Mr. BUSIEK. How old was Moy Wing?

Mr. COWELL. Seventeen, according to the there are two Moy Wings. I am not sure. One was 17 and the other was 18.

Mr. BUSIEK. You saw all the students?

Mr. COWELL. Yes.

Mr. BUSIEK. How old did they appear to be?

Mr. COWELL. Well, I should judge the ages that are given here--I have the ages here. They ranged all the way from 14 to 19. I think the oldest is 19 and the youngest 14. I should judge their age was about as indicated.

Mr. BUSIEK. You think that is substantially correct?

Mr. COWELL. I should think so; yes, sir. They were not old-looking fellows. Mr. BUSIEK. How long did the students stay at the academy?

Mr. COWELL. They stayed there until the Christmas vacation, which began about the 20th of December. They were there only a month.

Mr. BUSIEK. Arrived on the 19th of November and stayed there until the 20th of December?

Mr. COWELL. Thereabouts. I have forgotten about the dates, but it was about a month.

Mr. BUSIEK. Did they tell you where they were going for their Christmas vacation?

Mr. COWELL. They were going to their relatives. Nearly all of them had relatives, as they claimed, in this country. I have the names of girls that they gave us as relatives, and they were going to see them for their Christmas vacation.

Mr. BUSIEK. Did the students have any money?

Mr. COWELL. Didn't appear to have much.

Mr. BUSIEK. Did you ever make any inquiry as to where they were going to get the means to go to their relatives?

Mr. COWELL. I think they had enough for that, because I know they bought some books and paid for them.

Mr. BUSIEK. Did each boy have his own money? Or did this Moy Wing attend to that for them?

Mr. COWELL. I think each one had his own, or had some. He collected for them. I know they bought some books, some English primers, and he collected and paid us for it, and he acted as sort of banker for them in that way.

Mr. BUSIEK. What was the attitude of the students? Did they appear to try to learn?

Mr. COWELL. They appeared to be, yes, sir. We had to have a special class in English, and, of course, they didn't know anything about English at all, except this one, and had to begin the very elements. They were quiet and patient and gave attention and apparently were willing to learn.

Chairman WALSH. Had you ever had any applications for admissions of Chinese before?

Mr. COWELL. We have had Chinese students there for the last 10 years. Most of them were Government students. At one time there were 10 came, when they got 50 over, and distributed them among five preparatory schools. Then, we have had others since who came under Government control, and others as private students on their own account. We have had 6 this last year.

Commissioner WEINSTOCK. What are the qualifications required for entering your school?

Mr. COWELL. To be 14 years of age and to have completed a grammarschool education.

Commissioner WEINSTOCK. Were those qualified?

Mr. COWELL. As I have indicated, they had no English, and they wanted to learn English first, so we could not tell until they had the English work, and we gave them a teacher to take care of the English language.

Commissioner WEINSTOCK. If they were unable to speak English, how was it possible to teach them?

Mr. COWELL. One acted as interpreter.

Commissioner WEINSTOCK. They were all started on the same basis?

Mr. COWELL. Yes, sir.

Commissioner WEINSTOCK. They remained a month?

Mr. COWELL. Remained a month, except they went away and three remained, came back and remained over the year. This Moy Wing remained

Commissioner WEINSTOCK. But 17 disappeared?

Mr. COWELL. Yes, sir.

Commissioner WEINSTOCK. Were there any efforts made to follow them up? Mr. COWELL. Yes, sir.

Commissioner WEINSTOCK. What efforts?

Mr. COWELL. Some of them wrote to me. I sent my report to the Commissioner of Immigration and he wrote to me, and I have the letters. The letters of teachers of schools where they went, and of themselves, and the Commissioner of Immigration, I think, looked them all up.

Commissioner WEINSTOCK. What explanation did they offer for having dropped out of your school?

Mr. COWELL. That they could get along cheaper and go into public schools where their relatives lived.

Commissioner WEINSTOCK. That was the only reason they gave?

Mr. COWELL. Yes, sir.

