THE BRITISH COLUMBIA CHINESE EXPERIMENT.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1491, 26 November 1878, Page 3

THE BRITISH COLUMBIA CHINESE EXPERIMENT.

The Chinese experiment in British Columbia, so far, appears to have been reasonably successful. A law of the provincial Legislature imposes a tax of 60 dollars per head per annum on every Chinaman within its jurisdiction. The day it went into effect, the Chinamen in Victoria all quit work. They probably looked upon the regulation as one of the unaccountable freaks of the red-haired barbarians, which would not last long. But the result has been quite the reverse. The law has been rigorously enforced. If not overruled at Ottawa, it will be productive of marked results one way or the other. The property of Chinamen wherever found has been seized and sold for taxes on a refusal to pay. Under these circumstances the Chinese are beginning to think better of the situation. According to latest despatches they are returning to work, which means that they are paying the taxes. It is noticeable in this connection that, so far as wo are advised, they have made no movement to quit the territory. A very short and inexpensive trip would land them in Washington or Oregon, where no such taxation prevails. There is, however, no room for them in either of these places. But taxation always operates as a two-edged sword. No Legislature can be certain that the individual assessed is the one who pays. If the latter can find any one upon whom the burden can bo thrown, ho will not hesitate at relieving his own shoulders. There are about 5000 Chinamen in British Columbia. At GO dollars per head they would yield a revenue of 300,000 dollars, less the expense of collection. The expenditures of the local Government do not greatly exceed these figures. Wo have, therefore, a bonus of 300,000 per annum in favor of white labor as opposed to the Chinese. This certainly ought to do something towards bringing about an equality in the competition between the races. There is a discrimination against the Chinaman of five dollars per month. But. if white labour does fill the gap, the tax will come out of the community in the end. The Chinese will gradually raise their wages and prices until the employer pays the sixty dollars per annum assessed upon them. On the other hand, if white labor should take possession of the field from winch the Chinese have been driven, there will bo nothing left for the latter in British Columbia but to “go.” Unfortunately, if they take up their traps they will be very likely to precipitate themselves on the Pacific States and Territories.