The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1898-08-02
THE CHINESE IN HAWAII.
The Exclusion Act Will Be Strongly
Enforced and Hawaiian Chinese
Cannot Land in the United States
Without a U. 8. Certificate.
CALL OFFICE, RIaos HOUSE, [
WASHINGTON, July 22.S

WASHINGTON, July 22.S
Assistant Secretary Howell was
asked by The Call correspondent
what action would be taken by the
Treasury Department If Chinese ar
rived in San Francisco from Hawaii
after the American flag had been
raised over the islands.
"The Chinese exclusion act now
in operation will be strictly enforced
by this department." said Howell,
until Congress meets next Deem
Der, when this department will ask
for legislation on this subject. No
Chinese without certificate issued
in the United States will be allowed
to land. They will be sent back to
Hawaii until Congress by law de-
cides what shall be their status un-
der the annexation OF the islands,"
"That settles the whole matter"
said Collector j. p. Jackson yester-
day when shown the above dispatch
from Washington" IF Assistant
Secretary Howell issues instructions
to me in accordance with the fore
going there is nothing left for me to
do but to follow them out to the
letter. No, shall not make a test
case by permitting one Chinaman
from Hawaii to land and having the
matter carried into the courts. The
Assistant Secretary says they cannot
land, and that is all there is to it.
Not one Chinamau from the islands
can enter this port, and if any at
tempt it they will be sent back"
This statement by Collector j. P.
jackson is directly opposite to that
made by him the day before and
published in The Call yesterday.
Then he was OF opinion that Ha-
wall, being part of the United
States, Chinese residents of those
islands had perfect right to pass
from one portion of the United
States to another without hindrance.
He thought that if any Chinese
should apply for admission here he
would be in duty bound to allow
them to land.
Assistant Secretary Howell's posi-
tion is Endorsed by a leading attor-
ney of this city who has devoted his
attention for years to handling Chi
nese CAGES, and is thoroughly fam
liar with every phase OF the exclu-
sion laws. Speaking of Collector
Jackson's opinion, as given in yes
terday's Call, this attorney said:
"In the first place it has been con-
coded from time immemorial almost
that every sovereign power has the
right to regulate foreign immigra-
ton as it sees fit. 1t can say who
shall and who shall not come into
its territory, and can even 60 so far
as to exclude such aliens as it
chooses after they have entered its
borders. With the principle fully
recognized by every civilized nation
it only remains for the legislative
power of country to adopt such
restriction measures as it may deem
necessary.
"In the case of the Chinese in Ha-
waii, they are subject to direct con-
troll by the National Congress, for
like other Territories, the islands
are governed directly by Congress.
The Chinese there are all under
contract and every contract contains
clause that they shall be returned
to China at the expiration OF a
stated period. They are not resi-
dents of the Hawaiian Islands; they
have no domicile there in the strict
meaning OF the term; nor do they
expect to remain there permanently.
Having entered those islands on
such terms prior to their becoming
United States territory the Chinese
cannot claim the right to enter any
other portion of the United States
in violation of the existing exclusion
laws passed by Congress and ratified