New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1901-07-12
TO BAR MANY CHINESE.
JUDGE HANFORD, OF SEATTLE, WILL
CONSIDER NATIVE son" CLAIM
FALSE IN FUTURE.

There will be mourning in Chinatown when
the Cinnamon learn of recent Federal Court
decision which will go long way toward put
ting end to smuggling alien Chinese into the
United States by the popular native sons
route. The decision was handed down by Judge
c. H. Hanford, of the United States Court. sit
ting in Seattle. While it particularly applies
to that district, the exposure of the smuggling
scheme involved cannot fail to have its effect
on the Federal judges Of other districts, 1t is
said.
News of the Hanford decision was received
by the Chinese Bureau of the Custom House IN
this city yesterday The officers were as much
pleased with 1t as the Chinese smugglers VIII De
displeased.
I'VE have had great deal OF trouble with
this native sons scheme of letting Chinese INTO
the country" said Deputy Collector F. s. PAIN
er who is in charge of the Chinese Bureau TO a
Tribune reporter. I'VE make II point always
to ask the Chinese where they We're born as soon
as they come into hands. Then, when they
are coached by some friend from Chinatown to
saw that they were born in Mott-st, or san
Francisco or some other place In the United
States we have the prior testimony TO use
against them.
I'VE always reject these native son Claims
unless they are supported by documentary EVIL
dence or the testimony of two white witnesses
The judges look at it differently when the cases
are brought before them by habeas corpus pro-
ceedings. If Chinaman comes up cIaliiiii's
to be the youths father. and another VINO Is
willing to swear that he is his uncle the judge
usually says come in and our re)ection
amounts to nothing.
I'm this recent decision by Judge Hanforo lie
takes the stand that all native born Washington
Chinese have had time to return from their ma
tive land. and that more should be allowed 10
enter on that plea This establishes precedent
which should be followed by Federal Judges
throughout the country. While it is not binding
upon another Judge it will doubtless be given
considerable weight"
Chinese of this city have used the Seattle court
a great many times TO get friends and relatives
into the country San Francisco has also been
used IN the same way and to an even greater
extent. There has never been any trouble In
obtaining white witnesses to swear TO the idenu-
ty of the Chinese who seek admission. They
had different ways of Identification in the diff
ferent cases. Perhaps they would say:
IT saw him many times when a baby. and l
recognize his features although he has grown
up" Or, II remember the time he was born.
for his father set off fireworks all the
place" Just how this fixed the features OF the
infant on the minds of the Witnesses was never
explained
Judge Hanford is frank about the matter. In
part of his decision. he says:
II have every reason to believe that this court
is being advertised among the Chinese
gateway for admission TO the United States, and
that agents Of intending Chinese immigrspts
offer cash rewards to witnesses who aid by CIV
ing testimony. ] wish to have II understood by
the Chinese people that this court presumes
that all Chinese born in Seattle prior to 1890.
who went away to China, have returned. and
that all others who come hereafter claiming TO
have been born here prior 20 1890 will be pre-
n ha INN nncfn AaI WITH ~ I,e,fV
ted unless they produce such convincing evil
dence as to overcome that presumption. -.