The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-06-12
ARE LOOKING FOR A FLAW .
CHINESE THINK EXCLUSION ACT
WILL NOT HOLD.
Ready 60 Bring Their Relatives
to America-AppeaI From Collect
or to Secretary of the Treasury.

The heather Chinese think they have at
last found flaw In the exclusion act OF
1894. through which they hope 70 satisfy
their undying desire 10 enter the United
States. whore q fortune. In Celestial eyes,
Is awaiting the Industrious. II has been
suggested that the officials OF the various
steamship lines that would profit by IN
creased travel from China 10 the States
have pointed out the alleged flaw. and
hundreds of Cinnamon are waiting TO
break in should the matter be decided in
their favor.
II took them a long time % figure out
the new scheme by which they hope TO
enter the land OF promise under the guise
OF merchants and traders. They have be-
gun a systematic attack on the exclusion
act OF 1854 on the ground that a conflict
exists between IL and the treaty made with
China In 1854. This matter which Is OF
the greatest Importance to Seattle and
the other cities on the Pacific coast is
likely to be settled shortly. An appeal
from the decision Of the collector OF the
port at San Francisco has just been sent
10 Washington to be passed on by the
secretary of the treasury II he decides.
as many authorities think he will in favor
of the Chinese. the coolie population of the
coast viii double In very short time.
10 eAssJsiUil dIN pdsssea by congress IN
1854 provides that the certificates on watch
merchants and traders are entitled 10 enter
the United States shall state the nature,
character and estimated value OF the bust
ness OF the applicant The treaty Of 1884
which was ratified end became a law ten
years after the exclusion act went into
effect, sets forth that the applicant must
have a certificate with his namle. age and
description. and the statement that he Is
merchant ha
signed by the Chinese registrar general
and by the United States consul at the
port of departure The treasury depart
ment. OF It's own accord. has added The
additional provisions of the exclusion act
for the purpose of putting a necessary
check on the entry OF cooiie labor
1t Is u we'll known rule that when two
laws on the same subject conflict, the older
law gives way 10 the younger If the latter
Is at all valid. The Chinese claim that the
treasury department has no right or power
to amend the treaty in any way. The only
authority to which an appeal can be taken
is 10 the secretary OF the treasury and
from his decision there can be no further
appeal. The attorney general will prob
ably be called upon for an opinion on the
matter.
With the details regarding the business
of the applicant out OF the way perfect
hords OF coolies might be expected. They
could easily get certiiica les from the regis
trar general in China that they are ner-
chants, and the American consul at the
port Of departure has no way Of checking
him up.
Local Chinese expect a number of their
Oriental brothers to arrive on the next
Nippon Yusen Kaisha steamer. They will
make a demand to be admitted on GER
tsticates stating that they are merchants
bur giving no details.