Commissioner WEINSTOCK. So far as you know, Mr. Cowell, were they followed up to see whether they actually did go to public schools? Mr. COWELL. That part I left with the commissioner. I think they did. Commissioner WEINSTOCK. You have no means of knowing what they found? Mr. COWELL. No, sir; except the letters, and I have the reply from Commissioner Billings, George G. Billings, commissioner at that time.

Commissioner WEINSTOCK. From all the information you have since been able to gain, Mr. Cowell, is it your opinion that this was a premeditated plan to smuggle in those boys and to utilize the privilege granted to students to do that?

Mr. COWELL. I have no means of knowing, except the report of the inspector who came from Mr. Walsh, chairman of the Commission on Industrial Relations at Washington.

Commissioner WEINSTOCK. Mr. Walsh, of this commission?

Mr. COWELL. I have a letter I wrote to him on November 4. He sent an inspector up here, and he had the impression that they were smuggled in here to become laborers.

Commissioner WEINSTOCK. That they used the going to your college as a pre

text?

Mr. COWELL. Yes, sir. I had no suspicion of that at the time they came, because we had had Chinese students, and they had been square and had continued with us and their records were all right, and he had some suspicion about the character of this woman, and it made me suspicious, although I had no record of their becoming laborers afterwards.

Commissioner WEINSTOCK. That is, they may have become laborers without your knowledge?

Mr. COWELL. They may have; yes, sir. I thought it was not necessary for me to go any further than the letters that came from them; but I did think it rather queer that so many should leave all at once.

Mr. BUSIEK. What was your first communication with the Immigration Department, Mr. Cowell?

Mr. COWELL. December 6, 1911. I have a letter from Mr. Billings dated at Boston:

"Information having been received by us as to the effect that 20 Chinese boys have applied for admission into the United States as students, destined to Cushing Academy, they being in charge of Mrs. Sarah Hing, a white woman, and an alleged former school-teacher at Canton, China, who was also accompanied by her husband, Moy J. Hing, it is requested, if consistent, that you kindly advise us what arrangements, if any, have been made with you for their admission into Cushing Academy, as well as for the payment of their tuition and other expenses while there.

"Any information that you may be able to furnish us in regard to this matter will be much appreciated.

"Respectfully,

"GEORGE B. BILLINGS, Commissioner.”

Are there any initials in the lower

I replied to that, and then I have his letter of January

Mr. BUSIEK. Pardon me just a moment.

left-hand corner of that letter?

Mr. COWELL. W. M. P.

Mr. BUSIEK. W. M. P.?

Mr. COWELL. Yes, sir. I take it to be, or V. M. P.
Mr. BUSILK. W. M. P.; yes.

Mr. COWELL. His second letter was dated January 12, after they had gone: "Acknowledgment is hereby made of the receipt of your letter of January 11, containing information relative to the 20 Chinese students who recently entered Cushing Academy in charge of Mrs. Sarah E. Hing and Moy J. Hing, for which please accept our thanks.

"In this connection you are advised that an officer will call on you some time to-morrow forenoon (January 13), to confer with you in regard to this matter.

"Respectfully,

"GEO. B. BILLINGS, Commissioner."

So one came up and obtained all the circumstances.
Mr. BUSIEK, Who was that officer?

Mr. COWELL. I really don't remember.

Mr. BUSIEK. Was it Inspector McCabe?

Mr. COWELL. I have the impression it was; yes, sir.

Mr. BUSIEK. Did you furnish this inspector with a complete list of names? Mr. COWELL. I think so. I gave him all the information at hand. I can not remember exactly what I gave him.

Mr. BUSIEK. You answered all the questions?

Mr. COWELL. Yes, sir. I gave him complete information.

Mr. BUSIEK. When was that that he came up?

Mr. COWELL. That was January 13.

Mr. BUSIEK. January 13?

Mr. COWELL. Yes, sir. Oh, yes, it is Inspector McCabe, because I have another letter right here.

Mr. H. S. CoWELL,

Principal Cushing Academy, Ashburnham, Mass.

JANUARY 15, 1912.

