Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-04-16
Pacific Coast People Alarmed at
Extent of Immigration.
LAND At SEATTLE And VICTORIA
Executive Can Only Prevent Land
ing of Contract Laborers.
ALL OTHERS MAY LAND

SEATTLE, Wash, April 16.-The Nippon
Yuson Kaisha liner Rio Jun Maru has ar
rived with $50 Japanese steerage passen-
gers. She discharged 100 more at Victoria.
VICTORIA, b. c., April 16.-Japanese are
still pouring in here. The steamer Rio Jun
Maru brought 800, and the big liner Good
win 100. The steamer Milos is expected
today with eighty more, and the Braemer
at the end of this week, with over 100. The
labor leaders are agitating against this
great influx Of orientals, but it is said that
the provincial and dominion parliaments
are powerless to enact legislation to keep
out the Japanese, for the imperial govern
ment refuses to allow the passage Of legis-
lation which will affect its friendly rela-
tions with Japan. Martin, the British Co.
lumbia premier, in a speech last night, said
that If reelected he would see that legis-
lation was passed restricting this immigra-
ton.
Yokohama advces brought by the s.eam-
er Rio Jun Maru indicate that charitable
societies and possibly the municipal gov
ernmentS of Japanese cities are taking q
hard in the shipping of a large number of
japanese pauper l.borers to this country.
The Japan Mail says that destitute Asiatics
are not allowed to ccTgregate at Yokohama
and Toxic, but are sent across the Pacifis
as fast possible.
Nothing Done by Government.
Up to this time nothing has been done by
the Washington authorities looking toward
the restriction of the immigration of Japan
ese into this country beyond the applica-
tion of the CONTRACT labor laws.
The enforcement of these laws is intrust-
ed to the officials of the Treasury Depart
ment, and. far as is known, they have
not discovered up to this time any formid-
a,l t1oa 1,riv vfy;, t,,t,
the United States of japanese coolies under
labor contracts. They are not, however,
authorized to interfere with the incoming
of any Japanese who can satisfy the re-
qurements of the immigration laws in the
matter of freedom from contract obliga-
tions and ability to maintain themselves
and it is believed that. unlike other orient
ais, few Japanese, even of the laboring
classes, fail to make sufficient showing
on these points to pass muster and secure
admission at the golden gate.
If, however, the tide of japanese immi-
grafton, now setting toward the British
northwestern possessions, should include
Japanese coolies under contract to labor in
the United States, there will be necessity
for considerable reinforcement of the
number of treasury employees charged with
the policing of the boundary line between
the state of Washington and British Column
bia In order to prevent their entrance into
the United States.
There Is formal obligation upon the
British colonial authorities to prevent such
Japanese from crossing the line beyond
that of mere neighborly interest a consid-
Grafton not always sufficient to stop the
Illicit dumping of undesirable immigrants
into the United States.
Ont of Reach of Executive,
Although the recent reports from San
Francisco Of the arrival at the port of con-
siderable numbers of Japanese laborers
taken in connection with the steady in
crease of the Japanese population of the
Hawaiian Islands, has attracted the atten-
ton Of the executive branch Of the gov
ernment, it is said that even supposing the
presence of the Japanese within our terri
torial limits should be regarded as unde-
sirable. the subject of restriction is one en-
tirely beyond executive reach at present,
and is one for the consideration Of Con-
gresS.
Some Of the officials have been and many
still are Of the opinion that the steady
growth of Industries in Japan attendant
upon the phenomenal development of that
nation in other lines, with the need for
raw material out of which to make SOL
dlers and sailors for the Japanese army
and navy, would create a sufficient homo
demand to remove any menace to the
United States from Japanese immigration
The figures of the immigration bureaus on
the Pacific coast are, however, being close
ly watched. for upon their showing may
depend important recommendations upon
this subject.