The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-09-08
CHINESE HELD IN BONDAGE.
4 LARGE NUMBER IMPORTED By
4 san FRANCISCO RING.
Moro Than 100 Landed in August Osten-
sibIy for the 81. Louis Fair-l,SOO
Women Said to He Held in Bondage
In San FranciscO for Immoral Purposes.

WASHINGTON, Sept. THE existence Of
a ring among wealthy Chinese merchants
on the Pacific Coast for the purpose Of
importing poor men and women OF their
race, who are kept in virtual slavery for
years, is alleged in a petition from the
W. G.. 7. L. of California received at the
State Department. The petition asks the
assistance of the Depart ment in Kidding
San Francisco Of 500 Chinese women who
are living an enforced life Of shame. The
petition has been turned over to the Bureau
of immigration.
Officers OF the Bureau Of immigration
admit that the investigation of conditions
surrounding recent arrivals OF Chinese at
San Francisco gives color to the belief that
many of them were imported at the cost
of wealthy Chinese merchants. who ex-
pected to get their money back from the
wages of their victims, extending over
long period of years, The coolies or fe-
male slaves as the case may be, appear to
enter into this bondage willingly for the
sake Of getting into the United States.
Once here they discover that the slave
holder takes all their wages and keeps
them in continual debt, against which they
dare not rebel. for fear Of their lives and
the lives of their relatives in China.
Most OF the Chinese recently seeking ad-
mission at San Francisco were reported to
be on their way to the Chinese village at
the Louisiana Purchase Exposition. On
Aug. the steamer Dorio landed 1888 Chi
nese, bound for Lee Toys concession at
ST. Louis. and on Aug. 10 the steamer ST.
IBERIA brought So more.
The large importation Of Chinese. mostly
coolies. at this time, when the fair Is half
over. aroused the suspicion Of the immi-
grafton officers here and at San Francisco,
and a rigid investigation was ordered. Four
of the tW elve women in the first lot wers
found to be slaves, imported for immoral
purposes.
The gang Of sharpers having the ignorant
coolies in charge made the detention Of their
victims pretext for further extortion, OBJ
tanning from each person 3l10 for the cost
of an alleged bond Of detention in addition
TO the original charge of $500, Mexican
money secured for their admission into this
country.
was paid $40 per head for fares Of the Chi
nese to st. Louis and their return to China
after the close of the exposition. The
law requires bond Of $500 for each Chinese
to insure his departure from the country.
Inc tOtal COst Oh Transporting tHe SNIleoo
was $50, $40, and the cost OF premiums on
the bonds was 34,74O, while the Chinese
victims paid the ring Sl22,4 leaving
$50, 100 unaccounted for, and this sum IL
supposed to represent the profits OF the
smuggling ring,
The question before the Bureau OF Immi-
grafton is, whether the smuggling ring
will decide to return the coolies 10 China.
and thus settle the $500 bond In each case,
or whether they will decide to keep the
coolies jim this country and forfeit the bond
and the passage money here. II the Chinese
really wish to remain here, it will be next
TO impossible to identify and apprehend
them, while at the same time they may be
working as virtual slaves, trying to repay
to their taskmasters the amount OF the bond
forfeited.
The confessions OF the four women slaves
in question have been returned to San
Francisco with instructions to the United
States District Attorney to bring the matter
before the Federal Grand Jury, with a
view to prosecuting members of the ring.