The morning call., 1894-06-06
CAME TO THE FAIR.
Crafty Chinese Saw the
Opportunity.
OVER TWO HUNDRED LANDED
Another Striking Example of the
"WayS That Are Dark.
NOW THEY ARE DISAPPEARING.
How a Chinatown Combine Managed
10 Clean Up Over $4,000 at
a Single Stroke.
OVER TWO HUNDRED LANDED
NOW THEY ARE DISAPPEARING

The craft and cunning Of the Chinese IN
this city has once more circumvented the
Federal authorities and the boosted eX-
cusion laws, and as a result of the privl-
leges extended to them by Congress in
connection with the Midwinter Fair the
Celestial population in the country has
been swelled by the addition of another
shipload of laborers, who have had six
months in which to scatter and conceal
| themselves in various parts of the land.
When the resolution introduced by Sem
atOr White, and extending the same priv
ileges to exhibitors at the Mldwinter Fair
as had been previously granted for the
Columbian Exposition was adopted, the
parties in this city who have been engaged
In evading the exclusion laws were quick
10 sea the opportunity to bring In another
batch of Chinese under cover of bringing
them to the fair as had been done at Chi
cagO, and as a result of the deal 257 labor
ers were landed despite the opposition Of
Collector Wise.
Special Agent Phoenix received instruc-
tions from the Treasury Department last
week TO take little jaunt out to the Chi
nese village and see how the exhibit was
getting along, aud, after preparing him.
self to take a census Of the place, the
Special Agent betook himself t. the park.
But the task If Mr.. Phoenix was not
aIduous. Ii did not take long TO discover
that out of the 257 Chinese originally
landed all but 81 had levanted and. no
doubt, each one Of the 900 IabOrers who
have thus sllDped into the country Is now
safely registered. with their years of resi-
dence in the United States backed up by a
score OF witnesses.
The innocent-looking resolution put
something Ike $4,000 into the pockets of
he company that manipulated the scheme,
the tiue work of which was looked after
by Little Pete" Immediately after the
project for the fair was preached a COM
pany was organized by the Six Companies
for the purpose of placing Chinese exhibit
at the fair. Shares were placed at $1,000
each and but seventeen were issued, which
did not 60 begging for buyers when the
plans were unfOlded, and the company
thus had cash capital of S5l, coo. That
sum was mole than cleared by the COM
pany before the gates of Sunset City were
opened to the public, to say nothing Of
what the profits from the village itself
may have been. Certain 1t is that at least
one concession at the fair has not lost
money. When this company had been
formed word was at once sent to China TO
the agents Of the Six Companies that a
limited number Of coolies could be safely
landed for $3.50 each, and tho steamer
which brought over the Chinese exhibit
also carried the 257 labOreTs who were
putting up $3.50 TO be landed in San Fran
cisco without the trouble of going ashore
ID some secluded bay and at dead of night.
Inc customs authorities here did every
thing In their power 10 prevent the sue
cessful carrying out of the scheme. Col
lecior Wise appealed TO Washington, but
was met with the answer that the resolu-
ton adopted by Congress was sweeping,
and so long as the Chinese Teprese nted
that they we're a part of the exhibit for the
fair they could not be refused.
1t was then proposed to require a bond
that at the close of the exposition they
might be forced to report and sail back t.
the FlOWery Kingdom, but Secretary Car
Isle held that there was no warrant for
such action, and refused TO sanction it.
However, there was still one thing left
the Collector to 90, and he compelled each
of the 257 attaches of the exhibit TO pose
before camera, and the collection of pic
lures thus secured may yet be the undoing
OF the crafty Mongols.
ASsoon as the fair closes, by which time
the remaining thirty-seveD will probably
have disappeared (ifteen Of them comprise
the boy actors at the village). ii is proposed
TO compare the pictures with those of the
thousands who are registered in the dis
trlct. and il any are found which seem to
resemble the likenesses thus secured by
the Collector, that heather whose mis-
fortune 1t is to look like some one else will
stand an excellent chance OF returning to
China, expenses paid.
1t is not supposed for moment that
they would register under the names to
which they acknowledged when they ar
rived, but new name is a matter of email
consequence TO the orthodox Celestial, and
the fact that different names accompany
the same picture will only be added evil
dence against the culprit.
Special Agent Phoenix has made his re-
port 10 the department, but 1t remains TO
be seen what was the object of the inquiry
ard what steps may now be taken by the
Government. Although the scheme was
clearly understood at the time it was pre-
posed, the action of Congress permitted
the carrying of it through. and just how it
may be thwarted or any one punished for
the ottense is difficult to see.
Many OF the positions connected with
the exhibit are now filled by Mongols we'll
known In Chinatown, thus emphasizing
the fact that the Chinese who came with
the cargo were 10 no way connected with it,
bnt used it solely as means by which to
slip into the country. and they were
scarcely landed before they began to scat
ter, and the extended period for registra-
Of M