The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-17
HOW HAPPY WE WILL BEL"
HOW THE CHINESE REGARD THEIR
FINAL RETURN TO
CHINA.
THEY WILL Nor DEPART UNTIL
THEY HAVE EARNED PLENTY
OF MONEY.

Collector Wise is constantly discovering
new ways in which the Chinese attempt to
beat the McCreary act. Every Chinese
firm in the country have entered into new
articles of copartnership, by which it is
possible to increase the number of partners
at any time in order to fill an emergency.
In this way some of the Chinese merean-
tile houses now produce lists of from tif-
teen to twenty partners whenever called
upon. The Chinese in question who de-
sires to land in California can always find
his name in one of these lists, and in con-
sequence the Collector finds it very hard
work to prove that the applicant for re-
admission is not merchant.
A few months ago supposed member of
the firm of Quong Ming Kee of San Diego
returned from China. He swore he was a
merchant, and number of his alleged
partners bore out his statement. The firm
furnished the Collector with the articles
OF copartnership, but as it was written in
Chinese characters it was not much use as
evidence until translation was made. 1t
is literary curiosity, and as such Collector
Wise has had it framed, and in future it
will adorn the walls of the Custom house.
The translation is as follows:
AGREEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE LIST.
The rules ofour firm are as follows: Whereas,
the store OF Quong Ming Kee is situated in q
brick building on Sixth street, in the city of
San Diego, State of California The firm started
the japanese fancy goods business on the Goth
day OF May, 1883. The rent of this store is $50
$1,000, to be divided into seven shares, each
share $1,000. The partners of the firm are
Jung Loui, Guam Ming, Guam Leung. Guam
First-The agreement for this firm OF the four
extra members is Guam Ming Jung Loui,
Guam Tung and Guam Leung, each one OF their
wages $40 per month, and the employer will
pay their board besides. In the future this
business might be prosperous; then the en-
ployer will have to hire more men to attend to
the store
Second-All extra members of this firm are
not allowed to draw any money from the firm
outside of their wages. II the firms treasury
has plenty of cash the extra members have to
temporarily deposit in same bank. If any one
is found TO disobey this rule of the firm the
employer will have to call meeting to select
some honest man to take his place.
Third-lf any member of this firm intends to
visit China and wants to draw his interest in
the firm he will have to wait until the firm has
been organized two years. Also, if member
wishes to draw out his share of the profits he
will have to wait two years. This is done so as
to prevent gripping our financial condition.
In the future If any member wishes to sell out
his share of the business he will have to con-
suit all OF the partners and ascertain if they
wish to buy from him. II none of them wish
| to, he will have the privilege of allowing an
oulsluer 10 Dlu, ana II the partners are not
willing to take his share at the same bid as
that of the outsider, he is at liberty to sell to
the latter. If one of the members of the firm
is willing to pay the same he will have to sell
to the member of the firm.
Fourth-Since this store has started and
should not have enough capital to run the
business, and any member should have any
extra money to put in the firm to help the
business along, the store will pay So month
interest for each 800, no matter how long
their money is in use. But as soon as the
treasury has sufficient cash the money will be
repaid.
This is done to help the business along to
success until, all partners getting rich, then.
oh how happy we will be, and all return to
China.
Date, May 20, 1888 The firm of ouan Ming
kee. The partners of Jung Loui, Quan Ming,
Guam Leung Guam Ting, Aug zee, Hong Kee
and Luck Coon.
The members of the firm swore that the
applicant for readmission had become a
member of the firm under the first clause
in the agreement, which provides that in
event of the business being prosperous
more help may be employed. The Col
lector could not see it in that light, and
Wing Yuen will go back to China on the
next steamer. In the meantime Collector
Wise will insist on the articles of copartner-
ship in the case of every Chinese claiming
to be merchant and will have them trans
lated before passing upon the merits of the
claim for readmiSsiOn