FOURTEEN JAPS IN CUSTODY

Inspectors Arrest Them This Morning as Aliens.

Strict Orders Have Apparently Been Given to Stop the Influx From Victoria.

Pauper Japanese will no longer find an open door at Seattle by which to enter this country. The first drastic measures to exclude them were taken this morning by United States Immigration Inspector J.D. Lavan with the cooperation of the board of inquiry. It resulted in the marching of fourteen natives of the Chrysanthemum kingdom to the King county jail whence they will be deported to British Columbia. The Japanese in question came over from Victoria this morning on the steamer Rosalie. They had for some months been working in British Columbia and were on their way to the United States their original destination. They are a small part of a great army which like last spring's horde has already begun to make its way to Seattle to go elsewhere and get work on the railroads. This army has been halted and according to the statements of Immigration Inspector Lavan and Dr. Mitten of the board of inquiry it will never again be allowed to resume the march. "This port," said Mr. Lavan, "has been an open door. The board of inquiry has power to close it and it has done so. The number of Japanese coming by steamer from Victoria to Seattle has been fast increasing of late. They are coming so fast that they cannot get work. They are very likely to become public charges. In view of these facts and to prevent another big influx of Orientals, the board of inquiry in the face of the fact that the men had money on their persons sufficient in quantity to pass inspection for paupers and in the face of the further fact that they were in good health, has refused them admission. The board will continue to enforce the same rule on the same grounds. You can see Japanese walking the streets of Seattle today in groups -- without any place to go. They are waiting for work. They came by steamer last month to the number of forty. According to the present indications there would be about two hundred dumped into this port by British Columbia if we were not to take summary action."

The Japanese at the time were being marched up the hill by the inspectors. They were a silent group. When questioned those few of them who could speak any English showed that they had no idea of where they were going or what was to be done with them. Nor did any of them seem to have any definite prospects in view of this country.

The federal authorities in all those departments whose duty it is to inspect the borders of this state and to watch the incoming people have clearly resolved on a united course of action on the Japanese question. During the winter matters have been slowly shaping themselves to the one end of rigid exclusion. Up among the islands, the Grant is maintaining a strict patrol. She has already arrested alleged smugglers and alien paupers at Roche Harbor.

At present she is on another cruise to the same end. At Blaine and Sumas, the inspectors are keeping much closer watch than ever they did before. Today's action clearly shows that the authorities on the Sound ports are going to do their part. This action is the most drastic in the history of the Japanese immigration troubles. Heretofor, the little brown men have been stopped only when they could not pass the regular inspection. The group of fourteen who are now in the King county jail are to be deported on the broad and sweeping grounds that they are apt to become public charges. They are the first to come under such a rule, but the members of the board and the inspector state that they will by no means be the last.