The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-12-12
MEN CUTTER FOR THE YUKON.
IT Is DEMANDED BY the ExTES-
SION CT CUSTOMS SERVICE.
ati0n Of so. 900 for . Vessel to BE
Built On Puget Sound-Infrfnge.

WASHINGTON. Dec. lin the annual
report Of the secretary of the treasury
there are several matters of more than
usual interest TO the people Of the Pacific
coast touched upon. Another vessel Is
needed for the revenue cutter service for
use On the Yukon. The secretary says:
he large influx Of people to Alaska.
particularly to the region washed by the
YUKON river and the territory adjacent
thereto. the large increase Of steam and
sail commerce and the consequent extern
SION OF the customs service in that coun-
try, all emphasize the necessity of hay-
Ing vessel Of the cutter service ready
Tor duty On the Yukon river next spring
TO aid In the enforcement OF the customs
and navigation laws. There is not now
at the disposal Of this department yes
for the duty Indicated; in fact. any vessel
drawing more than two and one-hah feet
OF water would be useless On the Yukon
river. | therefore urge that an appropri-
alton OF $4,000 be made Immediately avail
able with which to construct and equip
vessel suitable for the work. The YES
sci would have to be built in sections.
conveyed 20 ST. Michael and there set up
and equipped. With the known facilities
for building this class Of vessels on the
waters OF Puget sound. one could be made
ready, If means INSIDE be provided. IN time for
The Alaska salmon fisheries are treated
as follows,
During the last fiscal year one in
spector OF fisheries and two assistant In
spectors were appointed under authority
reports 1t would appear that these officers
visited and inspected as many salmon
canneries in Alaska as was possible with
the limited means of transportation at
hand, and notified the Gamers to remove
such traps and distractions as existed in
violation of law. From the statistics
submitted with the above reports, 1t would
appear that the supply of salmon in
Alaska is still plentiful and. under proper
supervision by the government, VIII so
continue. This supervision cannot be
means provided for this purpose. The
salmon Inspector In Alaska not only has
not the means Of enforcing the salmon
laws. but in many cases, owing to the
territory. Is dependent for transportation
from one cannery to another upon the
courtesy OF the Gamers themselves. AS
long as this situation continues the ef-
forts of the salmon inspectors to correct
the evils resulting from close composition
in the saimon-canning industry In Alaska
will be practically nugatory. 1t may be
possible, however. to assign a revenue
cutter to assist in enforcing the law.
1T has been suggested that some
amendments should be made to the pres
others that each packing company should
have the exclusive right to take salmon
in the streams adjacent to which II
side OF the mouth Of the stream, under
q lease for a term of years, subject to
revocation by the secretary OF the treas
carefully investigated and may have
some further recommendation TO submit
to congress on this subject"
The many difficulties in the way of a
proper enforcement of the Chinese ex-
clusion act are spoken of as follows:
During the past fiscal year s,sS Chi,
nese persons of the exempt class applied
for admission to this country. OF this
number, 5,47S were admitted and 4o2 were
rejected. In addition. Isis Chinese labor
through the United States, the railways
transporting them being required to pro-
duce proof of their departure from this
country. During the same period le5l
with the intention of returning thereto,
privilege which Is accorded TO persons
of that class by the treaty between the
United States and China. The number OF
Chinese arrested was Loss. OF which num-
Der 227 were deported. $40 discharged and
the cases remaining were pending at the
close Of the last fiscal year.
ITO enforce the provisions OF the ex-
clusion laws inspectors are employed and
stationed at ports on the frontier ana
seaboard where the Chinese usually seek
admission to this country.
Many difficulties have arisen In the en-
forcement of this law. particularly on the
northern frontier. where Chinese are con-
stantly applying for admission to this
country, claiming TO have been born here.
Upon being refused admission by the coli
lector they bring their cases before United
States commissioners and are usually dis
charged. The testimony submitted is in
variabiy that OF Chinese persons. In
many instances Ii Is not practicable to
controvert the testimony OF Chinese wit
nesses. and in many cases testimony only
can be obtained by the applicant. The
record OF vital statistics at places In this
country where Chinese claim to have
been born is either not kept or fails to
furnish evidence upon which officers OF
this department may demand the rejec-
ton of the applicants.
1T would seem from the difficulties
which are encountered In the enforce
meat of the exclusion laws that further
legislation on the subject should be had"