DEAR SIR: Herewith I return the letters relative to the Chinese students, which you kindly loaned Inspector McCabe last Saturday (January 13) while at Cushing Academy, in connection with their cases.

If you receive any more letters from any of these students relative to their nonattendance, kindly forward same to us, and we will promptly return them to you.

Thanking you for your courtesy in this matter,

Very truly, yours,

ALCOTT W. STOCKWELL,
Assistant Commissioner.

Mr. BUSIEK. Up to that time, how many letters had you received from students?

Mr. COWELL. I can't remember. I think I had heard from one-half nearly. Mr. BUSIEK. What were they writing you about?

Mr. COWELL. Here is one from Deadwood, S. Dak., January 4:

"I am now among many of my old friends and relatives in Deadwood, I am going to school here now, for I think it will make it much easier for me to be with children of the same grade, and by listening to them will benefit me not a little. If there is any expenses that I have not yet paid, please notify me and I will send it at once.

"Yours, truly,

"My address: 566 Main Street, Deadwood, S. Dak.

Commissioner DELANO. Was that written by the boy himself?

Mr. COWELL. It is not signed by him. I judge somebody wrote it for him. It couidn't have been, because he didn't know English, I think.

Mr. BUSIEK. That letter does not indicate who it was?

Mr. COWELL. Yes, sir; at the top, Chan Yun.

Commissioner WEINSTOCK. It seems to me you could use that letter as a great testimonial, as the result of one month's work in your school?

Mr. BUSIEK. What was the name?

Mr. COWELL. Chan Yun.

I have another letter from Chicago, January 6.

Mr. BUSIEK. Read that, please.

Mr. COWELL (reading):

Mr. COWELL,

Care of Cushing Academy, Ashburnham, Mass.

DEAR TEACHER: We arrived here safe last two weeks ago. I am very sorry have not find time to shake hands with you before me going because my cousin want one to meet him at Chicago. The few friend I have met are very kind to me. We have been able to find a Jones School here; have several Chinese boys with us attend the Jones School. I missed your school next season come and the friends too. How much charge us too three week the board at school that time? Please send the letter; let us know, we will sent money order to you as soon as we can.

Hope this will find you enjoying the best of health and happy.

Your friend and scholer,

Please answer.

Mr. BUSIEK. That was sent by two Chinese?

Mr. COWELL. Sent by two Chinese; yes, sir.

Mr. BUSIEK. Moy Dak and Moy Tung?

Mr. COWELL. Yes, sir; signed apparently by them.

MOY DAK & Moy TUNG.

Mr. BUSIEK. Are the signatures the same? It is a flowing Spencerian hand. Commissioner DELANO. Do you imagine that they wrote this?

Mr. COWELL. I do not. They did not know enough when they left us. I imagine some one wrote it for them.

Commissioner DELANO. I want to interject this question: Were they very apt pupils? Did they learn very quickly?

Mr. CoWELL. There were a few that seemed to, and others seemed to be very dull.

Commissioner DELANO. How did they compare with the student the Chinese Government sends over?

Mr. COWELL. They did not compare well, because the Chinese students, the picked students of the Government come after a competitive examination. Here is from the principal of the Jones School, a letter:

"MY DEAR SIR: I have been asked to write you letting you know that four Chinese boys, Moy Tuck, Moy Tung, Moy Fook, and Hui Tung, are now in Chicago attending the Jones Public School and will continue to remain here. Yours, truly,

"THOS. C. M. JAMIESON, Principal."

Mr. BUSIER. Were there ever any mistakes made in the names as compared with the names under which they entered?

Mr. COWELL. I have a list that was sent me by Mrs. Hing. I have a list made out by one of the boys, Moy Wing, for the books, and here is a list that was made out by their teacher. You can compare the three. It is a little difficult to compare the Chinese names. Here is a list that she sent me of the names of their people in this country.

Mr. BUSIEK. You showed these letters, of course, to Inspector McCabe?

Mr. COWELL. I did. He took them with him, part of them, and returned them. Mr. BUSIEK. Did he make any comment at the time he was out at your school as to whether or not he thought the students were bona fide?

