The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-03-22
HANANANCHINESEHELDUP
NOT PERMITTED TO LAND AT SAN
FRANCISCO.
Ruling From the United States At
torney General is Asked for-went by
The America Maru.

SAN FRANCISCO March 9.-On
board the Pacific Nails steamship
America Maru are two Hawaiian Chi
nese who have applied to be admitted
into this port on the ground that, be
ing citizen of the islands they became
citizens of the United States. or Anne
rican citizens as they strictly term it.
when the annexation Act went into ef-
feet August r. 1898.
The men are laborers from Hawaii.
When the application for a landing
was made to the Chinese bureau yes
terday morning it was at once referred
to Chief Deputy Collector w. b. Hamil-
ton A war council was called and for
over two hours James r. Dunn chief
of the Chinese bureau, conferred with
the chief deputy At the end of that
council the Chinese We're ordered back
to their ship to await the opinion of
the Collector of the Port
collector Stratton took the matter in
hand at noon and spent the remainder
of the day with his Chinese authorities
the rules of the Treasury Department,
the decisions of the United States At
torney-General the Federal statutes
and the act specially referring to the
Hawaiian Islands and their Chinese po-
puation
Fully appreciating the Importance of
a ruling i'm the matter. the Collector
would make no statement, nor would he
ing. interviewed at his residence, he
said:
81 have carefully examined what law
and orders / can find and though it is
much against my personal feelings. L
fear | must decide that the Chinese
have right to land. Whether this
viii be my final judgment, however, L
VIII not state for il will be a couple
Of months yet before the applications
VIII be passed on by myself conclusive
ly.
You see, granting that these Ha-
Waiian Chinese are American citizens
and not subject to the provisions of the
Chinese Exclusion Act-something I
do not admit officially-they neverthe-
less somewhat Of a difficult task to
prove that they are entitled to be so
classed.
"They must first get their proper
proofs from the islands. and then il will
be time to come to a definite under
standing. Meanwhile I shall report to
the Attorney General and ask him for
a special opinion. All the guidance /
have so far is his order, numbered o.
116 in the department publication for
T 1900, under date of June 18th, which
says that a Chinese citizen of Hawaii
after the annexation act took effect be-
came citizen of the United States
within the purview of the postal re-
quirements that only American citi-
/ Zens may become Sureties on the bonds
| of a postmaster.
If that construction is extended all
/ the way down the line. the two China
men who demanded to be landed TODAY
/ have a good case, provided they can
prove their Island citizenship
MY anxiety in the matt-r is not that
/ fear the damage these two men would
! do if they got into the State h,-a I am
much concerned for fear that any but
| the strictest ruling might give the
, thousands-yes, ten thousand or more
/ of their compantriots announcement
to come over and apply to get into the
United States.
'They may fail of that what then? ?
| The rule now stands that they could go
on to Mexico or to Canada, and from
either place it would be easy walking
to get into our midst The result will
be probably that If the Attorney Gen
eral rules as he has already done, these
men can get in. The only proofs they
have today of their rights is the crew.
list. That, however, cannot avail them
anything without other proof or the
testimony of reputable witnesses from
the island.
Meanwhile they will be transferred
to the detention sheds when the ship
departs eXcerting they choose to stay
aboard to try their luck at landing
when she comes in again on her return
from the Orient"