The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-05-04
Philippine Less.i>.eure Passes Un-
popular Law.

q ffGHpIhne InSS- 51r.ttre faSSeS Cn
popular Law.
Manila, April 26.-Chinese ner
chants Of the Philippine Islands have
decided to test through the court
here the constitutionality of the Law
passed by the recent session Of the
Z slegis.atuse, requiring all merchants t.
keep their books in, English. Spanish
or one of the dialects of the Philip
pine Islands. Failing in this course
it was announced through the Chi
nese nsel-gereral, Kow HsieA
Chow, that protest would be made
to the congress of the United States
MIR. kow, in q statement today, said
ne had received adyices from Chi
nese merchants all over the islands,
rs well rs Manila. telling OF their
probable departure from the Philip
pines, unless some way can be found
to- prevent the enforcement OF the
law.
Consul General Kow pointed out
that the bookkeeping law violates
treaties between countries including
those between the United States ana
China. He said the constitution Of
the United States and the various
treaties, including the treaty with
China, accord to foreigners who de-
sire to reside in the United States ana
do business there, exactly the same
treatment as the citizens of the Unit
ed States would themselves recelvs
and the only power that can pass q
law that would interfere with the
rights Of aliens who desire to enter
the United States and do business
there would be the United States
congress.
ina letter to the governor general.
Francis Burton Harrison, before he
signed the bill, Mr.. Kow said:
.aone Objectionable feature of the
proposed law. which has already
greatly aroused the local Chinese SEN
tflsaent, is the fact that it attempts no
distinction between the larger Chi
nese commercial concerns and the
small shop keepers who are by fac
in the majority and would be the
most generally affected. This latter
class constitutes today the principal
mercantile population Of the Philip
pines and has so predominated fo-'
several centuries.
There has never been a require
ment in the Philippines up to this
time which SO deliberately strikes a.
their business and property, making
it necessary for them to consider
leaving the country for their home
land or neighboring oriental coun-
tries, where no such restrictive reg
uIatiea exists.
sThe universal custom in the Dutch
East Indies, federated Malay states.
Straits Settlement, French Indo-Chi-
ma, and OF course, in China, is for the
government to provide the necessary
translators and inspectors to examine
the books of Chinese merchants in
connection with revenue collections,
police measures, etc. This Plan has
worked with universal sat;sTactie:s,
causing no friction or nisunderstand-
Ing to the government upon the one
hand anu the Chinese residents upo:s
the other.
IN short, the proposed law would
be highly detrimental to the mani
fold interests, commercial political
and social, OF both republics.
Saburo Kurusu. japanese consul
general In Manila, said he void take
no official action at present. but
would simply report to his home gov
ernTnent the effects of the law o:1
Japanese subjects.
.Phe, law, OF course, hurts g great
number OF Japanese in Manila. but
the ores most affected are the own
ers of small shops said NJ. KurusG.
The law makes no provision for
these
Dee C.. chaun. president of the Chi
nese Chamber of Commerce. estimat-
ed that the number. Of individuals
and partnerships affected by the new
law, at more than 10000. The Chi
nese Chamber of Commerce decided
to ask for the cooperation Of all
cham bers Of commerce in China AMI
in other parts Of the world, in the
fight against the operation Of the
law.