The herald., 1898-12-02
CHINA WANTS TREATY
COVERING EXTRADITION OF
HIGHBINDERS
TONG WARS WOULD SO0NST0P
If Oriental officials Could Get Their
Hands on the Offenders Against
American Law
Associated Press Special Wire

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1.-The Chinese
government, through it's Minister, Mr. WI
Ting Fang, has broachcd to the authorities
here the willingness Of China to negotiate
an extradition treaty, applicable to all Grim
nals, but intended in particular to reach
the highbinders. This fraternity has spread
terror through the Far West. 1t purports
to he organized for fraternal and insurance
purposes, but under this guise, it is alleged,
it carries on secret system OF crime, mark
ing victims for slaughter when they incur
the enmity OF the organization.
There have been many agtations in the
West against the fraternity, but it is said
that the local officials have been unable to
wipe out the evil. The Chinese government
finally determined to take cognizance OF the
subject, as the agitations in the country op-
Grated quite as much against the law-abiding
Chinese and against the Chinese govern
ment itself as il did against the parties to
the secret crimes 1t was, therefore, repre-
sented to the officials here that as the high
binders had proved a difficult class for the
local police authorities in this country to
deal with, China would assume the burden
Of detection and punishment il an extradi-
ton treaty could be negotiated. The purpose
was to have China assume all the cost of
apprehending and transporting the guilty
parties. This could be done through the
| machinery of the Chinese Consular service
at San Francisco and other Western points,
| which, being conducted by native Chinese,
was better able to know the ramifcations of
an organization made up entirely of Chinese.
| BY doing this, China felt that she would
rid this country of those responsible for
much of the ill-feeling toward the Chinese
| n g n ploSc Whila xtil!nu 70 uaf rid of { hi
nese highbinders and all other Chinese Grim
inals, the authorities here foresaw serious
| legal objections to such treaty.
| The methods of trial and punishment in
China are very summary. The proposal
therefore was open to the objection that
this country was surrendering persons domi-
| ciled within its borders to foreign country
for harsh and unusual prosecution and pun
| ishment Little doubt was entertained here
that if China once secured possession of the
highbinders short work would be made of
them, owing to the prejudice they have
brought upon the government. China was
ready to overcome this objection as fas as
possible by providing for a full hearing or
trial in this county before the parties were
turned over to the Chinese officials for de-
portation home.
This, however, did not fully meet the legal
objections against. the proposition. More
over, it was believed the Senate, to which
such treaty would have to be referred for
ratification would not act favorably upon
it and that it would stir up animosities and
| agitations on the Chinese question in general
rather than accomplish any special good in
the din desired.
The Chinese authorities have not, there
fore, gone further than to broach the sub
ject to the officials here and learn how such
a treaty would be viewed although they
stand ready at any time to assume the bur
den of dealing with the highbnders and
other Chinese criminals if a naturalization
treaty should give them Jurisdiction over
the offenders.