The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-03-10
JAPANESE IMMIGRANTS WILL
MAKE AN EFFORT TO LAND.
Claim That They Have Contracts
Say They Sailed from japan and Are
Under Protection of That Country.

The counsel for the japanese immi-
grants in quarantine today filed with
the clerk of the Supreme Court ap-
plications for writ of habeas corpus
in the cases of the free and contract
laborers.
The all-absorbing topic of discussion
in Honolulu just now is the Japanese
question. The landing of 665 japanese
on the quarantine island by the Shin
shiu Maru and the refusal of 535 of
that number by this Government has
melted much feeling in the japanese
colony. =
\ feeling which runs equally as
strong is prevalent among the Anglo
SaNons of Honolulu. There is a diver
sion of opinion on the rights of the
present lot of immigrants to remain
in the islands. While the bulk of the
people are not informed upon the law
touching upon the immigration of jap
ancse into Hawaii, either as free or
contract laborers, still the belief is
current that there is defect in the
statutes.
Now that the matter has reached
the courts everyone anXiously awaits
the decision of the tribunal on this
paramount question of the hour. In
case this lot of students and labor
ers should be as successful in landing
here as were the former students"
mass convention of Anglo SaXons is
not at all improbable. Such a meeting
of citizens would be for the purpose
of demanding the Executive Council to
pass a law which would prohibit the
landing of undesirable japanese in Ha-
waii nei The Executive Council has
full authority to take such action.
The customs authorities re-eX-
amined all of the Japanese detained at
the quarantine station again last
uir-ht, with the result that recon-
mendations Will be made py the Col
lector General to Minister Cooper to
reject even a greater number than was
at first intended. This time the exam
ination was conducted by Deputy Col
lector McStocker, assisted by Port Sur
veyor Streatmeyer, eX-Judge Magoon
representing Minister Cooper and
Chester Doyle. interpreter. All the
previous evidence was gone over again
| and much new testimony taken. The
nj r,in at hn
station, returning about o'clock this
morning. The examination is still in
progress.
Considerable excitement was created
about the city last evening over n
rumor that there was a riot among the
Japanese immigrants in question. The
request for ten men from the police
force by Superintendent McNeigh to
relieve his guards, who were worn out
by overworl, was the only grounds for
this unnecessary scare.
\ squad of police are now doing
guard duty and will probably continue
as a precautionary measure until some
disposition is made in the case.
Kinney & Ballou, counsel for the
Japanese immigrants, this morning
/ filed with Clerk Smith of the Supreme
/ Court applications for writ of hab-
cas- corpus in behalf of the contract
/ laborers, as well as the free laborers.
The Supreme Court has set Friday for
the hearing of the applications.
The cardinal argument set forth in
| behalf of the students" or free labor
ers is that they are possessed of $50,
the amount of money required of any
/ immigrant to land on these islands.
/ This being the case, the counsel con-
/ tends that these men are being un-
lawfully restrained of their liberty.
/ The matter of the contract laborers
is by far the most important and The
Star has printed in full the arguments
advanced by the attorneys for the Jap
anese and placed on file in the court
today. After giving the names of the
many contract laborers who have been
rejected, the petitioners represent that
they are subjects of His Imperial Maj
esty, the Emperor of Japan; that they
arrived in Honolulu on February ~ on
the Shinshiu Maru, from Kobe, Japan;
that they are informed and believe and
on such information and belief alleg-
ing the fact to be, qualified to enter
and to locate in said Republic of Ha'
waii, under the treaty now existing
between his Imperial Majesty, the EN-
peror of Japan and the Republic of lla
waii and under the laws of the Repub
lie of Hawaii.
And petitioners further allege on IN
formation and belief that during the
month of October last the Kobe I'm
migration company, corporation or
ganized and doing business under tn;
laws of the Empire of Japan and IIa
I