The morning call., 1893-12-21
THE CHINESE UNCONCERNED.
Collector Welburn Will Not Be
Ready in a Week.
NOT ENOUGH CLERKS ALLOWED.
Laborers Who Registered Under the
Geary Law Must Take Out
New Certificates.

The registration of Chinese in this city
under the McCreary law will probably be
commenced next week. Mr.. Welburn. the
Collector of Internal Revenue, received
instructions yesterday to open his office
for registration las soon as possible. All
of the necessary blanks are on hand. but
the Collector has yet to appoint twenty
seven clerks, less than half the number
needed, by the way, to open and prepare
his books and make such other arrange
ments as are necessary TO the enforcing OF
the law. The instructions sent from Wash
ington are brief and not altogether salts
factory. But one of the many questions
raised concerning the law and its enforce
ment has been answered. namely. that
Chinese who registered under the Geary act
must register again. The instructions read :
o. III. Wetb,yrl, Collector First District Gait
fornid, San Francisco, CGl.-SIR: Revised
statutes and blanks have been prepared Tor
carrying the provisions OF the McCreary law
into effect. and supply OF the same has Deem
sent To you.
You VIII at once proceed to give notice through
the public press and by posting such notices
as may be necessary In sections where the
Chinese are located, advising them OF their
rights under tile law and OF what Is expected OF
them In the premises You VIII please ADVISE
this Office by the Isl proX of the progress made
In your district in respect 10 carrying out this
work and the disposition manifested by The
Chinese i'll regard TO registration. Your atten-
ton is called 10 the fact that the law as
amended provides that it shall be the duty of
all Chinese latOrers within the limits of the
United States who were entitled 10 remain i'll
the United States before the passage of the act
TO which this Is an amendment, TO apply 10 the
Collector of Internal Revenue OF their respec-
tive districts within six months after the pas
sage of This act for certificate of residence.
This makes it necessary that all Chinese
labOlers who made application aud received
cert lficates under The act OF May 8, 1892 shall
again make application and receive certificates
OF residence under the present act. An ad-
dltOnal allowance of S13, ,647 Oh has been made
by the Secretary OF the Treasury TO enable you
to employ for the period from December 20,
1898 20 March 10, 1894 an extra force OF depu-
ties IN executing the provisions Of this act as
follows: twenty-seven deputies. one interpreter
and one stenOgrapher. Respectfully.
JOSEPH ,. MILLER, Commissioner.
Il will commence the work of registra-
tion at the earliest possible moment" said
Collector Welburu, but l have as vet
given no thought to the appointment of
the clerks, interpreter and StenOgrapher,
The force allowed me is entirely too small.
At least forty clerks VIII be needed, but |
sup. ose Will have 10 do the best l can
with twenty-seyen. My first applicant,
Wong On, filed his papers few minutes
ago. l will have to look into great
many things before | am ready TO open the
registers, for l want 10 be fully prepared
on all points when the rush comes. You
can say that il will be at least week and
it may be longer before l shall be ready to
register Chinese"
Up in Chinatown the news that the
registration office was soon TO be opened
was received with Indifference and uncon-
Germ. The Chinese understand the situa-
tlon now. and, 1t is said, many of the
lab0rers are preparing to take a trip home
to CHINA at the expense of the United
States. Fur day or two when the office
is first opened for registration there Will
be rush of applicants, but in the long
run Collector WelburD will find his force
OF twenty-seven clerks ample to handle
the business. The Chinese who boldly
announce that they do not intend to regis.
ter, but expect and wish to be deported,
when asked Ii they expect to ever return
to the United States answer yes. When
asked how they propose getting back into
this country II they refuse 10 obey the
laws, their answer is:
'By-em-by white men want Chinese
velly bad Then he send for US and we
come back easy" The ease with which
they expect to land upon their return is
expressed by comprehensive wave of the
hand.
Chinese who desire to register can COM
mence applying at once, but they will be
gwen no opportunity of filing their cer-
tlhcates for some days. District Attorney
Garter and Collector Wetburn had brief
conference last night regarding the law
concerning felOns and other Chinese not
entitled 30 register, and the former will
furnish the Collector with q list of cues
lions which applicants must answer.