Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1893-06-22
THE SIX COMPANIES.
Something About This Powerful
Chinese Cooperation.
Nearly All the Celsstials In the United
States Said to He Under Bondage
to the Mysterious OrEanl- o.
nation.

about the Chinese "Six Companies"
that mysterious organization which
rules the immigrants from the Howery
kingdom with a rod Of iron, which die
tates their business policy, which
sits in Judgment upon those who pre-
sumo to disobey its DEGREES, which col
lects dues from them year after year,
which sends their bodies home and
which holds thousands Of them In bond
oge? The Buffalo Enquirer thinks it is
fair to say that not one man In q hundred
knows anything accurate about this
knowledge Of the powers It exercises
among the Chinese in this country.
The Six Companies have been talked
and written about great deal since
the passage Of the exclusion act, and
many people have wondered how it
was that the Chinese yielded such un-
questioning obedience to its orders
and allowed It to- act az their repre-
sentative in all dealings with the gov
ernment. The matter may appear
clearer when It Is known that the Six
Companies hold Q mortgage on tho
lives Of eighty per cent. Of all the
Cinnamon In the United States and
Canada, and do not allow them to re-
turn to their homes until this mortgage
Is paid with interest. The Six Com
panies represent six divisions Of the
province Of Canton, China, md their
avowed dim Is to care for the China
men coming from these districts, 30
that upon arrival here each Immigrant
may be associated with people who
speak his dialect and come from his
locality. They loan the immigrants
money, give advice, act as bankers,
caro- for the sick, furnish them with
lawyers whom they are accused Of
crime and swear to protect them in
every way. Their strongest claim,
however, upon the regard Of their
countrynen Is by their guaranteeing
to return to China the body. dead or
alive, Of every Chinaman who soils for
these shores. They used to keep this
proiniSe to the letter, but now they
only send home the bones Of those
whose families request f..
The Six Companies started in small
way in 1850. They began through the
operations Of the Anaerieen agents Of O
Hong Kong firm, and their first work
was In hiring men in China to meet the
demand for labor in California. AS
the business grew other Chinese firms
went into 1t, md finally the agents of
all these firms united for self protec-
ton and in order to keep the business
among themselves. There were six of
these agencies. and they styled them
selves the Six Companies. Eighty per
cent. Ct the Cinnamon In the United
States and Canada ara brought here ut
the expense of the companies. which
get them work or loan them money to
start them In business. In return for
oil this they ore bound by contract to
pay back all the money expended for
them, and by IN agreement which the
companies have with the Steamship
lines no Cinnamon 10 allowed. to return
to his native lard unless he con show
o certificate to the effect that he Is
free from indebtedness to the COM
panies. Every Chinaman phys two nnd
one-hnlf per cent. of his earnings to
the company having him in charge, and,
II he Is taken sick, he is taken caro- of
at the expense of the company, while,
II he dos, they bury him, and, If his
parents request It, ship his bones back
TO China.