Year: 1873

! THE MAYOR OF SAN FRANCISCO VETOEs THE PIG


TAIL" AND LAUNDRY oRDERs-TnEIR VIOLATION
| OF TREATIES AND LAWS.


| MayOr AlvOrd of San Francisco on the 9th


inst transmitted the Board Of Supervisors his mes
sares vetoing the "pigtail" and laundry orders In
vetong the providing for the cutting Of the hair
of all Cinnamon confined in the county jail the Mayor
said the manifest to inct upon the Chinese
| convicted of misdemeanors punishment which they
considered shameful and degrading, and said it was his
opinon that minor ofenses should not be punished by
penalties which infct disgrace upon the offender.
Quoting largely from the treaties OF 1858 and
1868, which are as binding an express stat
ute OF the State, he showed that by them
our Federal Government has pledged the national faith
10 firm lasting and sincere friendship with the Chinese
Empires has promised that the people of the United
states should not for any ring cause insult and op
press the people China has cOvenanted that Chinese
subjects in the United States should be exempt from all
disability persecution account OF their religious
fah has asserted that there is mutual advantage from
the free migration and emigration OF the citizens Of
the two countries he United and China respect
lively from the country to the other, for the pur
pose of curiosity trade permanent residence has
soemny engaged that Chinese subjects residing in the
United states should enjoy the same privileges imnuni
ties and exemptions IN respect 20 travel residence,
as the citizens Of the most favored naon and finally
has invoked in the dealings with the two nations, the





them do unto you" To pass the hair-cutting order
would then, be clear and palpable violation
OF the treaties, a breach Of allegiance to
the Federal Government and a manifest disregard
of the obligations OF citizens the United States The
order is also the Mayor said obnoxious TO the Civil
Rights bill passed by Congress In May 1870. Under the
Consolidation act the Board has only the power TO
fIct punishment by fines and Imprisonment and cannot
prescribe whippinc branding or any other mode. The
MAYOR then quotes from decision Of the state Supreme
Court, and adds: so long as the nation through It's
legislative executive departments enlarges its
merce by treaties with Asiac countries and TO
protection TO It's citizens IN those countries pledges
protection 70 their citizens in this country ii is the duty
OF the Federal Government, honorable aud Chris
tan power to maintain and enforce these pledges and
OF ourselves just and awabding citizens, TO fulfill
the obligations which flow FROM them" He concludes
with this extract from charge given by Justice Field
10 Grand Jury OF the Circuit Court OF the District:


eft public policy requires that the Chinese should be
excluded from our shores let the General Government
o provde and declare but until it does provide and
country and while here they are entitled, equally with
all others TO the full protection OF our laws"


In yetOing the laundry order, which was passed 10
harass the Chinese the Mayor says: desire 10 call
yOur attention to the Injustice and hardship which
would be inflicted upon the poorer classes who are en-
gagged the laundry business should the ordinance be-
come a law. LauDdries and places, or rooms where
clothes washed and no matter who the keepers OF
such places be, all will be obliged 10 pay
the onerous license tax OF SIS per quarter unless they
are able to employ a vehicle drawn by animal power
and that event the license Is liked at " per quarter
should they be prosperous TO be able 10 employ
two vehicles drawn by animal power then they are TO
be taxed 81 per quarter which is sl per quarter
than it is proposed TO tax the poor white cOOred
Woman others carrying on the same business, whO
from poverty are unable to employ vehicles drawn by
animal power The inequality OF rates TO be charged
for licenses is apparent that deem 1t only necessary
TO call your attention 10 the fact 20 revision OF
the rates on more equitable grounds 1t Is well known
that there hundreds of poor tmany Of them
have families 20 suppOro who gain their livelihood by
washing on whom this license tax would prove dire
aioOn; therefore, return the order without my ap
UrOyal,h