Mr. COWELL. I don't believe he did.

Mr. BUSIEK. Did you ever get any expression of that kind from any immigration authorities?

Mr. COWELL. I don't think I did, until the inspector came from Washington recently, representing Mr. Walsh.

Mr. BUSIEK. What other letters did you get from the Chinese students?
Mr. COWELL. Here is one from Braintree:

"MY DEAR SIR: A Mr. Chinon is attending the night school in Braintree, Mass. He reports to have been in attendance at Cushing Academy in the present school year. I do not know that his attendance upon night school will be satisfactory to the Commissioner of Immigration. However, I pass this information to you in case of inquiry.

66

"Very truly, yours,

"H S. COWELL, A. M.,

"R. L. WIGGEN.

Principal Cushing Academy."

Mr. BUSIEK. In regard to what student was that?

Mr. COWELL. Chinon. Here is one from Moy Fook and Hui Chong. They wrote the letter; that is, it is signed by them.

Mr. BUSIEK. That is the letter of January 6 you are referring to?

Mr. COWELL. This is January 14, 1912.

Mr. BUSIEK. Read the letter, please.
Mr. COWELL (reads):

Mr. COWELL.

CHICAGO, ILL., January 14, 1912.

DEAR SIR: We have had a very pleasant vacation here in Chicago visiting our father and cousins. We find there is a very good school here, called the Jones School, in which there is a department especially conducted for foreign young men who wish to learn English. We would like to go to the Jones School very much, as it would be very pleasant for us to be here with our fathers and friends. Will you please write us and tell us what we owe you for tuition and board, and we will send you the money at once. We would like to stay here if

we can.

Most respectfully, your pupils,

MOY FOOK.
HUI CHONG.

Commissioner WEINSTOCK. In remaining with your school only one month how much of the tuition money did they forfeit?

Mr. COWELL. That was the end of the term, so they were only charged for the time they were there. They came in November, and the term ended December 20, or thereabouts.

Commissionr WEINSTOCK. And they only paid you for one month's tuition? Mr. COWELL. Yes, sir.

Commissioner WEINSTOCK. Didn't they remit to you in advance?

Mr. COWELL. Mrs. Hing sent a draft that covered about all of their tuition and board for the time they were there.

Commissioner WEINSTOCK. Just for one month?

Mr. COWELL. Yes, sir; just for one month.

Commissioner WEINSTOCK. So you neither won nor lost by their dropping

out?

Mr. COWELL. No, sir. We charge by the term rather than by the year. Mr. BUSIEK. Mrs. Hing in her letter says, "I send you a check for a quarter for each."

Mr. COWELL. She first said for a year, then she said for a quarter. I can't recall how much that was. I have an impression it was about $300.

Mr. BUSIEK. Would your books show?

Mr. COWELL. The treasurer's might. Of course, it all goes into the treasury. Mr. BUSIEK. Can you supply the commission with all that information when you go back to your school?

Mr. COWELL. I might be able to. I don't know just what was done with that, because they boarded in private houses, and we had to pay them separately, rather than it coming into the treasury of the school.

Mr. BUSIEK. You keep books of whatever comes into the school?

Mr. COWELL. Whatever comes into the treasury of the school, but whatever comes into the private houses, that is paid by them separately.

Mr. BUSIEK. Would not the books of the school show how much they paid? Mr. COWELL. Yes, sir. For how long they paid tuition.

Mr. BUSIEK. Could you furnish that information?

Mr. COWELL. Yes, sir. The treasurer is not here in this country, but when he returns we can, I think.

Mr. BUSIEK. Who is the treasurer?

Mr. COWELL. Moses P. Greenwood, of Ashburnham.

Mr. BUSIEK. Has he any other business connection besides being the treasurer of your school?

Mr. COWELL. No, sir; not at present.

Mr. BUSIEK. His present address is Ashburnham, Mass.?

Mr. COLWELL. Yes, sir.

Mr. BUSIEK. Does he have any other connection with the school?

Mr. COWELL. No, sir.

Mr. BUSIEK. Just president?

Mr. COWELL. Yes, sir.