The Washington times., 1904-08-28
CHINESE COOLIES
ON OCEAN SHIPS
Effort to Gust Them by an
Exclusion Act.
LABOR UNIONS COMPLAINT
Brought to San Francisco Under Con-
tract and Placed on Outgoing Ameri-
can Steamer Manchuia.
LABOR UNIONS COMPLAINT

The next Chinese exclusion fight will
be made In Congress next winter by the
Pacific Coast labor unions and their
sympathizers for legislation that viii
protect American seamen from the un-
impeded Importation of Chinese crews
for service on vessels flying the Ameri-
can flag; as the friends of this measure
put 1t.
The latest instance Of the importation
of Chinese, I'm spite of the Chinese ex-
clusiOn act and the contract labor act.
was that at San Francisco this week,
when the Pacific Mail Steamship Com
pany's steamer Siberia brought in a crew
Of go coolies, destined for the new
steamship Manchuria, which recently ar
rived from Norfolk. Va, where she was
built
These Chinese were picked up at Hong
kong. said to have been brought to the
United States under contract. transfer
red from one ship to the other, and are
now on their way TO the Orient as crew
OF the Manchuria. The Bureau Of I'm
migration could not prevent this, in
spite Of the protest of the labor and
seamens unions through their Washing
ton attorneys.
Drive White Men Out.
"It is a shame that Chinese should
thus be permitted TO deprive white men
from employment on vessels flying the
American flag" said an official of the
Bureau of immigration yesterday. But
we are powerless to prevent it. though
our viii is not lacking.
I'm the opinion Of the Attorney Cen
eral in the case of the Korea and the
Robert Dollar. where Chinese crews
were imported for service on other YES
20 G
held that there was no actual landing OF
Chinese in the United States. but
mere transference from the deck of one
vessel to another. and that therefore
there is no violation either of the eX-
clusion law or the contract labor law.
THE deck Of an American ship. in so
far as the employment OF crew is
concerned. is not regarded as American
soil. That appears 10 us as an anomaly
and an injustice to American seamen.
which we hope Congress win remedy.
An American worlNingman on the
docks alongside one Of these ships is
protected against the invasion Of
Chinese. or any other cheap contract
labor. while the sailor must look on
and see the deck manned with contract
labor imported from abroad for the pur-
pose of depriving him of living wages.
Work Ior Low " ages.
THE Chinese work for wages upon
which white man would starve and
under conditions which no white man
would submit to-"
This is the labor union side Of the
story, and the one that will probably
prevail, as II is in line with the gem
eral course Of protective legislation.
But. practically speaking. IL is a great
deal better TO have the working force
OF Pacific steamers. which is very much
like the service in q tropical hotel made
up Of Asiotics than Of Americans. Our
people do not really want the places,
and are not contented In them. nor are
they adapted to American conditions OF
employment. This hes been shown in
our army transports between San Fran
cisco and the Philippines. which or
iginally had Chinese stewards. In com
mon with other Pacific steamers.
The friends OF American labor made
so much disturbance about IL, however.
that this work IS now done at a much
higher cost by a miscellaneous coliec-
ton OF persons. such as the quarter
master can gather in San Francisco.
They do not stay long in their posi-
lions, subjecting the ships mana cement
to great Inconvenience. II is no uncom-
mon thing TO have plate drills as the
transport is sailing out. 20 teach its
new corps Of tame walters how 20 carry
dishes when the sea is rough.
Question of Knack.
This is quite a knack. and one that
the experienced Chinese stewards would
have 10 perfe ction. while the stranded
Norwcgiars. runaway farm boys. and
others who drift into this service at
San Francisco as a makeshift have II
all to learn. The heat of tropical waters
is such as 70 make this employment un-
suited to Americans.
The Pacific Mail vessels crossing the
Pacific arc manned by Chinese. as are
the monster freight carriers recently
completed for James J. HIS line. az
New London. Conn. Chinese will run
those big vessels across the Pacific un-
der the direction Of a handful Of Ameri-
can officers II the law should REQUIRE
all American vessels TO be manned by
white crews IL would greatly incrca g.
the cost Of opcr9 ton by comparison with
foreign ships. But perhaps this could
be corrected by an extra large subsidy
an OF which the advocates Of this class
OF legislation would be willing TO pay.