The morning call., 1894-02-22
ASTUTE CHINESE.
A Way Found to Secure
Certificates.
FEDERAL OFFICERS POSED.
The Midwinter Fair Chinese
Turn a Trick
FOR THEIR MANY FRIENDS.
Details of the Scheme Which Is Now
Being Worked to BEAT" the
McCreary Law.

The customs officers are keeping a close
watch upon the Chinese village at the
Midwinter Fair. on account of rumors
which have reached Collector Wise during
the past two or three days to the effect
that the Chinese landed here to take part
in the Midwinter exposition were register
ing as laborers.
The scheme. as reported, is one worthy
of the ingenuity OF the Chinese. The men
landed as actors, musicians, artists. arti-
sans, etc., to assist in building and run
ing the Chinese village, tea-house and
theaier, and were all photographed and
given certificates, which when the fair is
over they must surrender and go home.
In addition, the company having the Chi
nese exhibit in charge gave bonds that
every man brought here Tor the work at the
fair would go home when the fair closed.
The special act OF Congress gave these Chi
nese he right to remain here regardless OF the
McCreary act, and the precaution taken by
Collector Wise was TO prevent repetition Of
assertions from the Chinese village at the
Worlds Fair In Chicago. over 400 Chinese
were landed for the W orid's Fair, and less than
40 returned home, the others deserving and
locating al VIII throughout the United States.
Only 113 Chinese were landed for the NiidwIn-
ter air, anc under such conditions that il is
safe TO assume that all of them will return TO
emma when the fair closes.
But what the Government officers are wor-
ried about is the runner thai each of the Chinese
returning Will carry with him a ce tificate of
registration as labOrer under the McCreary
Act and that sooner or later all the certificates
so carried away will return with a Chinese
attached who VIII be landed.
For one Of the actors at the Midwinter Fair
10 change his silk garments for the coarse
blouse of workman, TO shave his head just
hall inch more across the crown. aud with
little India lux TO make mole or two as dis
tlngulshlDg marks Is easy task. Tben he
comes down and registers as All Bang, a gar
dener from across the bay, aud getting his GER
tincate takes IL home with him. To country
m In China about his height and age the
ACTOR sells his laborePs certificate and The pur-
chaser proceeds 10 duplicate with India ink
the distinguishing marks called for by the
paper. Ii Is not a hard task for one Chinese TO
perSoDate another, the race resemblance being
so strong that reputable white men have time
and again gone upon the stand aud under oath
positively Identified Chinese who later on
proved TO be an impostOr.
Inspector Dan Leary is working on the case
and Ii Is said has found certain ciews which
lead him TO believe that the imported Mon
gollans are securing certifca es. There is no
way at the registration office that fraud OF
this KIND could be detected. The Chinese who
90 there merely announce their name ana
oecnpatIoni are then measured as to height; the
marks, moles or scars if they have any are
noted, and certificates are issued 10 them.
1t l. believed that II the Midwinler Fair
Chinese are taking out certificates they are
forwarding them al once 10 the men whom they
hope 10 bring into this country, aud il is alleged
that some OF the actors have registered not
oncr buI three or four times, changing their
gar aud general appearance and giving new
name. 1t Is possible this may have been. done,
for the registration clerks are worked TO death
and have only time to glance at a Chinese
when he applies for certificate, and il would
be almost Impossible for them to remember the
faces OF The thousands of coolies who call upon
them TO register. especially when the resem-
blance between one Chinese and another is so
strong.
The only thing the officers can do is to wait
aud watch. aud If one of the Midwinter Fair
Chinese is caught In the act then an effort Will
be made 10 overhaul the whole lot of them.