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"For the purpose of their better organisation in this country they divided that province of China, of which Canton is the capital, into four departments. All of the Chinese in this state, with the exception of about 30, are members of one or other of these departments."
There was also a committee of merchants to mediate when the companies could not agree among themselves.
Originally, when there were only some few hundred Chinese in San Francisco, there were only two groups, the Canton men and the Macau men. As more and more immigrants arrived, other associations were formed, and the Canton group quarrelled and divided. In time there were six such associations.
They evoked unfavourable comment when the general public learned of their activities. They exercised considerable control over the affairs of the Chinese. They acted as travel agents, employment bureaus, welfare dispensers, lodging house keepers, guarantors of conduct, keepers of the peace, courts to mete out verdicts and punishment, and public spokesmen and diplomats.
In 1853 a Grand Jury looked into these matters. Its foreman was Charles Gillespie. He had resided some years in Macau, Hongkong and Canton. In 1848 when he came to San Francisco he brought with him as servants the first three Chinese to reside permanently in California.
The findings of the Grand Jury were as follows: "They have regular meetings, which are presided over by the heads of the four great houses
"They have posted up printed handbills in their own language and signed by themselves, forewarning all from transgressing their laws and threatening them punishment. The Grand Jury have had much difficulty in the matter. Our police not understanding their language, and the great awe in which the sufferers stand of their self-elected masters, render the proper handling and thorough investigation of this evil a peculiarly perplexing one, and suggests the propriety of appointing some officers well versed in the Chinese language."