The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-06-10
THE INFLUX OF JAPANESE.
1MMoRATI0N INSPECTOR MAKES
REPORT TO WASHINGTON.
In Accordance with His Recon-
menAatien High OmciaIs of the
Department May Come to sound
Il He Makes Some startling Charges.

Special DISPATCH TO the post-Intslligencer.
FWASHINGTON, June 9,-The treasury
Department has received a long report
from Special immigration Inspector Rob
ert watchorn, from Tacoma which deals
extensively with the question OF Japan
csc immigration at the ports on Puget
sound.
Watchorn believes that the best In
terests would be served by Assistant Sec
rotary of the Treasury Tailor and Com
missioner Of immigration Powderiy visit
ing the Coast in person at the earliest OPP
portunity. These officials are now dis
cussing the advisability OF leaving for
the West at once watchorn says:
Tho public mind 10 kept IN feverish
condition by the continued arrivals OF
japanese and the increasing number or
unemployed. NO two shiploads are alike.
One lot may present a good appearance
and show q degree OF special fitness for
admission. while another load from the
Same port may show Just the opposite,
presenting many evidences OF undeslra-
bility and placing them among the pro-
hibited classes"
watchorn thinks 81 the indux of jap
saess continues there should 10 appoint
ed 4 commissioner OF immigration for
tho Puget sound district, with turfsdfc-
tion over all immigration officers OF the
district At tho same timc he commends
the collector of ports OF Puget sound.
Heustis, but says he has all the work
now ne can do He does not think he
will And an opportunity to go 10 San
Francisco or schoHelds. Utah. owing to
Increasing difficulties at Tacoma and on
the British Columbia border
He says ships arrive weekly with large
numbers OF Japanese passengers, and at
every point OF debarkatlon In the Puget
sound district there are hundreds OF I'M
employed Japs, SO that the situation calls
for most serious confederation by the
treasury department. New points have
arisen which press for immediate action.
Finding the immigrants on the steam
ship Breconshirc. from Japan, had not
vestigation was Instituted when the fact
developed that q Japanese lodging house
keeper had contracted to feed the pas
eengers for the voyage. and after reach
food. The inspector threatened to order
meals from . restaurant and make the
cost lien upon tho ship. but the
North Pacific steamship Company, char
of boiled rice and the inspection was
then continued. when taken from the
ship the company assumed charge and
This" said Watchorn, "is due In no
small measure 20 tho fact that we inform
cd them OF our intention TO appeal to
cision as to their duty in the premises
Every Immigrant ship from Japan"
he says. puts into Victoria before com
inw into Puget sound. Most of the pas
sengers are put or at Victoria. but nearly
all OF them come to Puget sound next day
or within q weeks time, on local steam
ers operated by tho same company. They
almost invariably state on examination
they thought Victoria was In the United
States. and on finding their mistake took
the earliest means to complete the jour
ney."
The. North Pacific Steamship Company,
Watchorn says, after debarking fnrni.
grants mt Victoria, accepts them on local
steamers for Seattle, Tacoma and What
com only on the most exacting terms, The
regular fare IL g. but IL charges each
Jap Immigrant -, giving n receipt for
80. to be refunded II allowed TO land at
Tacoma This s. Is for tho return Jour
ney n dsported-sl for maintenance. n
for head tax and 81 for return fare.
Many OF the immigrants are Described
a. densely ignorant and very undesira-
bio, which suggests a possible theory why
they are landed at Victoria Watehorn,s
reports show that he and the inspectors
under him are required to work night
ana day to keep up with the Increasing
russ OF Immigrants lie recommends thai
Commissioner General Powderly designate
commissioner Healy. Inspector SNYDER
ana inspector Whyte TO serve on boards
OF special inquiry.