The evening times., 1899-02-02
CHINATOWN ALARMED
At THREAT OF 4 Raid
Many Celestials Live Here in
Defiance of Laws.
TerrOrized Over the Thought Of
Discovery and Deportation.
Explanation of How the Exclusion
Exclamation af How the Exclusion
Act L. Violated and the Diff
HcuIties of Detection.


a number of its special inspectors TO make
a trip 10 Chinatown. The statement has
been made that there are in this city more
than a hundred Chinese laborers who are
unlawfully residing in the country, having
come here in violation of the Chinese ex-
clusion laws of almost a decade ago.
All such Chinese are liable TO arrest and
deportation from the country at the eN-
pense of the Government. 1t is no wonder,
therefore, that the almond-eyed laundry
men and vendors of chop suey are fright
ened. They live in constant dread OF the
appearance Of the special Chinese inspect
ors OF the Treasury Department, and those
who reside here illegally know what il
means to be accused of being without a
certificate Of registration.
When a Chinaman is once suspected the
inspectors have only TO arrest him under
the provisions of the Geary Law OF 1892.
Unless the prisoner can establish TO the full
satisfaction OF the judge or commissioner
before whom he is taken his lawful right
TO remain in the country be must be de-
ported. The exclusion laws have been
abused so fagrantly during recent years
that orders Of most positive nature have
been issued by the Treasury Department
directing the arrest of all Chinese suspect
ed of being Illegal residents of the country
Sweeping Orders.
Shortly after Secretary Gage entered
upon his duties at the Treasury Depart
ment he issued general order directing
that all Chinese unable 10 produce GER
tificates of registration prescribed by the
Law for laborers or evidence Of their status
as bona fide merchants engaged in business
in this country. or rs laborers in transit
TO Others countries. should be arrested by
inspectors. whose special duty it is TO en-
force the Chinese exclusion laws.
Attorney General McKenna also ordered
all United States attorneys and marshals
10 cooperate with collectors and other
customs officers in carrying out the in
strUctions OF Secretary Gage. In view OF
these sweeping orders il is the duty of the
Chinese inspectors 10 remain yigiiant and
active constantly. always on the alert 10
detect laborers who have been smuggled
into the country by way OF Canada.
There are between four and FIVE hun
dred Chinese I'D this CITY. MANY are in
tie laundry business and have small places
cf business in various paTIS Of the city.
They are not considered merchants bur
are included in the class of laborers'
designated in The exclusion laws The
majority of The local population of these
Orientals live in what is known a. "Caina-
town, in the tlock bounded by Third and
Four-and-a-half Streets. Pennsylvania
and Missouri Avenues northwest.
Our chinatown.
There are seven Chinese grocery stores
and one Chinese restaurant in Chinatown.
The laundrymen are organized into an
association which is managed from cen
tral Office in a Chinese grocery store on
-Four -and-a-haIf Street. just south OF the
Avenue. Probably half. il not Alnore, OF
the entire local Chinese population is hud
died into that congesied aggregation of
houses known as Chinatown, and il is
with the utmost difficulty that individuals
can be located or identified.
The most thichly Ienaufed house in The
Chinese quarter is AT 80 Pennsylvania
Avenue. The building was formerly the
Old Berlin Hotel. belonging 10 the Cudlip
estate. and when conducted as a hostelry
contained about thirty rooms. These
apartments have been paT1 itioned and di-
vided into scores of smaller rooms,
scarcely the size OF a regulation bath
room in the ordinary American residence.
Within these Chinese precincts are shelf
cred innumeTable members of the race.
and they are dark. gloomy. and crowded,
10 say nothing OF the sckening odor OF
the prepared hop which perIneates their
atmosphere.
II is easily understood how smuggled
Chinaman might find cOncealment in such
his countrymen. he gradually acquires
some knowledge OF English. and becomes
associated with a ''washee- washee' man
in some part of this or some other place
When the inspector gets on his trail
he boards the first train for some other
city where he viii always find someone
10 shield him. Your Chnaman is ever
clannish and cautious. and always willing
10 guard his brother from the grasp Of the
inspector. They will take every precau-
tion to shield each other.
Evasion aT LHus
Hence the terror that pervades China
town. The public naturally wonder how
so many unlawful '-laborers'' could have
reached here. The explanation is not diff
cult. They gather in every city in the
country. There are many abuses OF the
exclusion laws and some places manage
to get more than their proper quota. but
all cities gets some. and Washington is
no exception.
One Of the greatest evils in this con-
nection has been the admission Of Chinese
10 participate in eXpositions of various
kinds. The Trans Mississippi and Inter
national Exposition al Omaha was the most
recent instance Of that kind. a joint reso-
luton approved June 30. 1897. permitted
number Of mechanics. artisans actors
and other natives Of China 10 come into
the country for the purpose of preparing
and conducting an exhibit at this exposi-
tiOn- Under this resolution 425 Chinese
were permitted TO enter the country II
was intended TO require bond guarantee
ing the departure Of these Chinese after
the expiration of the time allotted for their
visit, and TO exact full description of
each Chinaman admitted TO facilitate iden-
tification. The Solicitor of the Treasury
decided that there was no authority for
the proposed precautions, and before the
close of the exposition nearly all of the
Chinese admitted had scattered through
the country. Among them were a num-
ber of women who il is asserted have
since been given TO immoral purposes.
Difficulties to Re Met
Supervising Special Agent Chance said
yesterday:
To apprehend and dcrort these Chinese will in
vnve large expenditures. and IL viii doubtless h,
linpracticable to secure the deportation Of all Il
D represented that the privilege OF allowing Chi
ncse 10 participate in such eNpositions under IN,
broad authority which has been granted resuite
in an arrangement under which The holders o
concessions agreed Tor a consideration 10 s,cIir,
the admission 10 this country Of Chinese laborers
There has lately been a great increase in IN,
number OF Chinese laborers who apply for adms
sinn on the ground thai they were born In IA,
United States, supporting their claims with Chi
nesc testimony only. on steamer. recently
arrived AT san Francisco. 10 Chinese passenger
made such claim. When the customs officers
satisfied that such Representations false, re
)erf their applications, the applicants USUALLY ap
ply to the courts and are generally granted per
mission 10 land upon the testimony Of their coun
tTEmen, who have regard for the binding fore,
Of an oath administered under nur laws.
I'm Vermont and New York prosecutions for per
IN rssrhr lsa..o l.,Ia 81.