The record-union., 1894-04-07
SMUGGLING CHINESE.
They Are Coming in Lively
Through New York
omcials Beaten and Discomfted-Dis-
honest Custom-H Omcers-The
Chinese Minister and Consul I'm
popular With Their Countrymen-
The New System of Passports.

Regular Correspondence of REcoRD-UNIoN.l
NEW YORK, March 25.-During the
past week 1 have been investigating sub
jects pertaining to the Chinese situation
in this city, and indirectly bearing on the
general problem as it appears III the East
some of my results have been printed III
the EUening Post, but in the course OF my
inquiries 1 observed features OF Chinese
life here which to me, as Californian
seemed novel and interesting. Al the
risk of telling what is welI-knoWn 10 you
Will call attention to these things, While
giving an outline of the present condI-
tions. tendencies and difficulties that sur
round the Chinese question at the port OF
New York.
The smuggling Of Chinese has gone on
here at a great rate. All the vigilance of
Collector Kilbreth has been almost in.
vain. He has delayed immigrants, but
has scarcely checked immigration, and
the failure of his efforts, so far as / can
learn, have been due to two causes. one
OF them is the dishonesty OF his SuDor-
dinates. There has been money TO make
an letting laborers in as merchants and
students, and where that is the case
money is usually made. Undoubtedly
the most profitable business Tor the CHI
nese capitalist is to bring In his country
men.
Prices are especially high because of
the nearness of the 9th of May, when all
who are not registered will be deported
or punished, or both. So the importers
OF Chinese labor are paying heavily to
have admitted those who are at the gates
Of the harbor or at Havana, and the Gus
tom-house officials are sharing The profit;
at least so l am informed by men OF both
races.
The second cause is the admitted care
lessness Tor alleged dishonesty of the
Chinese Consul General at Havana. He
has been issuing certificates which the
New ork officials declare to be bogus"
Many of his merchants are Iaborers OF
The lowest type. His certificate must be
accepted at the port OF entry as prima
1acie evidence OF the bearers right to
land. The statements may, by the law,
be challenged and disproved. But the
difficulty is 10 controvert successfully
statements sworn to in foreign port by
witnessesAOut of the reach Of the United
States courts. 1t is true the certificates
issued by the Consul-General at Havana
must be vised by our Consul, but, 1or
some reason, his authority has been prac-
tically no sort Of check or guarantee.
While smuggling has been thus con-
unued dissatisfaction has grown IN sew
beaten and discounted. They have been
severely criticised but are almost help
less, and would be largely unsuccessful
even if there were no dishonesty among
them. Chinese merchants legally en-
titled to land are Inconvenience, de-
layed and put to unnecessary expense by
babe2s corpus proceedings. Ihey nave
complained to their Minister at W ashing-
ton, while the American officials have
complained to the Secretary OF State. The
negotiations lust closed were complicated
by the constant accusations of bad faith
on both sides. And, finally, the Chinese
Minister, Yang \ u, and the Chinese Con-
sui at New York, Hsee Nj kwang, both
are under suspicion OF colluSiOn with the
smuggiers, and their official acts and doc
uments are not permitted 10 pass un-
questioned. This, they inform me
through the counsel for the Consulate,
Wilson w. Hoover, they mean to stop ii
possible and plan has been adopted by
them for cooperation with the American
authorities to safeguard Eastern ports
against smuggling.
AS an evidence of their good faith in
this statement given to me for publica-
ton. l can state OF my own knowledge
that both the Minister and the Consal are
extremely unpopular among their cOun-
trymen. In Mott street (New York's |
street, several meetings have been held
TO protest to the Consul against bis policy,
10 appeal to the Minister against the Con-
sui. But the Consul acted under orders
from the Minister, and the latter is SUI
preme on the continent. His policy is
explained to me by Mr.. Hoover as that of
strict obedience to our laws and the
treaties; to sustain our officials, but to re-
taliate on our Government through his
Government in such wise as the Imperial
Council decides. The Minister and Con-
sui are from the north Of China, while
the immigrants are Cantoners. There is
no sympathy, not even community OF
speech, for the Consul needs an inter-
prefer to understand and be understood
by his countrymen in New York.
Mr.. Hoover admitted that the former
Chinese Consul neglected his duties,
made no effort to defeat nefarious prac-
tees among his people, and was at least
open to the suspicion of connivance or
collusion. He certainly was in sym
pathy with the immigrants. Mr.. Hoover,
therefore, comedies that much of the sus-
picion OF the present Consul is his legiti-
mate inheritance, and that the refusal to
wise his passports Is in part juStifiable.
The former Consul issued passports de-
scriptiVe OF men In China 70 merchants
going home, which was used by the man
described TO, come here as q returning
merchant
But Hsee Nj Kwang wants to change all
this. and to do so he has introduced, with
the consent Of his Minister, three impor-
tant notifications: Q) He has ordered
that merchants coming to the United
States through this port shall carry GER
tificates for which the New York Con-
sulate may be held responsible. The
statements capable of proof or disproof
must be made here and sworn to by the
incoming merchants friends resident in
some city in the United States These
statements must be verified and have the
certification of the Consul and Of his
American attorney, each OF whom makes
E separate investigation.
~ Three copies of their certificates
must be made, one TO 60 TO the port Of
departure, at Havana or China, for the
wise of the Chinese and United States
officials there, after which 1t Is given 10
the immigrant; another to go TO the
counsel for the New ork Consulate tor
presentation to the Collector Of the port
OF entry. and the third to remain on tlle
in the ConsuPs Office This applies to
new immigrants of the classes legally
entitled to enter.
t3l Merchants who leave here intend
ing TO return must make out deScrlp-
ton of themselves. with statements Of
business, ETC., all to be sworn to by wit
nesses remaining here. From this two
copies are made one to be the passport,
the other to 60 on lille in the United States
Custom house for reference on the re-
turn of the merchant. On the back of
these are photographs of the bearer OF the
passport.
These regulations have been in opera
ton for one month now, and are working
well. This Collector Kilbreth told me,
and the Chinese Consul expressed his
satisfaction through Mr.. Hoover, who
added: Nov that the Chinese Consul
had done his part, be expects that his
passports will be given the wise of the
American officials, so that they may be
\ hon I