The Washington herald., 1912-02-05
EXCLUSION LAW
FAILS In PURPOSE
Five Thousand Chinese Admitted To
United States in Last Year,
Says Report.

The directions IN which the Chinese
Exclusion law fails to accomplish its
avowed purposes are pointed out and dis
cussed in the report for the fiscal year
lsi1 Of Commissioner General Keefe, sf
the Bureau Of Immigration, to Secretary
Nagel Of the Department of Commerce
and Labor, made public yesterday.
During the year 5.107 Chinese were ad-
mitted, which is u per cent less than in
1910 and 20 per cent less than in 1909. but
10 per cent greater than in 1905, and IS
per cent greater than in 1907.
During the year 6s2 Chinese were ex-
cluded as laborers not entitled to enter.
but the report demonstrates by the Illus
trattons furnished that the chief DIM
Guilty with the enforcement OF the law
is to distinguish between good and bad
cases, as they are all handled in prac-
ucally the same way by the promoters
and "steerers' of Chinese immigration,
and in numerous instances those who
gain admission as merchants, students,
teachers, and travellers are, as a matter
OF fact, ordinary laborers.
Many OF the Chinese have no respect
for the law, and in its violation are
often aided by unscrupulous Americans;
II fact. the Chinese seem to regard a
successful evasion OF the statute as q
meritorious act upon their part. Many
engage in systematic smuggling out OF
friendship for relatives and clansmen,
while others have amassed enormous for
tunes by promoting the unlawful immi-
grafton Of labOrers.
The methods adopted to violate the law
are so extensive and complicated as TO
beggaT description. They extend all the
way from crossing the land boundaries
in sealed freight cars or being packed
away in the holds OF vessels and landing
under cover Of darkness at the ports to
the procurement Of certificates and the
Passing Of the inspection on the basis
OF elaborately arranged and carefully
coached testimony. One Of the principal
dithculties consists in properly guarding
the Canadian and Mexican boundaries
If the Chinese succeed in crossing and
getting into the interior; Il is almost
impossible TO obtain from the courts or
ders of deportation: IL they are appre-
henoed in the vicinity of the boundary
deportation orders can be secured in
only part Of the cases, Notwithstanding
the strong presumption arising against
the Chinese because Of their method Of
entry, for the court proceedings, per-
mitting continuances and delays lend
themselves readily to the preparation of
evidence to prove the almost universally
made claim Of American birth. Canada
charges head tax of 500 on Chinese
@AA+4o NAAC past year Or5sU NnlneSe pdlQ
this tax, making a revenue for the
Canadian government OF 81, 900; and
experience has shown that a very large
proportion of those who gain admission
10 Canada do so with the ultimate DUR
pose OF crossing into this country.
Two favorite devices for introducing
Young coolies consist OF the claim that
the applicant is the minor son Of a mer-
chant, or was born in this country, or
is the son born abroad Of a Chinaman in
this country, and therefore a citizen;
and although the officers may be morally
certain these claims are false, it is diff
cult to disprove them.
OF minor sons 425 entered during the
year, ard Of natives" 1855. Most Of
these are ordinary coolies. Regarding
those who have entered on claims OF
citizenship, it is shown that the average
Tor the past three years has been I,422
per year Using these figures as a
basis. it is calculated that, unless the
law Is strengthened in some manner, or
present conditions materially change, the
next decade will witness the entry tC
the United States, on citizenship claims
alone, Of more than $1,000 Chinese.