102 F. 132 | D. Or. | 1900
This is a proceeding on a writ of habeas corpus issued upon the petition of Lee Lung in behalf of Li Tom Shi and Li A Tsoi, his wife and child, who recently arrived at this port on the steamer Monmouthshire, and were refused landing by the collector of customs. Lee Lung is a merchant doing business in this city, and having business connections with various Chinese mercantile establishments throughout the country. He is the agent of the North Pacific Steamship Company in soliciting Chinese passengers to and from China by that line. He was a passenger by the same steamship upon which his wife and daughter arrived. Before going to China he consulted an attorney in this city, and also saw the collector of customs at this port, with reference to the evidence necessary to secure the landing of his wife and child, and was
In the Case of Way Tai, 96 Fed. 484, it was held in .this court, by Judge Gilbert, on the authority of decisions by the supreme court of the United States, that the collector is not required to conform his proceedings to what is known as “due process of law”; that he is not required to take any testimony at all, hut may decide as to tlxe right to land upon his own inspection and examination; and that Ms decision in respect (hereto is final. And such is the effect of the decisions of the supremo court cited in that case. By-these decisions it is held that “the statute does not require inspectors to take any testimony at all, and allows them to decide on their own inspection and examination the question of the right of any alien immigrant to land.” Niskimura Ekin’s Case, 142 U. S. 651, 12 Sup. Ct. 336, 35 L. Ed. 1146. In the earlier case of Gin Fung, decided by the same judge (89 Fed. 153), the petitioner ivas discharged upon writ of habeas corpus, where it appeared that the collector of customs,only heard pail, of the testimony of one witness, and then left the room, delegating further examination of the witness 1o one B. F. Jossey, Chinese inspector; that the petitioner presented another witness on the following day at the office of the collet;