The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-07-09

together, forming sort of fraternity. II
they are too few for this they Join with
others from the same province.
Thus the nature of the Chinese Six Com
panies in San Francisco is apparent
When, after the discovery of gold in Cal
| ifornia, the Chinese flocked here by thous-
ands, what was more natural than that
they should organize after the custom of
their country? Here they were strange
in appearance, manner and language; at a
time when the code of ethics was, Every
man for himself and the devil take the
hindmost."
One Society mt First.
At first there was but one society They
rented a room on Sacramento street in
| San Francisco, and In this modest way
| the work began. Many of the Chinese
WHO came here had never been more than
thfty or A hundred miles from their birth
| place. To be landed alone in a rushing,
roaring Western town in those boom
times was bewidering, even to people
without pgtails. John. scared and
strange, knew not which way to turn.
When a ship came in. the society sent
wagons to take the immigrants and their
baggage to Chinatown. where they were
supplied with room water and wood for
| month. or TWO. or until they found
work.
This plan required money, which was
supplied by voluntary subscription and
voluntary taxes. Then a rule was made
whereby every Chinaman leaving the
United States was required 20 contribute
an amount which has varied at different
times from IS to $50.
At first the president of the society was
chosen for an indefinite term, but. as the
Chinese population increased, and differ
ent clans were represented in large num-
bers, jealousy appeared. No clan was
willing that a member of another clan
should be president for life.
Then came orruption-corruptio of the
everyday sort; society funds used for
personal benefit; absconding and the rest
1t was uot long before there were six
different societies, or companies. repre-
senting the most populous clans. They
were called and are still known as Sam
| Yup, Yung Wo. Kong Chow, Ming Yung
! Hop Wo and Van Wo.
Each company has its president treas
urer and interpreter, or inspector. These
are elected annually by the directors, who
| are merchants and prominent men of the
| clans in San Francisco. The presidents
receives salary of from 800 to 500 q
month. the interpreters $50 There is
now no membership fee and nor formal
| rites or ceremonies of admission. The
| name, age and native place of each Chi
nese immigrant is taken. and he is en-
rolled in the company to which he be-
| longs When he is in need of assist
ance, he applies to his company.
The companies are supposed to give aid
to chose who are sick or out of work,
| sending them back to China IL need be;
! to contribute to sufferers in time OF disas-
! ters. and 10 attend to shipping the re-
| mains of Cinnamon to their native land.
| They are called upon to act as q board
| of arbitration in all disputes; and to help
collect debts They are without power
! to compel the settlement of any question,
! and if their advice is not followed, the
matter must go TO the courts.
Among the Chinese it is the rule to lend
money without security and without SO
much as a scrap of paper between the two
parties. This makes it very easy for the
| debtor to evade the debt and the United
! States courts could not do much to help
| the creditor. Should a man attempt TO
| leave the country with unpaid debts. the
creditors at once inform the Six Com
panies, and as they keep a close watch
for all who take passage, in order to get
the money which is paid as an exit Fee
the evading John is likely to be presented
with the claims and advised to pay. IL he
refuse. an attempt is made to prevent his
leaving by aid of the law.
At present the going away subscription
ia about 80 One-third of ii goes to The
Meeting Hall of the Middle Kingdom"
which is the place of meeting when
question of importance to all the clans
brings the directors of the entire Six Com
NAMES into solemn session; one-third goes
/ 10 his own particular society and the re-
mainder 10 the fund for shipping the
ashes of the dead 10 China.
In the early days The Six Companies had
20 with the steam
shin companies whereby transportation
was refused unless in addition to the reg
MAR fare a permit from the Six Com
| NAMES could be shown, providing that the
nroper fee had been paid and all debts
settled Later, when many Chinese haa
been converted by the mission workers
they refused 10 pay the fee of the SIX
Companies because in connection with each
hall is a joss house. where the patron dl-
vinItIes OF the clan are worshipped. In
| accordance with their contract the steam
shin companies refused passage TO CHRIS
uan Chinese unless an extortonate rare
/ tcas maid. but In time, after much CON
troversy, the contract was OF necessity an
nulled Now. as a rule, the Chinese re-
turning home go voluntarily 20 the once
of the company and pay their fees and get
receints The inspector collects receipts
a. Inc wharf and sees the traveller safs
on board the ship
The directors of the companies hold reg
MAR business meetings. When anything
OF Importance comes up notices are sent
ont TO insure full attendance Matters
In outside towns are attended to by let
ter. or when necessary. representative
is I, mt TO adjust the difficulty. Elections
t,te Mace annually, but the officers are
cften re el cted for two or three terms.
Now n wealthy Concern.
crG-.
nanies have become a wealthy organize
tion. They have now a large surplus on
hand. which is constantly increased by
investment. All or nearly all OF them own
their own halls and joss houses, which