The San Francisco call., 1899-11-22
DISCRIMINATION
FAVORING THE
CHINESE PAUPER
Defect Discovered in
Exclusion Act.
SHlFTLESS COOLIES LANDED
IMMIGRATION COMMISSIONER is
PoWERLESS.
Reasons Why the Secretary of the
Treasury VIII Urge a Change in
the Law Governing the
Chinese Bureau.
SHIFTLESS COOLIES LANDED
IMMIGRATION COMMISSIONER is
PoWERLESS.

The announcement in yesterdays issue
OF The Can that The Secretary OF The
Treasury was considering the advisaoi-
ity OF turning the management Of the
Chinese Bureau iuto the hands OF the
local ifnmi grafton bureau az this port
with United States immigration Commits
sioncr Hart North as its head provoked
considerable comment IN the Custom
house. Many OF the old timers approved
OF the idea and called attention 10 point
on which the so-called exclusion act con-
nicts with the general immigration laws
and confcrs upon certain natives OF emma
privileges denied 20 the natives OF Great
Britain. Germany. France. Italy, Russia
and others OF the European nations. This
IS the privilege granted 10 Chinese pau
p0rs, 1t11ICT81Us ant other undesirable per-
sons OF that nationality 10 land in the
United States without having 10 pass the
scrutiny OF the immigration officials.
Take, Tor instance, the case OF Chi
nese laborer returning 10 this country on
his certificate Of registration. II he
shows that he Is the person 10 whom the
certificate had been granted he IS allowed
10 land, no matter how much OF pau
per hc may be, while the European Ia
borer is denied a landing unless he can
show TO the satisfaction OF the immigra-
tion officers that he is able and has the
means with which 10 support himself
This is a discrimination in favor of the
Chinese and against all other aliens, ana
if is argued that II would he no more
than just even under the present condi-
tion of things. that the Chinese laborer
after having been landed by the Collec-
Tor OF the Port should be turned over TO
the immigration officials for them 10 as
certain whether he does or does not come
under the head OF aliens not entitled 10
be landed.
Il is argued also that the immigration
bureau is the logical body 10 deal with
the provisions Of the exclusion act and 10
handle all immigration. no matter OF what
race or kind. The immigration officers
have nothing else 10 do than TO look after
immigrants. and there IS no logic in turn
ing Chinese immigrants over 10 the Col
lector OF the Port instead OF 10 the Com
missioner OF immigration.
Collector Jackson very Justly complains
that the pressure Of Chinese business
keeps him in his Office until o'clock
every evening. and that even working
overtime he cannot keep mp with the de-
mand upon hls time. The Collector, be-
ing the only person who can order the
landing Of a Chinese immigrant, u fol-
lows that no matter how many Chinese
inspectors there may be, the bulk OF the
work falls upon him just the same
These are said 20 be among the vital
reasons which have induced the Secre-
tary OF the Treasury 10 make prepara-
tiOns 10 Law before Congress the neces-
sitv of amending the exclusion act so that
the Bureau of Immigration Will have sole
control and relieve the Treasury Depart
ment from the burden and annoyance or
The yellow tide