The San Francisco call., 1905-08-12

A meeting that was held IN the board
room Of the Merchants Exchange yes
terday 10 consider the Chinese boycott OF
the products OF the United States result
ed in the adoption OF a memorial IN when
President Roosevelt was requested TO as
certain through the Secretaries Of State
and Commerce and Labor the reasons
for the boycott and TO take steps to have
the same removed; also in the adoption
OF a resolution requesting President
Roosevelt TO instruct United States Min
lister Rockhiu TO proceed to Shanghai
with a committee of three American
merchants residing in Shanghai to be
appointed by the president Of the Mer-
chants Exchange there, to ascertain
from the Chinese, through their guilds,
the cause Of the boycott and their inten-
tions regarding its continuance and TO re-
port by cable the result Of their investi-
cation, together with what remedial ac-
tion is demanded.
Vice President G. P. McNear OF the ex-
change presided. The speakers were An
dres Sbarboro, Ng Poon Choon, the edi-
tor Of the Chinese daily paper published
IN san Francisco; !. r. Tutte, who has
represented the house Of Getz Brothers
OF this city in China, and Hugh Craig.
PRESIDENT MEMORIALIZED.
Z. r Lilienthal introduced the memor-
is, in fuA, as follows:
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. II. 1908.
The mercantile and shipping interests OF the
United states are confronted with a boycott
o. American products by the trade associations
and large merchants OF the great distributing
centers OF China; orders have been Cancelled
and our exports 70 that country stopped.
The merchants OF the United States are enti-
tied 70 a large share OF the trade OF the Chi
rese empire, both by reason OF proximity and
their ability TO manufacture produce and sup
fH1 2 ~Hrnrn Ea
World s15 lay ''-1-'7 - ''--'' 7'''-0-- ~" 's
Present conditions are. therefore. serious to
trade interests Of the United states. rendering
i imperative that tne epoycot shoula oe re-
carefully investigated, definitely determined
and appropriate action taken 10 preserve the
outlets already created for American products. /
Therefore the members OF the Merchants 4
Exchange, IN meeting assembled. do hereby re
spectfully petition the President Of the United +.
States, and through him the Secretary OF state /
and The Secretary OF Commerce and Labor.
First-T0 ascertain through the proper I
channels the reasons for the present boycott /
Sec0nd-To take prompt steps 10 have same 4
removed. so that the trade interests Of our /
great country may not suffer.
Resolved. That the foregoing memorial be |
sent TO the President Of the United States. and |
z copy thereof 10 the Secretary q state ana |
u the Secretary OF Commerce and Labor and |
70 the Senators and Representatives IN Con- /
gress from California
The following resolution, introduced by /
L. r. Tuttle, was adopted:
Resolved That the President Of the United /
States be requested 10 instruct our Minister % /
China, the Hon. n W. ROcknIn, 10 proceed to 4
Shanghai and. together with a committee OF 4
three resident American merchants. to be ap- /
pointed by the chair, ascertain from the Chi /
nese, through their guilds, the cause OF the |
present boycott ana tnelr intentions as 70 us |
continuance, reporting by cable the result OF
the investigation. together with what remedial
action IS demanded.
The California delegation in Congress
was invited to be present. Senator Per
kins responded TO the invitation and came
TO the meeting with a communication in
which a Federal official, II. II. North,
Of the Labor immigration Service at this
port, reviewed, SeriaLlm, about all the
charges that have been made relative TO
the administration Of the Chinese exclu-
sion law on the Pacific coast, contradict
ing several and explaining others. This
communication, as submitted by Sena-
tor Perkins TO the secretary of the
meeting, is in full as follows:
EXCLUSION ADMINISTRATION.
The receipt is acknowledged OF your re-
quest for information as 10 whether the claim
that has been sometimes made by the Chi
goods was caused by harsh treatment inflicted
upon Chinese by the United States immigra-
facts outside OF san Francisco I have no per-
sonal knowledge, although 1 have reliable in
formation that no specific charge has bee;i
made as 10 other ports ana this is equally
true OF San Francisco.
enforcement
law passed into the hands OF the Department I
Cf Labor and Commerce on July !, 1903 Con-
date. For the fiscal year ending June so
1894, but 403 OF the exempt class OF Chinese
applied for original entry al the port Of San
Francisco OF this number $40 were landed
and 03 denied. For the fiscal year ending
July j, 1865, 373 Of the exempt class applied
for original admission al this port and OF
this number 2l9 were landed and 154 denied.
Almost al the evidence tor the first Of these
fiscal years was certificates vised by United
z 40
during the last year received their papers
collect that Mr.. McNood was removed from
office some months ego. Those denied land
ing also include those who were suffering
from loathsome and dangerous diseases
As 20 merchants and others Of the exempt
classes who are domiciled IN the United
visiting China, those who avail themselves Of
the laws and regulations have no cause for
their cases may be taken before their return
70 the United States, or, for that matter, be-
desired by the Chinese. Those who avail
themselves Of this privilege and are found to
be bona fde are usually landed the day
tnat INC steamer COCKS. Ihe only cases in
which there IS delay is Of merchants who
live on the Atlantic seaboard or in the in
terror OF the United States.
The credentials required by the law for the
original admission OF Chinese Of the exempt
class 10 the United States on so-called Sec ,
tton papers issued by Chinese ON
Gals in China and are merely vised by Amer
lean consular officers. Such Certificates were I !
accepted prima faeie evidence OF / ,
the right 70 land; but when it was discov-
cred that many Of the so-called students |
merchants. travellers, etc, were really coolie
laborers Of the lowest order and that almost /
any Chinese who could pay for il could GET ,
certificate from the Chinese officials some /
Inspection on the other side naturally was | {
Necessary for which they have only them
selves to thank. (
50 Tar as the complaint OF poor quarters on ! .
board ship at the detention shed is CON
cerneo. that is matter entirely out Of the
jurisdiction Of the United States as the law
has left Chinese applicants in the custody OF / I
the steamship company whose duty II IS to !
look after these Chinese until their cases ave
hnally disposed Of Fortunately however Won 4 |
have secured a generous appropriation for the { {
building al Angel Island, in the bay OF San | I
Francisco OF a very fine immigrant detention :
station. which in the near future Will provide s
most needfui and comfortable accommodations J
or detained classes well as all other aliens
n similar condition arriving at this port I 2
The records OF the office show that there /.
las never been complaint made by any Chi
lese person seeking admission here or by 9th {
rs IN behalf OF such Chinese, alleging harsh
less or other III treatment. AS is well known
o all californians, at least. the Chinese do not 4
cTuple at fraud in the attempt TO gain adnis- O
ion 10 the United States: and this service has {
lways been obliged 10 exert the utmost dii- a
,ence and alertness TO keep out such Chinese
Dut, to our knowledge, even those guilty of the