The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-11-23
ALL HAVE TR|LBY FEET.
Doubtful Chinese Native Daugh.
tiers" Pouring Into This
Port.
LOOKS LIKE A NEW TRICK.
Old Certificates Which Collector Wise
Thinks Have Been Put to
Repeated Use.
LOOKS LIKE A NEW TRICK.

Collector of Customs Wise has discov-
cred a new trick of the Chinese. For some
time past he has observed that quite a
number of Chinese women have been
coming to this port on the various steam
ers, and claiming to have been born in this
country. All they have to show to SUBJ
stantiate their pretensions is the old red
certificate that was wont to be issued be-
fore the first restriction act was passed.
Seven of these women-five of them are
really girls-are now i'll detention at the
Presbyterian mission on Sacramento
street. The size of the foot is an important
factor in determining the character of the
women of China, and none of the ladies in
Miss Houseworth's charge have the dimin-
utive feet which are said to distinguish the
ladies of the higher class.
Sixteen women arrived on the Coptic
and fifteen on the Peru. The almond
eyed ladies wear boomers after the style
of their native costume. The Collector
has, therefore, decided to have an lnves-
tigation.
Speaking of their immigration. Mr..
Wise remarked yesterday:
I think there is general business carried on
of importing these women. This was done
some years ago by regular clique OF enterprls-
ing Chinese, but that gang has all been scat
tered and now new one is taking its place,
but under the surface, at least.
The women all claim to be native daughters,
and each brings the old red certificate with
her. 1t was the custom formerly TO issue blue
certificates 10 men and red to the women.
Most of them say they left with their parents
for China between the years 1880 and 1884,
and they have the signatures of some white
men in great many cases to stand upon.
My opinion is that many OF these certificates
have been used several times; that is, that not
having been Cancelled they have been mailed
back to China and are being used by newcom-
ers ill the time.
and it would require more than ordinary intel
ligence to determine whether these women in
whose possession they now are were the little
girls at that time when they represent them
selves to be. Many OF the repu table Chinese
here say they are otherwise, but these men are
afraid to come into court and so testify: On
! the other hand the women have plenty of Chi
nese testimony in their favor should they go
into court on habeas corpus proceedings. The
stories OF their friends dovetafl in together
prettily.
/ am canceling every one of these red certif-
Gates now as fast as the person presenting it is
landed This will prevent it from being used
those certificates issued; in fact we have no rec
o rds at all that might enable us to tell posi-
lively whether we are being imposed upon or
not in this respect.
The Collector is somewhat at loss how
to proceed and is waiting eagerly for some
SOlUllOl vi lHc pIOUielH liz
/ Wong Kim Ak test case is pending de-
cision by United States District Judge
Morrow. This case involves the question
! of the citizenship of Chinese born in this
| country.
| 1t IS customary upon the departure of a
Chinese from this country who is entitled
| to return TO wise" the certiticate-that is.
to stamp upon it the date and steamer of
departure, signed by one of the inspectors.
None of the old red certificates now COM
Ing here have anything upon them to
show that their possessors ever left the
United States, and the red certificate is all
! the credentials they bring.
| Inspector Williams is hard at work on
the matter. The great influx OF these
women is one of the reasons that prompted
the Treasury Department to have a census
taken Of Chinatown. AS soon as the Chi
nese bureau can get around to it the work
| of enumeration will begin.