The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-05-05
CHINESE REGISTERED
Nearly ALI in the Country Com.
piled with the New Law.
Some Celestials Now in the Flowery
Kingdom Will Not Be Permitted to
Return-San Francisco Figures.

WASHINGTON, May 4.-Yesterday was
the last day for registration under the
Chinese exclusion act and the amendments
thereto. II Is learned that there has been
a general compliance with the law in all
parts of the country. The only notable ex-
ception to the rule, SO far as learned, has
been in the mountainous districts Of Mon
tana, where deep SHOWS and the rigors of
winter have prevented those living in the
interior from reaching points where regis
tration books were open. In these sections
the deputies have been obliged to travel
on snow shoes and TO endure hardships
which the Chinese would hardly be ex-.
speeted- to undergo. According to the CEN
sus returns of 1890 there were approximate
ly 1O7.500 Chinese in this country, and IL is
believed that about this number has regis
tered. Under recent opinion of the At
torney-general Chinese merchants who left
the United States temporarily prior to
Nov 3, 1895, VII be permit d t. return
within reasonable time. provided their in
dividual names appear in the firm designa-
tion. Members of firms whose individual
names do not so appear except in the gen.
eral designation of company" will not be
permitted to return While no ruling has
yet been made upon the point, it is be-
heved that firm members who left the
United States prior 10 Nov. 3 with the
knowledge that as the law then stood
tney would be permitted TO return will be
ailowed 10 prove that they are bona fide
members OF firms, provided, however that
the f1rm name be at once changed so as to
include their several names. 1t is the opin-
ion OF some of the officials that If this re-
striction Is literally and rigidly enforced
iuily ~ per cent OF all the merchants who
lett this country prior to Nov. 3 will be
deDarred from returning.
At San Francisco.
SAN FRANCISCO. May 4-Not until
after midnight last night was the work of
registering Chinese in San Francisco fin
ished. Collector Weilburn was of the opin-
ion that registration should end at ID. m,
but the Chinese consul insisted that May 3
was not legally over until midnight. So,
TO anticipate any attempt to break down
the law and finally the patient work of six
months. Collector Wellburn decided to re-
ceive applications from p. m. to IL p. m,
and file them separately until the Internal
Revenue Commissioner passes upon their
admissibility. By the light of a few dozen
tallow dips the registration clerks sat
around their dingy quarters in Chinatown
until after midnight. During the hours
after o'clock less than forty belated Mon
golians struggled in ana complied with the
ldW. DuElIS the udy previous 10 D o CLOCK
$50 applications were received The total
number of certificates issued from Jan. to
April IL, when, because OF the rush of ap-
piicents, the actual issuance of certificates
was stopped, was s3,002: and from April 10
TO IL D. m. last night about 1000 applica-
tionS were received. The census returns of
1880 place the number of Chinese in the
first revenue district at Jl,0O0 The revenue
officers have registered 1900. Chinese la
borers and women and children made ap-
plications as we'll as merchants. The First
district comprises San Francisco and all
the counties southeast of the San Joaquin
river. In San Francisco the total registra-
ton will not be far from 10000. Perhaps
about $500 will prove TO be the total State
registration. Collector Wellburn has writ
ten 10 the revenue commissioner for in
structions as 20 future proceedings. The
law directs the arrest and deportation OF
unregistered Chinese. but Congress has
passed no appropriation to cover the ex-
penses OF deportation and nothing can be
done until this congressional oversight has
been corrected.