The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1900-07-14
EVADING LAW.
ATTEMPTED ON THE
INSPECTOR
Emgrant Regulates His First State
ment on Advice Of Frightened Japan
csc Who Brought Him Here.

A striking example of the unscrupu
lous methods pursued by foreign people
seeking to enter this country was dis
covered by Inspector of immigration
Baldwin several days ago.
The inspector stopped two japanese
from landing. one claimed that his
relative in the Yokohama Specie Bank
had sent for him, while the other said
that he had come here to work in q
japanese cigar store on Nuuanu street.
Mr.. Baldwin decided that both were
violations of the contract labor law so
remanded the men to the custody of
the quarantine officer. The friends of
the latter Japanese were acquainted
with his claims, and realizing better
than he that they were liable to prose-
cutiOn for having been party to
fraudulent landing, lost no time In
hedging"
In order to protect themselves 1t was
necessary that their countryman re-
tract his former claim, so they at once
acquainted him with the situation. AS
it was not practical for them to com
municate with him in person regarding
the matter, the very ingenious plan of
sending him a surreptitious n te was
adopted. This communiCa n was con-
cealed inside a small cake which was
sent to the man. AS soon as he read
! the note he saw that he had placed
the local japanese in an embarrassing
situation. The most practical way out
of the difficulty, to his mind, was to
repudiate his former statement.
When he was subsequently questioned
\ by the inspector the man coolly denied
ever having said that he intended to
| work for the Nuuanu street establish
ment. He even went so far as to alb
solutely repudiate his first statement,
with which Mr.. Baldwin confronted
! him. The note was found by the Off
4. 1. H.,
cause for the mans sudden change.
The Japanese consul called upon
Mr.. Baldwin regarding the matter and
asked about the methods TO be pursued
in protesting the case. Mr., Baldwin
said that the man had, of course the
right to protest, but he did not think
it likely that the department at Wash
ington would reverse the decision of the
inspector at this place. Such proceed
ing would, moreover, be an expensive
one to the Japanese, for he would have
to pay for his maintenance during the
forty days it would occupy and there
would be but slight chance for his get
ting a favorable ruling. Mr. Baldwin
also remarked that he did not think
the man would be a good citizen, fact
which the consul admitted.
I lowing to the fact that federal courts
have not yet gotten to work." said Mr..
Baldwin, lit will be a little while be-
fore prosecutions can be made for VlO-
lations or attempted violations Of the
contract labor law AS matter of
fact. ] don't think the people under
stand the gravity of such offences FOR
it means the payment of $1,000 fine if
| found guilty. | intend to make it my
business to acquaint them with the law
so they cannot subsequently claim that
a hardship is being imposed upon them
when they are arrested. | have al
ready told the Japanese consul the
circumstances. | will not rely upon him
however to notify the people. In re-
gard to the present cases 1 will frs
consult the attorney general as to thu
advisabiliity of prosecuting the offend
ers"