The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-11-24
TREASURY DEPARTMENT.

WASHINGTON. D. e., Nov. 6, 1894.
". p Str0dteU Comm lSstoner Of IKnDl5gr6-
ton, san FTdDclSco-SIR: l inci0se herewith
for your information copy OF dispatch 10 the
Secretary OF Slate from the Consul az Aucklan
which is self-explanatory, and have TO urge
upon you The necessity of Keeping close
watch to discover il the children referred TO
therein arrive at your port
FRANK II. LANE, Chief Clerk.
The dispatch referred to is the follow
ing:
assistant Secretary of State, Washington. d.
C.-SIR: have the honor 70 report that it has
come 10 my notice that there are Mormon mis-
sIonaries in his country who are ende ayorDg
TO adopt i!legltimate children and send them in
charge OF one of their number-a "SainL'-to
Utah Territory. One such has already gone
forward - little lad of iilegitimale origin
named Douglas OMeara.
he left here in charge of Elder Hans Madison
of FaiTYiew, Utah. Madison lived here for some
time, and left for The Unit States last April.
There Is still another elder here named Benja-
min Hambiin, who has advertised for healthy
children with view OF adoption. lie has, so
far as can learn, up to the present. securt
TWO lllegtImate children. J his Mr.. Hamblin Is
a young man apparently with means. Re has
lived here little over year, aud was married
about two months before be came. b. is wife is
in Utah, and is apparently without means. In
letter 10 him she speaks enthusiastically Of
one OF The boys, whose photograph Mr.. Hamblin
has evidently mt b. r. She appears TO be most
anxious 10 receive the little fellow. am at
loss 10 understand why people without some
mote corner OF the globe o plcN up legtimate
children, especially so in Mr.. Hamblln's case.
/ had Elder Hambin in my Office few days
ago. He came Ill response TO request from
the Chief OF Police to explain his purpose in
securing illegitmate children. HIS explana-
ton is substantially as follows: He wanted
good healthy Child 10 adopt and SEND home to
keep his wife company. When he advertised
he found lie could get quite number, but
owing to legal difficulties could not adopt any
as was bis Intention Since making an effort TO
legally aOODt had failed he
about nine years Old but intends 10 send an
other child with the consent of its parents, of
course. TO his wife 10 be raised as his own off,
spring.
Neither the Chief of Police nor myself was
satisfied with Elder Hamblin's explanation,
although cOrroborated by Elder Stewart OF the
same church.
II is difficult to arrive at satisfactory con-
clusioD why persons SO poor as these Mormon
elders evidently are should make such efforts
TO secure 1liegitmate children, pay their
passage, and send them III charge of some
member OF the Mormon faith to The United
Stats.
ence OF the Chief OF Police 10 the effect that
there are Mormon emigrants leaving this
colony every lew months Tor the United Sta es,
about twenty-five or thirty having left here
within the past two years. l demonstrated
with him, and told bin 1t was contrary TO the
laws OF the United States 70 send avowed Nor
mons there. He denied having paid transport
taiion, but admitted he bad converted and ad.
yised hem 20 leave here for the United States,
and in the next breath deted the power of the
Government to prevent their entering the
United States as long as they did not avow
poiygamy. He defantly Informed US he would
advise US when he had another batch 10
forward. JOHN DoNNELLY, Consul
The Commissioner telegra phed the
elders statement concerning the two chill
dren to Washington yesterday, and in re-
turn was advised that the department
could not see its way clear 10 refusing
them landing, unless it could be shown
that they were liable to become public
charges. The Commissioner was empow-
cred to summon he special court Of in
quiry. which sits in such cases, and make
a test of the case. The court is composed
of United States Attorney Garter, Deputy
Surveyor S. j. Ruddel, Chinese inspectors
Hill and Presbury and q. E. Cnanping,
Special Agent of the treasury. 1t will
meet this afternoon at Mr.. Stradley's
Office