Evening star., 1905-11-02
new CHINESE TREATY
Minister Rockhill's Negotia-
tions at Peking.
CASES OF EXEMPTION
MA-TUNG PERSUADED TO ADOPT
THE AMERICAN VIEW.
Arguments in Favor Of Examining
Prospective Immigrants at the
Port of Departure.
CASES OF EXEMPTION
BY WILLIAM Z. CURTIS.


ton; Secretary Metcalf and the President
will renew their former recommends tons
that all Chinese l. migrants to the United
States be examined at the port of departure,
rather than at the port arrival, at
present. / suppose that etiquette would
require that this order be reversed, but
Commissioner Sargent first suggested this
sensible idea and passed it up to his su-
periors, who indorseu it, In his last re-
port. Secretary Metcalf said:
'It is also recommended that treaty ar
rangement be made which shall authorize
the location in China of department Of
dcers to discharge duties now performed
by American consular officers. The effect
of this would be to transfer the investi-
cation, now conducted in part at ports of
arrival, to the home of Chinese applicants
In China, where it should be possible to
make such an examination as would es-
tablish conclusively the status of any ap-
plcant. This would leave for determina-
ton upon arrival at a port of the United
States only the identity of any examined
Chinaman with the person described in the
certificate presented by him."
AT present a Chinese who wishes to come
TO the United States goes first to the mayor
of his own town and receives from him a
certificate stating his name. birthplace, age
rank in life, business occupation, and
other information required by the ex-
clusion laws. For this document he is COM
PEELED to pay a large fee-in some cases
as much as several hundred dollars-and
having received it, he goes to the nearest
American consul. who certifies that all the
statements set down in the certificate are
true. To the shame and embarrassment OF
our government, certain consuls have ex-
torted large sums of money for their sig
natures and have certified to anything that
was brought them provided the bribe was
large enough. Other consuls have been in
different. and, although the law requires
them to satisfy themselves that a certificate
Is straight, they have seldom taken the
trouble to do so. The consequence has been
that hundreds of Cinnamon have thus been
encouraged to attempt to get into this
country in violation of the exclusion laws,
when the consuls should have stopped them
at the ports of departure
Requirements of the Law.
No steamship company will sell a ticket
to Chinaman unless he produces a certifi-
cate such / have described and he is
required to deposit sum OF money sufti-
cient to pay his return passage to China in
ease he is not allowed to land at the port
of destination. When he arrives at San
Francisco or any Of the other Pacific ports
he is examined by an inspector, and If there
s any doubt of the correctness or accuracy
of his certificate, he is put into loath-
some pen, the wharf house of the
Pacific Mail Steamship Company, until his
case can be Investigated. If it turns out
that he is all right he is released If he is
sent back to China on the next steamer.
The exclusion law permits only certain
classes of Chinese to land, namely; %
Natives of the United States. (2) Persons
who lived in this country before the law
was passed. (3) Officials of the Chinese
government. (4) Teachers, students anu
professional men. 90 Merchants and traV-
elers, with their lawful wives and minor
children. All other Chinese are excluded
from entrance into the United States. The
chief trouble, and practically al of II. arises
of aaIf Iahn -hp
are excluded, to obtain admission by means
of false certificates representing them to
belong to the exempt classes L have Just
enumerated. 1t is generally easy TO deter
mine, by his appearance whether China
man is laborer or a merchant; but, new
ertheless. hundreds of coolies have arrived
year after year Uearing certihcates from
Consul McWade at Canton and other con-
suls certifying that they are merchants or
students; and on this side of the Pacific
gang of lawyers, blackmailers and per-
jurers has sprung up to assist In carry
ing out the conspiracy. The lawyers are
usually Americans; the other members OF
the gang are Chinese or low-down white
politicians. There are arms of lawyers in
Boston New York and other cities who
make il business TO assist fraudulent
Chinese immigration, and they have become
rich in that business. They have not only
conspired to violate the law, but have black
mailed and robbed honest Chinese immi-
grants in most unmerciIul manner.
Held Up by Lawyer
For Illustration: Commissioner Sargent
tells pitiful story of a personal appeal
made 10 him not long ago by man in
the detention pen at San Francisco, who
had been there six months, patiently wait
ing for a hearing of his case. He claimed
TO be a native of the United States, but
had lost his certificate and was dependent
upon the testimony of certain people TO
prove that he had been born in San Fran
cisco. The immigration officials had called
up the case repeatedly, but each time the
lawyer had asked for continuance, on the
pretext thar he could not secure the at
tendance of the witnesses But when Com
missioner Sargent sent policeman after
them they appeared willingly and declared
that they had not only received no sum-
mons, but had never heard that they were
wanted, They knew the prisoner, however,
and testified in his favor. and he was re-
leased. Ii developed that the lawyer had
already been paid legitimate fee. but was
holding up the poor Chinaman and keep
ing him in tie detention pen with the hope
OF extorting more money from him.
Judge Morrow OF the United States dis
trict court says that his cook asked him
not long ago to write a note to the COM
missioner of immigration. to secure the
release from the detention pen of a servant
of one of his neighbors, who had gone back
to China to visit his mother. had lost his
certificate and was unable to establish his
identity and his right to enter The judge
refused because there was a bare possi-
come before him officially. a few days
later, however. his servant told him that
the man had been released.
'lIow did you get him out?'' asked the
Judge.
''TIoo bundled dollars was the reply.
The Proposed Remedy.
1t is only fair to the immigration off,
ciais at San Francisco to say that they have
eudeavored to break up this blackmailing
gang. but SO far have failed They know.
better than any one else. that wicked cases
of extortion are going all the time with
innocent Chinese as the Victims, as well as
equally profitable frauds against the gov
ernment by ineligible immigrants II ali
Chinese were examined in China by agents
of the bureau. before their departure for
America. these Scandals would be prevent
ed and the only opposition to the change
comes from the people who are profitlng by
such frauds. and from politicians with
whom they have influence 1t should also
be said that there has recently been a re-
markable Improvement in the situation.
Since the removal of Consul McWade at
Canton and two or three other members
of the service the number of coolies ar
rving with certificates describing them to
be merchants, travellers and students has
been very small; and since the order OF
the President. issued on the 25th OF last