominent CDlneSe merchant
in consultation with Collector Byington
and Chief Deputy Wolf on the same
subject.
Inc merchant was asking the opinion
OF the officials as to whether or not the
time of registration would be extended,
and was informed that it could not. The
law is an Act of Congress, and no officer,
official nor court has authority to extend
it for single day after the 5th of May
next. the limit set in the law for registra-
ton. No power in the land, neither the
President nor the Supreme Court, can
change it. Congress alone has that power,
and it has adjourned and is not at all
likely to meet before May 9Th, so that it
may be safely assumed that
NO EXTENSION OF THE LAW
VIII be made. Why" said Collector By
ington, 1.-THE departments never change u
law to suit the convenience or wishes of
the people affected by it. If it did there
would be no possibility of carrying out
any law. Nor will the question of its
constltutionality or unconstitutionality
Affect its operation pending action
thereon by the Supreme Court of the
United States. 1t will go into effect on
the 9th of May, and those Cinnamon who
have neglected to register in accordance
with It's provisions will feel the effects of
1t immediately, and will be arrested and
deported long before the question of its
constitutionality can be settled.
GLOOMY OUTLOOK FOR CHARLIE"
Those who are wise will take warning
and register III time, and the time remain
Ing for them to do so is too short for all to
do it, work as hard as we may to help
them. When the law went into effect I
was allowed by the Interior Department
slN extra deputies, and an appropriation
to pay them was made. l selected nv
men and their bonds were all prepared
and everything made ready for them to
go to work, but no Chinese came to be
registered. When the 1st OF January
came and the Government found out that
they had no intention of registering. |
was notified that the action allowing me
the deputies had been rescinded and the
appropriation withdrawn.
Nv hen they began to show DISPOSE
ton to register" continued the Collector.
81 telegraphed the fact TO Washington
and asked that my deputies he allowed
me- but l received an answer that only
two would be allowed, and as l could get
no more L took them. In order to register
the Chinese in this district in the short
time that remains, would quire twenty
deputies, as there are
$4,000 IN THE DISTRICT.
"One person can register probably
twenty in day, and would have to be
very expert in order to make out TWENTY
i've certificates, for as you see there is a
great deal to do, and it is very slow work,
the noting of the identification marks
taking time and care.
Yes. we have registered only about
twenty so far" said he. in answer To a
question, but they are beginning to
make application more freely. One of
my agents or deputies sent for 100 certifi-
Gates yesterday, and others are sending
for various numbers. The trouble is.
however, that they have delayed until
1t is so late that thousands of them cannot
possibly get registered, and the lucky
ones will be those who apply first for
registration"
COST OF REGISTERING.
In response to a question as 10 fees. he
stated that there were none; the only ex-
pense to the Chinaman was for three un-
mounted photographs of himself. and
they did not need to be very large, as the
spaces lett for them in the certif ificates are
only 2Ix3 inches. Photographers in San
francisco were making them for fifty
cents, and he thought that Sacramento
photographers would probably do the
same II they had 1t done in numbers.
NO TEST CASES.
The Chinese merchants asked of Col
lector Byington, in case the Chinese do
not register one could not be arrested
and test case made, the operation of the
law being in the meantime suspended.
Not at ALL" replied Mr.. Byineton.
Zach case must stand by itself If a
ChInanlan does not register, he will be
arrested and sent out of the country. If
another does not register he will meet
with the same fate. If they want to be
co had
then they will be safe, and at very small
cost. If they do not, there is no hope for
them, for even if the law were declared
unconstitutional they would have been
sent back to China long before it could
be determined. Those who make up
their minds to comply with the law with
out delay will do well, and they will be
the only ones who will stay in the
country,
THE LAW Is SOUND ENOUGH.
ut is useless" said Collector Byington.
for lawyers to talk of the unconstitu-
tionality of the law, except to induce the
Chinese to pay them large fees to 90 to
Washington and argue the case. Lawyer
Treadwell has several times declared the
laws with regard to Chinese unconstitu-
tional and argued them for good fat fees,
but he has invariably been beaten. The
Supreme Court has decided that under
the treaties we have the right to pursue
the course Congress has taken, BE that
as it may, the Government has deter
mined to enforce the law, and the Chinese
must either register or go.
suppose a brewer should take 1t into
his head to say. that the revenue tax was
unconstitutional, and that he would not
pay the tax until it was proved that it was
not. Is it TO be supposed that the Govern
ment would allow him TO evade PAYMENT
n hlf ny or Lot Ii Ill
other brewers go on for two or three years
without paying the tax, until the ques-
ton OF constituuonality could be settled
l think it would say, Pay first, and we
will argue the matter afterward.' Were
it not SO, no law could be enforced, for
there would always be found some one to
object.
NOT ONE DAY OF GRACE.
Another fact" continued he, (which
shows the policy and determination of
the Government clearly and distinctly is
that I have received orders from Wash
ington to forward Immediately after the
expiration OF the time set-that is on Nav
6th-every certificate not used and all my
Stub-books to the Secretary of the Inte-
rior, and it is very evident that within
one day after that date it will be an i'm
possibility for any Chinaman to secure a
certificate by any means, and l conf
IDENTIFY expect orders Immediately after
ward to arrest and hold all Cinnamon
who have no certificates and send them
back to China as soon as possible"
The merchant went away evidently
deeply impressed with the idea that the
six companies will not be able to stand
of the Government in this matter, and
that registration is the only safety of the
Chinese. The latter, however, are
AFRAID TO REGISTER,
Having been warned by their secret tri-
bunals not to do so, and although the
hrst Chlnaman to register did so on the
18th of last October and several were then
willing TO do so, the fear of death has de-
TERED all but the twenty or more before
mentiOned from reoistering. 1t is thnr1c crht