The times., 1899-08-29
HELD At SAN FRANCISCO
A Band of FiIipinos Seeks Entrance
Into America.
The Inspector OF Immigration Files
Protest and Is on His Way to
washington to Present His Case
The Natives of Aguinaldo's Land
Intended for Exhibition Purposes.

H. H. North. local commissioner of i'm
migration at the port OF San Francisco.
has protested to Terence V. PowderIy.
the head OF the immigration Bureau at
Washington against the landing OF a troop
of Filipinos who arrived at the Golden Gate
on the United States transport Zealandia
August 8. As in the case OF the FiIipinos
who were finally admitted for show pur-
poses at Glen Island, n. Y. and Omaha
Neb., this troop is held up upon the gen
eral allegation that their entry into the
United States would be in violation OF the
alien contract law.
In the cases of those destined for Glen
Island and Omaha the ultimate decision
of the department permitted their entry
on the theory that they were not in the
sense of the statutes violating the contract
labor law, but had come hither for the
purpose of giving exhibitions or in other
words were permitted to land under the
same reasoning as permits actors from
foreign countries TO enter the United
States under contract Those admitted for
exhibition purposes at Glen Island and
Omaha are now depicting the village life
and habits, native industries and giving
exhibitions of native dances and general
customs of the primitive Filipipos at the
expositions now in progress in these
places. There is, however, some differ
ence between those now held up at San
Francisco and those who were permitted
to land some months ago
This band of Filipinos is under contract
to exhibit first at the Mechanics Institute
in San Francisco. The party numbers
sixty-eight souls, one having been born
TO one OF the women on board ship coming
over. The crowd is under the command OF
a Spaniard named GonzaIo de Rivas y
Fernandez. who halls from Madrid, and is
a circus manager by profession Though
these Filipinos are without doubt under
contract and sent to the United States
purely for exhibition purposes Commis-
sioner North. of San Francisco, through
his medical officers. discovers that at least
TWO OF the party is afflicted with a most
loathsome and contagious disease which,
IN the form these people appear TO have it,
is very dangerous the general health OF
the community.
In addition to this there are twenty-five
who do not appear from the rnansfc-tt tn be
connected with the alleged show or cir
Gus, and some of these confess that they
are not under contract and furthermore
are without means, and therefore, the i'm
come public charges and should not be per-
mitted TO land. OF the company regularly
under contract with the Spaniard Fernan-
dez eight are women between the ages Of
seventeen and twenty-five. and one old
Philpino beauty eonfesses to having lived
! thirty-five years. Aside from these, there
are nine other women of various ages and
consequently Of numerous shades of fem
| mime loveliness who are not regularly con-
nected with the combination Should they
| be eventually permitted to land in San
| Francisco they will, it is said. tour the
| country under contract with manager
| whose name is given as James Pagan, who
resides in San Francisco. They have with
them number of native Philippine ponies
and other appGrtenances, and it is the in
| tention of Pagan to cross the continent
with his troop. exhibiting route, anG
| eventually sail from New York about q
year hence for Paris to exhibit his motley
| band at the exposition TO be held there in
| 1900.
| Inspector North Is now on his way tc
Washington to consult with Commissioners
Powderly in reference to the matter, and
pending his arrival the Filipinos will be
| held up at San Francisco. IL is more than
| likely that at least a portion of this lot oil
actors or performers will be returned
/ to their native land, especially if it is
proved that some members are infected
with disease. Inspector North is expected
to arrive in Washington the latter part OF
the present week, and pending his arrival
| Commissioner Powderly will take no ac-
I finn