The sun., 1894-05-03
How Many of tho Chinese VIII Coz

With the present week the period Of
grace granted by Congress- to Chinese la
borers In tho United States for procuring
certificates Of protection comes to an end.
Under tho GEARY law the time Of reglstra-
ton was fxed at one year from the date of
the act. which was May s. 1892. The
amended act passed last autumn extended
this period to May g. 1894
The question now Is as to how far our
Mongolian fellow residents have complied
with the provisions OF the law. To them
this is q very serious question. since the
statute declares that any Chinese laborer
found without certificate after the date
Just mentioned. may be arrested and taken
before United States Judge. whose duty
10 shall be to order that he be deported from
the United States" unless he can show that
through some unavoidable cause. such as
accident or sickness. he was unable to pro-
cure certificate. or that. having procured
one. he had lost it. And this Is not the only
penalty for failure to register. The act
authorizes the imprisonment. to an extent
not exceeding one year. OF "any such
Chinese person. or person OF Chinese de-
scent. convicted and aojudged to be not
lawfully In the United States"
Now. as matter OF fact. we find that the
Chinese in some parts OF the country are
loudly complaining that many Of them who
hayo not registered have not had sum
eient opportunity to register. The case is
quito the reverse OF that OF one year ago.
~ that time very small proportion OF
them had taken out certificates. relying on
the advice Of the Six Companies. who had
prepared to test the constitutionallty OF the
dEARY law. But when the Supreme Court
OF the United States decided that the act
was constitutional. and when Congress by
overwhelming votes In both branches-that
Of the House being l7s against 1-roiterated
tts exclusion legislation. allowing. however.
. longer time before Its enforcement, the
eix Companies and the Chinese throughout
the country gave way. The Official proof.
ss 1t may be called. OF their yielding was
subsequently, recorded in the treaty negoti-
Ated by Minister YANG YU. which pledged
China 20 endeavor TO stop the coming OF la
borers to this country. although some pro-
visions in that treaty are opposed by Cali
fornlans as likely to weaken the effect Of
the GEARY law.
Besides. although the new law requires
that tiling OF the photograph which. after
being at first prescribed by the Treasury
Department. was rescinded by a subse-
epent order. yet In some other respects it
b more favorable TO the applicants. In
stead Of two credible witnesses to the good
character OF the Chinaman. one is made
SUFFICIENT. and this one need not be white
person. as was formerly required.
How. then. does 1t happen. with the tide
long ago turned in favor OF registration.
that there Is now complaint not TO say
alarm. among the Chinese. because the al
lOtted time for 1t has almost expired. and
some Of them who wished TO take advantage
OF fit are not able to do so ? The reasons seem
TO be complete. In the first place. the new
regulations were issued from the Treas
ury Department only on Nov. 25 last, aud
several weeks elapsed before they could
begin TO DO put into practical operation.
Then. the new law requires the re-
registration Of all those who took out GER
tiacates under the old law. aad there was
no longer year but less than ak months
Tor the purpose. Probably. also. Ignorance.
iRdOlsnee. caution. and prOcrastination have
played . part in individual cases. It is