The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-01-17

Iof Congress who do not agree with the
ruling of the Treasury Those holding
this opinion say that they cannot see
how country can be taken away from
any man. and to refuse to allow citizen-
ship to the Chinese who had citizenship
IN Hawaii would be to compel them to
regain citizenship in the land of their
birth, for that had been forfeited sass
e The course which 1t is hoped here by the
Chinese officials Is this: That some indi-
lvidual Chinese who was citizen of Ha-
iwai1 prior to annexation shall take ac-
ton in the local United States courts,
which in the event of a decision against
the citizen would grant an appeal to the
United States Supreme Court. This would
give an opportunity for the adjudication
Iof the cause before the highest body in
the country and would leave nothing un-
done in the way of adjustment of the
matter. Should action be taken at once
there might be obtained a decision
Through the urgency of the case during
the next sitting of the Supreme Court
~ The Chinese Minister has a. grievance
which he is working upon with the Off
lcials of the Treasury Department. This
lies in the refusal of the Collector at Ho-
inolulu to further recognize the certifi-
Ieates of illness of the proposed-to-return
sChinese, who are thus delayed and may
mot make the trip within the original
limits allowed. He said that up to a few
months ago the certificates of illness
were always accepted and thus relief was
given to the Chinese who could not re-
turn when they originally planned. This
matter is now under advisement, as are
$50 many matters which affect the status
lpf the Chinese in Hawaii.
f Minister WI has more than enough to
do at this time, for not only is he much
occupied during the course of the settle
Chinese q n OF palri
has more and more cases OF alleged dis
termination against the better class of
Chinese to see to daily. One recent case
which gave some amusement to the Off
eials of the State Department, was tho
case of would-be student who applied
for admission at San Francisco. The
student was, according to the statements,
Examined carefully at the office of the
Inspector, and his progress in his studies
looked into. After the examination he
was denied admission on the ground that
he could not be student, as he did not
speak the English language. This was
considered all the more absurd, as the
professed reason for sending the young
man here was to have him educated in
English for a mercantile life.
At another time a Chinese merchant
landed at San Francisco with bill Of
exchange for $1,000. He said that his COM
ing was for the purpose of going into
business. When there seemed to be rea-
son for the belief that he would be re-
fused the privilege of landing, the bank
on which the exchange was drawn sent
representative who told the inspector
that the money was ready for the draft
whenever it was wanted. Even this was
not enough to establish any rights in
the premises, for the would-be merchant
was refused the right to gather his prof
it's from his countrymen and Americans
mixed, and must try and win fortune
from his own people alone and in his
own country.
Minister Wa insists that the preseHt-op-
erations of the exclusion laws are such
as to throw into this country only the
worst of the Chinese population, for it is
only the highbinders and unscrupulous
coolies, the very classes for whose de-
barment the laws were passed, who will
resort to the methods which secure ad-
mission. Thus the good people of the
Chinese, the merchants and the students,
are constantly turned back while the
borders are passed by many of the class
whose presence is a menace to the work.
men of this country. The fact that
Congressman Kahn of California will at
once introduce the bill to re-enaet the
Exclusion law has aroused the Minister
to some activity and there is chance
that he may endeavor to secure some
amendments in the line of his present
belief.