The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-07-12
WHY 81 AVERY IN
CHINATOWN LIVES,
Fancy Prices Paid for
Women Who Barter
Their Souls.
RECORD OF ONE YEAR.
Over Fourteen Hundred Chinese
Over Fourteen Hundred Chinese
Landed at This Port Dur.
ing 1895.
NEARLY ONE HUNDRED WOMEN
1t Is Believed That so Per Cent o.
This Number Gained Admission
by Fraud.


ing and disastrous in its effects than that
which found its way into America more
than hundred wears ago and which was
perpetuated for nearly three-quarters OF
century, continues TO thrive and prosper
in Chinatown. 1t was thought at one
time that this heinous traffic-this barter
ing and selling of human beings for vile
purposes-bad been practically stamped
out. Recent developments, however,
would seem to indicate that the practice
is carried on even more extensively than
in the halcyon days of the Chinese certiti-
cate-forger.
Every steamer from the Orient to this
port has on board from five to ten Chinese
women, or rather girls, ranging in age
from II to 90
For instance, the Coptic brought nine
on her last trip and the Rio Janeiro seven.
True, some of these women, as in nearly
all cases, failed to land because of mis-
carriage of the plans of the ''importer,"
but what is lost in return passage money
is made up many times in other ways.
Dick Williams, now under indictment
by the Federal Grand Jury for fraudu-
lently landing Chinese, and whose sum-
mary dismissal from the Customs service
was announced in THE CALL a few days
ago, is responsible for the statement that
since his retirement in April last more
Chinese, men and women, have been
Landed at the port of San Francisco than
during any similar period within the past
two years. In view of the fact that Col
lector Wise refuses 10 give for publication
the number of Chinese landed during the
year 1895, or for the fiscal year ending July
l, the claim set UP by the ex-Chinese In
ic No no hia nf pithar r1rOOf or
refutation, except IN a general way.
There is to-day In Chinatown, according
to good authority, no less than 400 Chinese
girls and young women leading lives of
sin, the profits of which fall into the ca
pacious pockets of Chinese firms and white
aids. Those familiar with the peculiar
traits of the San Francisco Chinese affirm
that they rarely ever sell their daughters
for vile purposes, notwithstanding their
greed for gold and the Injuries i. can buy.
If this statement be true, then the 400
girl and women slaves in Chinatown must
come from over the sea.
1t has been established that 1.-THE wife of
Chinese person other than laborer who
may be legally domiciled in the United
States and whose legal status as such wife,
as the marriage relation is understood in
the United States, is established to the sat
isfaction of the Collector of Customs at the
port of her arrival, may be permitted to
ellleT IuS OnlS6u OIdLeS. IL Is also neiQ
that the children of Chinese persons who
may be born while such persons are legally
domiciled in the United States, and who
may have departed tberefrom, may be
permitted to land on their return when
the Collector is satisfied that they were in
fact born in United States territory.
That these women come from some
other place than San Francisco is not de-
MED. That there is an immense profit IN
the business may be readily seen when it
is known that girls of IA and Is range in
price from 500 to $1,000. From sources
other than Collector Wise it is learned that
during the year 1895 no less than 1900 men
and nearly 100 women landed at this port.
A gentleman familiar with Custom house
affairs says that from % to so per cent of
this mum Der have no legal right here.
Under the old condition of affairs the
average price paid for landing these peo-
pie was $500, but it now costs only about
$75. On the assumption that one-fourth
of those who landed here i'll 1895 did so
fraudulently, it is plain that somebody
cleared about $l8 900. Add to this the
price of the twenty-five women, alta aver
age of $500 head, and another neat sum
results-$2 $4,000, or nearly 900 all told.
For the first six months of the present
year it is given out unofficially that 700
Chinese have landed at this port. OF this
number sixty-two were women. The
y
come; so if the same proportion is kept
up, anywhere from 400 to 1900 Chinese
will have landed at this port when Deem
Der 81 next comes. OF the Chinese who
visit the parent land during the year, not
all return. Yet, as a matter of fact,
there are more Chinese coming in than
going out.
Just how the thing is managed no one
seems to know. 1t is practically impossi.
bic for Collector Wise to personally inspect
the certificate of every Chinese, hence 1t
follows that those under him, and the
attorneys, must do the major portion of
the work Only few DAYS ago 3 Chinese
appeared at the Collectors Office with the
statement that he had recently returned
to San Francisco, and desiring to go to his
place of business in the country, wanted
some kind of written document showing
that he had right to be in America.
where is your certificate?" asked the
Collector.
Accidentally burned in Hongkong."
was the reply.
How did you land, then?"
ION merchants certificate" answered
the Celestial, and then it developed that
this evidence was also lacking. Finally it
was agreed that if the Chinese would fur
nish a photograph the Collector of the
Port would certify on the back that the
bearer 'sald he was merchant and had
landed here on given day. Section of
the McCreary act says:
When an application is made by Chinaman
Tor entrance into the United States on the
ground that he was formerly engaged in this
country as merchant he should establish by
the testimony of two credible witnesses other
than Chinese the fact that he conducted such
business as hereinbefore defined for at least
one year before his departure from the United
States, ana that during such year he was not
engaged in the performance of any manual
LABOR except such as was necessary in the con-
Duct OF MS business as such merchant, and in
default OF such proof shall be refused landing
Ii is presumed that the Chinese above
mentioned was properly identified by two
credible witnesses other than Chinese" or
he could not have landed. But, on the
other hand. the law makes a very clear
provision for lost certificates. Duplicates
may be obtained at any time on presenta-
ton OF proof to the Collector of Internal
Revenue that the party applying for the
copy is the person named in the original
certificate. 1t appears that this was not
done by the Chinese in question, ana his
failure to do 50 leaves room for consider
able speculation.
One of the most potent arguments adj
vanced by those familiar with Chinese