The herald., 1893-12-31
THEY WILL REGISTER.
THE CHINAMEN WILL NOW OBEY
THE LAW.
They Are So Directed by the Six Com
Psnies, Who Are Preparing a Dir
cuiar to That Effect - No
More Transportation.

The registration of the Chinese has
again come up, and from the appear
ances the matter will be definitely set
tied. The San Francisco Chronicle says
in regard to the matter:
An important circular addressed to
the Chinese residents of the United
States is now being prepared under the
direction OF the Six Companies. The
document will doubtless exert more
potent influence upon general registrs-
tion by the MongoliaEs than any one OF
the large number previously issued in
relation to the vexed question. The
Chinese have come to the conclusion
that the only alternatives open to them
now are registration or deportation.
They have been 30 advised by their
several attorneys, and in view OF the
impossibility of again successfully evad-
nies have decided to counsel an imme-
diate compliance with the residence
regulations. A meeting of the repre-
sentatives from the companies was held
at the commercial street headquarters
on last Saturday evening, and final
action upon the matter was taken.
htbOi4ct L. 0s IbiOIudut bu6 lcXdl du-
visor OF the Six Companies, was present
and, with the consent of lawyers in the
east, ne suggested the registration
course as the only one open. No objec.
tions were offered TO the plan outlined
by Mr.. Riordan, and it was there de-
cided that q circular should be issued at
an early date, in which the announce
ment might be properly made.
asr rr-sl1 ha k.so 4
will merely mention the unanimous de-
cision of the attorneys and request that
all Chinese liable under the law shall
procure registration papere. This pur-
pose of the Six Companies opens the last
chapter in the long story OF the registra-
tion problem. Ever since the enact
ment of the Geary law this powerful
organization has been buoyed up to
oppose it by the belief that the law
might be declared unconstitutional in
the supreme court. The hope was not
realized, and with the passage of new
law and the appropriation of money tor
its enforcement, the matter has assumed
an aspect too serious to be considered
indifferentlv. The Chinese will now
register with the acquieecence of the
Six Companies to support their action.
4hOJO 40 . lAtCh AZ bAtO pIOkidIHIlS
outlined for the registering of Chinese
Internal Revenue Collector Wellborn
presides. The work was to have been
begun several days ago and the Chinese
generally manifested desire to finish
the task at their earliest opportunity,
Unfortunately there are no registration
blanks in the possession of the collector.
ha
notified of this fact and the blanks are
probably on the way to this city. OF
this, however, there is nothing certain.
when the registration will really begin
in earnest.
A few days ago the collector wired to
the secretary of the treasury q request
that the clause in the new law which
provides that applications for residence
papers must be for warded to Washing
ton before the certificates can be Issued,
be- revoked. The reason for this sug-
gestion was that great delay might be
avoided by issuing the certificates inn
mediately upon application. Yesterday
Collector Wellborn received u reply
from the treasury department. permit
ting him to give the papers as they may
be called for.
The problem of making the great task
of registration fit the small amount of
the appropriation has provoked much
interesting speculation among fedora,
officers and attorneys. Every one con-
cedes that the work cannot possibly be
accomplished with the money allowed.
As An instance of the insufficiency of the
amount, it has been remarked that not
q single Chinese interpreter can be rea-
Honably compensated from the share of
the appropriation set aside for this pur
pose. For the four months during
which registration will be carried on
there is scarcsly enough to pay one in
terpreter $50 q month. With district
en- bracing the entire territory from this
city to the southern boundary of the
state, Collector Wellborn will require at
least dozen men acquainted with the
Chinese language. This is but one of
the numerous difficulties which con-
front the chief of the internal revenue
service.
The Chinese vice-consul has received
several communications from federal
officers asking the sentiment of the
local colony ON the registration matter.
Lawyer Riordan has answered the in
quiry unoficially by statement that
the Chinese have agreed to follow the
dictates of their legal friends. The
vics-consul declined to give any official
opinion and referred the question to the
at Washington. Col
lector Wise daily expects reply from
that official.