San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-06-09
THE SLIPPERY CHINEE.
How They Are Sworn Into This
Country by Their Brothers.
Secretary Carlisle Writes to Speaker Reed
Relative to Having the Law So
Amended as to Correct the
Eyil-His Suggestion.

Washington says: On the subject of
Chinese exclusion Secretary Carlisle
has written to the speaker of the house
letter, an abstract of which is as fol-
lows:
"SIR: have the honor to state that
in many instances that Chinese apply
for admission to the United States on
the ground that they were born in this
country and visited China with their
parents at an early age, where they
remained for various reasons for many
years. In every instance in support of
their claim for admission they present
the testimony of Chinese persons who
certify that the applicants were born
in this country; that they knew them
during infancy; were acquainted with
the parents, etc. In one instance re-
ported an applicant was refused ad-
mission and the case was taken before
a United States commissioner, who
held that the testimony of the Chinese
witnesses standing uncontradicted was
sufficient to establish the claim of the
applicant that he was native of the
state of California, and his admission
to this country was thereby ordered.
"In view of the increased number of
applications from Chinese for admis-
sion to this country on the ground that,
being born here, they are American cit
liens, and of the difficulties experienced
by officers of this department in verify
ing and controverting the testimony
of Chinese witnesses produced by such
applicants, have the honor to invite
attention to the subject with a view to
such special legislation as will correct
. practice which in my opinion multi
fies in many particulars the intent of
the laws relating to the exclusion of the
Chinese. 1 inclose an amendment,
which, in my judgment, will correct
this evil In this connection desire
to call your attention to the fact that
Chinese merchants, prior to leaving
this country, frequently have afidayits
of witnesses prepared and sworn to be-
fore notaries to the effect that the said
Chinese are known to them, and that
they are bona fide merchants. These
affidavits, on their return to the United
States, are received as evidence by the
customs officers. In the trial of one
such case, in which 1t was charged the
affidavits were perjured before United
States commissioner, it was held that
there was no law under which such
affidavits could be taken before notaries
public, and that the charge Of perjury
in the case could not, therefore, be sus-
tanned. Should it be deemed advisable
to amend the existing law, as hereinbe-
fore suggested, it is respectfully sub
mitted that the amendment be of such
character as to provide proper punish
ment for persons who make false atfi-
davits in Chinese cases before notaries
public"
Following is the amendment proposed
by Secretary Carlisle:
That the several laws relating to the ex-
clusion of Chinese be and. the same are
hereby amended in such a manner as to re-
quire in all instances where proceedings
are taken affecting the right of Chinese to
enter or remain in the United States, or
where persons Of Chinese descent claim the
right to reenter the United States as citi-
zens thereof, the testimony Of other than
Chinese persons or persons of Chinese de-
scent, and in case where affidavits are
taken before notaries public or justices of
the peace, in matters pertaining to the adj
mission of Chinese to this country, or for
their Identification and II is found that such
afidavits are falsely made or not sustained
by the facts, the persons making the same
shall be and are hereby made amenable to
the existing laws prescribing punishment
for perjury"