The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-19

Federal prerogatives, very large patron
age in the appointment of such deputies
would fall to the Labor Commissioner, to
be followed, perhaps, by an invasion OF
eager candidates.
The law would also give to the State a
nice sum of money in the shape OF a
"Chinese fund" for which it makes elab-
crate provision. at would mean $500, 900
to the State,n observed the Commissioner
with some enthusiasm, considering that
there are over 100000 Chinese in Cali
fornia." And he remarked later on: 81
don't see why they should not be COM
PEELED to get these certificates of residence,
anyhow. 1t would be just like making
them pay State poll-tax, and residence
here ought to be worth that much to
them"
This law is known as can act to pro-
hibit the coming of Chinese persons into
the State, whether subjects of the Chinese
empire or otherwise, and to provide for
registration and certificates of residence,
and determine the status of all Chinese
persons now resident of this State, and
fixing penalties and punishment for the
violation of this act and providing for the
deportation of criminals" What it act
ually does besides requiring registration is
to provide for the deportation of every
Chinese coming here, other than such as
come in an official capacity as representa-
tives of the Chinese Government, or SIM
ply pass through the State in transit.
It's penalties for assisting Chinese to I'M
lawfully enter the State are decidedly Sc
we're and the State courts would have full
Jurisdiction, with this saving feature, how
ever, that in the cases of Chinese who
could not defray the expenses of their own
deportation, the court findings would be
transmitted to the Governor and by him
sent to the Secretary of the Treasury, with
a request that they be deported at the ex-
pense of the Government of the United
States.
Only very feeble effort has ever been
made to enforce this law. Ex-Comnis-
sioner Waits reported that out of a possible
72,472 Chinese, according to the census OF
1890, only four made application for certiti-
Gates of residence, and it subsequently
cost the State S401 II for the publication of
notices to Chinese in the newspapers.
These notices were ordered by the act to
be published in one newspaper of every
county.
Whether to have attempted to put it
into enforcement would have brought the
State into conflict with the Federal author
tiles is a question. At any rate Commits
sioner Fitzgerald will put it to test and
see, he says. Some of its provisions as to
transportation agents might run up against
the interstate law in manner hardly yet
foreseen. For instance, it compels all
ticket agents, conductors of trains, cap
tains and pursers of vessels to demand of
all Chinese asking for passage the produc-
ton Of their certificates of residence, and
in case no such certificate can be shown, to
arrest the offenders and turn them over to
peace officers for prosecution. This must
be done even when Chinese simply
wants to go from one place to another
within the State.
Whatever issue might arise between the
government of this State and that Of the
nation there the law is upon the statute
books. 1t has never been repealed or
nullifed, says Mr. Fitzgerald, and he
doesn't see why it should not be enforced.
Of the Chinese fund to accrue $4,000 is
placed at the Commissioners disposal.
Out of twenty-four sections constituting
the act there are two which expressly and
Enthusiastically cover the question OF de-
portation. One of them was probably
aimed at japanese felons