The San Francisco call., 1897-10-23

there will be an influx of Cainese such as
has not be IN possible for years.
Following are opinions by Collector
Jackson and several Of the local la boz
leader.
Collector of Port Jackson: Referring
to the decision of Judge Hanford, l would
say that The ruling OF the departm ent in
the premises is up to this time based upon
the decision ofJustice Field in the case of
Wan Shing, where. n he decid ed that
IN all cases except laborerS Chinese
desiring 10 enter this country must
produce certificates from the authorities
OF the Chinese Govern ment or such other
foreign Government as they may be su b.
lect> OF before they can enter. This is til g
law OF the statute Of 1884, and the regula-
tons prescribing the kind of certificate
have been framed on the basis of at
statute and Justice Fields decision there
upon.
Now comes in the treaty OF 1894, and
that treaty provides simply that other
IMAM laborers' may produce certificates
from their Government or the Govern
ment where they last resided. The dec-
sion of udge Hanford seems to proceed
upon the basis that that word may is
simply permissive and not directory, and
that they may demand admission INTO
this country and prove their right thereto
by evidence al!unde.
"Of course The effect of this, ii that rem
dering of the law be sustained, will be the
opening wide OF the doors for overland
Chinese 1mm grafton. That is, it will
enable applicants to make fcii-
tious proofs and would require more
knowledge on the part of Government
officials to controvert same than is likely
to be at command. While the Government
regulations are that the certificate shall
surely b. IN The form provided for them
hNyt ha l.zTr e ufill ha
to decide that these provisions are no
longer op 'rative or have been superseded
by he treaty"
Court Com missioner Heacock: Judge
Hantord, i'll nv opinion, is a very able
Judge, and | don't believe that he is re-
ported correctly; that is TO say, do not
believe that that is his decision unuuali-
fisdly. l have not seen the decision, but
am sure that the newspapers have not
reported MIN correctly"
Andrew Furu>eth, secretary Sailors
Union OF the Pacific: "If this dispatch
is correct it will uestionably have the
effect OF giving the Chinese the opportun-
lty OF coming TO this country that they
otherwise would not have. OF course this Is
question of law, and II this is the correct
Interpretation OF the law it IS evident that
the Chinese exclusion act is in need of
amendment. There can be but ono way
to determine whether Judge Hanford is
right or wrong, and that is to appeal from
his decision. II it is only necessary to
state that a person is the wife or son of
another the Chinese will state that very
quickly.
"Of course it Is presumed that nearly
every one is opposed TO Chinese i'm migra-
ton, and every body knows what the
influence OF Chinese immigration on this
coast has been. | don't think there
has been any change in the sentiment
toward the Chinese, and as far as ! am
concerned | know there has been none.
We are opposed to the Chinese, no matter
whether they come from China, Hawaii
or anywhere else"
Waller Macarthur, editor Coast Seamen's
Journal: 1T is simply corroborative of
the fact that any measure looking TO the
mere restriction OF Chinese Immigration
will fail because of The inherent weakness
OF such measures and because OF
the fact that certain persons de-
s.re the Chinese who have influence
with tie consular and other authorities
in this country. This inherent weakness
IN all laws which are simply restrictive
gives the authorities a chance to wink at
violations of the law and admit G inese
into this country practically without any
restriction a all.
The only remedy of which l can
think IS absolute prohibition instead of
restriction. We should take a lesson
from the Chinese themselves and build a
wall around this country as strong as it
can be made.
This dispatch in THE CALL shows that
Chinese restriction Is iarce. Cinnamon
are coming in over the Canadian border
and elsewhere as easily as ever they did.
The only difference Is that the Geary act
has involved our Government IN great ex-
pense without any practical benefit"