The San Francisco call., 1899-11-23
CHINESE EXEMPT
FROM PAUPER
PROHIBITION
and Cripples
May Come In.

Port Collector Jackson announced yes
terday that he was very well pleased with
the determination of the Treasury De-
partment TO ask Congress at the coming
session TO amend the exclusion act and
the immigration laws so that the Chinese
Bureau might be transferred TO the Ma
uonal Immigration Commissioner.
He pointed out in section 10 Of the act
OF March 3, 1893. that the act by which
immigrants of all other nationalities are
bound does not apply to Chinese immi-
grants. Section 10 says. This act shall
not apply to Chinese persons" The act
provides among other things that aliens
seeking admission TO the United States
must certify that their passage had been
paid by themselves. ands not by others.
In addition TO complying with all the
other requirements OF the law the immf-
grant must have at least $50 in cash. and
the Immigration Commissioner must be
convinced that the allen will he able 10
support himself for reasonable length
of time upon his own resources. II the
alien be cripple or a defOrmed person
he will not be admitted. But under the
provisions OF section 10 Of the act II the
person be a Chinese alien he may come
In. no matter how much Of a cripple he
may be, so long as there remains enough
OF him To speak Chinese and Wag "A queue
The exclusion act provides that Chi
nese laborer intending 10 go back 10 China
with the purpose Of returning 10 this
the Port that he owns $1,000 worth OF prop
erty in the United States. or has debts
To that amount owing 10 him here. ANY
other alien returning 10 this country after
an absence, even on business. must run
the gauntlet Of the Immigration Bureau
Just as II he had never been here and
should he have had the misfortune to
have lost an arm or leg while abroad
he may be denied admission. But the
Chinese cOOlie labOrer has no such re-
strictions imposed upon him. So long as
n hos NN NH g..
he may come hither in rags. on two
wooden legs and without a cent. The
proviso that he must show before he
leaves for China that he owns at least
$1,000 worth OF property in this country. or
has that amount due him. is not based
on good judgment and a knowledge Of
the chinese character. In the trst place.
Chinese coolie laborer. even II he tried
could never get $1,000 ahead OF the world
on the wages for which he works after
paying his company dues and support
ing himself during his idle seasons, not
TO speak OF such expensive luXuries as
fan tan, pie cow and the opium pipe. II
should be remembered that white labor
ers usually have families, and that
father, mother and children have to work
In order 10 live half way decently. In
the second place, the poorest beggar Of
nesses TO swear that he owns 5000 worth
Of interest I'm some Chinese store or fac
tory. Officials having much 20 do with
the Chinese know that this kind OF per-
jury is common.
AS a further instance Of the partiality
shown 10 Chinese immigrants, Collector
Jackson referred to a recent order which
has the effect OF insuring the return OF
the departing coolie. Prior TO July 81 OF
the present year the Chinese laborer de-
string TO go 10 China was allowed TO go
his way without hindrance or interfer-
ence. II he did not take the steps neces-
sary TO insure his being landed on his
return TO this country that was his own
affair and the Customs Department was
not troubled about the matter. But the
recent ruling Of the Treasury Department
revives an obsolete law, and since the
date named requires the cOOlie who in
tends to return 10 China to give the Col
lector thirty days notice. In order that
the Collector may have an opportunity
of discovering whether the cOOlie has a
right TO return 10 this country. thus inn
posing another burden upon the Customs
Department. and watching over the in
terests of the cOolie with "A fatherly care
denied aliens of other nationaiities
This whole Chinese business is a para
site upon the Customs Department" said
Collector Jackson yesterday. "It takes
up the time OF the Collector and his in
spectors TO the detriment OF the service.
and IL bears no relation whatever to the
duties OF customs officers, for IL has no.
thing to do with the revenues Of the Gov
ernment. I think the matter properly be-
longs to the immigration Department OF
the Government. and the law should be
changed so as TO allow II TO be taken
there"