Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-14
War Of the Trea ury Department on
Snug giers
ON fHB CANADIAN BORDER
Surveys on the Seal Islands OF
Alaska
INSPECTION OF CANNERIES

Mr.. Chance. supervising special agent of
the Treasury Department says in his re-
port just submitted.
ION the northern frontier cattle, horses
tea, wool. drugs. tobacco. diamonds and
other commodities have been snugg.ed. or
attempted to be smUgg.ed. into the coun-
try, many seizures have been made. and in
instances where evidence could he secured
criminal prosecutions have been Instituted.
In instance officer of the depart
n,ent seized s15.022.5O worth of diamonds
concealed on the person Of the smuggler,
and arrested the offender. On the Mexican
frontier similar oper Itions have been de-
tected. Mexican drawnwork being favor
lite subject for Illicit Jraffic At the port OF
New York smuggled goods valued at over
$4,000 abroad. chiefly diamonds, were
seized and held for forfeiture Numerous
other seizures of struggled merchandise
were made by officers of this division, or
as the direct result Of their work, and the
aggregate appraised value thereof was
sI3s. a32.OT. noted above. while s.xty-nine
arrests for these and similar offenses were
also made.
THE government recovered $4,000 in the
lace smuggling case referred to in my last
annual report, and the systematic SNUG
Cling of laces which prevailed for num-
Der of years was broken up.
THE special agent in Europe and his sub
ordinates have been interchangeable in the in
vestigation of cases of differentiation.
smuggling and other Irregularities and
substantial results have accrued from their
work Appraising officers frequently call
for their aid. and they have submitted val
liable reports upon a great variety of sub
tects. under conditions which have called
for the exercise Of tact and perseverance.
They have had the cordial cooperation of
many consular officers and the department
has also received from the latter, through
the Department OF State. many valuable
reports relating to the dutiatIe character
tod han
agents corps in Europe has been a very
valuable auxiliary to the customs service
In this country.
Chinese Exclusion.
There has been improved efficiency in
the enforcement of the Chinese exclusion
laws The total number of Chinese persons
of the classes other than laborers who ap-
piled for admission to the United States
during the last fiscal year was 1879; of this
number 1925 were admitted and $50 were
refused admissions These figures include.
however 32s admitted to the Hawaiian
Islands and thlrty-seven denied admission
to those Islands, the department having as
sumed charge Of the enforcement of the
Chinese exclusion laws In the Hawaiian
Islands In November last in pursuance of
the provisions Of the joint resolution pro-
viding for their annexation.
The number of Chinese persons permit
ted the privilege Of transit through the
United States. under bonds. was 1,Ol2; most
the intention. doubtless of attempting to
secure irregular admission into this coun-
try The penal sum Of such bonds was In
creased from s2D0 to $3.50. The arrest OF
I3I Chinese persons on the Mexican frontier
for decoration indicates that proper eff
forts have been made TO prevent their re-
turn to this country.
The number Of returning registered
Chinese Iaborers admitted during the last
fiscal year was 1.I93. and the number OF
the same class who Left the country with
the intention of returning was 2,9''4-
Guilty of Corruption.
In November 1895. a thorough investi-
cation into the method Of enforcing the
Chinese exclusion laws at the ports where
that business is transacted eliminated in
the dismissal and Indictment of three cor
rupt off1cials, who were found to have ac-
cepted brides for the un awful admission of
Chinese laborers. Immediately thereafter
nur10er of other officers employed on this
work were dropped for ineficiency- These
occurrences led to the almost entire sus-
pension OF Chinese immigration at various
points 1t was found that at Boston, New
York. Chicago and elsewhere fictitious
Chinese mercan mile establishments had been
organized IN large numbers for the sole
purpose of securing the admission of Chi
nese as alleged returning merchants, under
the provisions Of section of the act OF
November g. 1893 Such firms usually
claimed to have from twenty to fifty or
more partners and reaped large profits by
facilitating the admission of as many Chi
nese laborers. after which each would re-
organize with new list OF partners"
Very few of them had any considerable
stock of goods or trade, and since their
methods have become known many OF these
pretended mercantile firms have gone out
Of business.
During the first six months of the last
fiscal year $50 Chinese persons other than
laborers were admitted at points on the
northern frontier and 81 were refused ad-
mission: during the last six months of the
same year only % Chinese persons other
than -aborers were admitted at the same
ports. while lO3 were refused admission.
THE total number OF Chinese persons of
the so-ca'!ed exempt class, being other
than laborers, admitted during the last fis-
cal year was - per cent less than the num-
Der admitted in the last preceding year
This result is due to more honest and eff
cieut administration. the facts develop.t by
the Investigation referred to and the earnest
cooperation Of local customs officers at
near all ports AT which Chinese NAV lie
lawfully admitted.
admitted for Exhibition PURPOSES.
The Joint resolution of March /, 1879
provides that the Chinese exclusion laws
should not prevent the admission of such
mechanics. artisans. agents or other en-
pIoyes' as any foreign agents or other en-
resentative or citizen of a foreign ratfor,
OF me holder, who is citizen of a foreign
natlon. OF any concession or privilege from
lhe Philadelphia Exposition Association
Hi4EHt ue=rn necessary FOR the DDrposeS nf
such concession The PHILADELPHIA exnosf-
ti3n authorities granted a concession for a
1hlnese eNnioit 10 a Thinaman and sun
ported his demand for the admission oF t5n
Cninese persons for the purposes thereof,
After careful consideration II wa fo,,,,a
mat under the provisions of the Joint reso-
Iuuon referred 10 the department had no
sqthorfty TO nix and limit the number of
thlnese persons TO be admitted for the
purpose In question, nor 10 make regula-
.k oIs 2overnlhg the same and providing for
their subsequent deportation. The applIca-
non OF the concessionaire was therefore
Ieilctantly granted. although experience
had SHOWN that the number was greatly IN,
excess OF the requirements OF an exhibit
such a. was contemplated. and the coffee
tor OF customs San Francisco was in
ftructed TO admit $50 Chinese persons for
the purposes Of such concession At the
same Tine IL was required that photo
gfaph and accurate description of each
should be furnished to the collector Sub
sequently 2s1 Chinese persons were ad-
united under this authority and arrived at
me exposition The collector of customs NJ
Philadelphia has since reported thar ON No
vember :. 1892 all but forty-nine had de-