The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1888-08-08
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The same wholesale eVaSlonS of law in
regard to passports exist, it is believed in
still greater degree in the matter of taxa
ton and the vagrancy law, and the Gov
eminent receives SO little assistance from
law-abiding Chinese in these respects. that
it is time the Government protected itself,
and while the Government undoubtedly
would tain give Chinese all the immunities
enjoyed by other citizens it cannot safely
do SO until they themselves learn better
to use them. In Justice to the Chinese.
however, the committee wish to saw that
undoubtedly the main reason that Chinese
as a class evade the revenue taxation and
kindred laws more than any other races is
that there is far greater opportunity and
therefore more temptation for them to do
SO owing to the fact that the mass of them
cannot be identified or individualized.
This petition also prays that the So fee
for return permits be reduced to 81. The
committee believe that the extra expense
to the Government necesSitated bV this
class of passports will about offset the ex-
ira fee charged therefor, therefore think
it unWise to reduce the same.
Petition number 90 with fourteen spe-
cifc prayers relating to Asiatics.
Instead of entering into a detailed re-
cital and consideration Of each prayer of
this petition, your committee consider
that the same results can be obtained bv
giving in brief the findings of facts and
conclusion, the committee has come to
after having very carefully canvaSSed the
whole subject of Asiatic immigration, and
having taken the evidence and consulted
with many persons of different views on
this subject.
Your committee find that the classified
ton and identification of Japanese with
Chinese is not justified by the facts; that
the habits, traits of character and tenden-
cieS of the two races are,radlcally different
and therefore recommend that the cOnsid-
Grafton of Japanese in the issue now before
US be eliminated. Undoubtedly some leg
islatiOn in regard to Japanese immigration
may from time to time be required, but it
will be of a class entirely different from
that required in regard to Chinese. Jap
anese immigration under proper restric-
tons should be encouraged as the best par
tial substitute for Chinese labor in this
Kingdom bringing as it does a class who
are willing to adopt Western civilization,
and who can be incorporated into our in
dustrial system without seriously disjOint-
ing it.
In regard to the Chinese, your commit
tee find the following facts: Chinese labor
in company with other labor is needed for
field work on rice and sugar plantations IN
this Kingdom it not being safe to rely ex-
cluSiVely on Japanese labor, the same being
liable to recall by the japanese Govern
ment, and Portuguese with large families
needing wages that can only be perma-
nently assured to them in the higher class
of labor on plantations and in the minor or
The Committee on the other hand find
that competition of other races with Chin
csc is impossible, and that whenever other
races are forced into such competition the
result is not competition but substitution
of the Chinese for their competitors.
That the Chinese are absorbing the differ
ent minor industries, mechanical, agricul-
tnral, and commercial, in this Kingdom,
and your Committee see nothing to pre-
vent them ultimately reducing the King
dom practically to Chinese colony with
scattering people of other natiOnaliteS
here and there among them, and this even
t ough no more Chinese are introduced for
the present, because, outside of the sugar and
rice industries, very few comparatively find
employment, but what there is of such
employment serves to retain in the country
the higher class of artiZans and middle
men upon whom the Government must
rely to preserve constitutional representa-
tive Government in average purity, and
there are enough Chinese now in the conn
try to swallow up such emplOymemts unless
checked by law.
How to remedy the evil is a most serious
question, and one that has been very fully
discussed by the Committee.
After mature elaboration the Committee
believe the Government should adopt the
following policy in regard to Chinese:
LIST. That no Chinese shall hereafter be
allowed to immigrate to this Kingdom ex-
cept such as are needed to supply labor for
the rice and sugar industries, and all who
are allowed to enter for that purpose shall
be prohibited by law from engaging in any
other occupation whatsoever, and shall
stay for a term of years only, to return
home thereafter unless an extension of
time is granted upon like conditions.
End. As to Chinese already in the King
dom. That the Government shall by law
prevent those now employed as day labor
ers from engaging in any other occupation.
And as to those who are already engaged
IN other occupations, that the power be
given to the Legislature of abridging from
time to time their right to continue IN the
same, more particularly the trades, when
ever opportunity offers OF SO doing without
undue injustice or infringement of vested |
rights, and the exigencies and needs of
people of other nationalities demand it.
TO carry out such a policy the COnstitu- |
ton needs to be amended, and the Com |
mlttee, therefore, recommend that the !
constitutional amendment, num- |
Oered bill number 81, and referred to this |
Committee with certain amendments, do |
pass, and be submitted to the elections in |
1885, A copy of such constitu tiOnal |
amendment as modified by the Committee |
s hereto attached and made part hereof. |
The House is already acquainted with it's |
main points. 1t has been modified in some |
respects and widened in others, by the
Committee, but as it now stands will, it is
believed, if ultimately adopted, give the |
Legislature power to deal with the Chinese
question along the line of the policy above
outlined.
The only other legislation that your
Committee can recommend is bill hereto
attached requiring laborers to take out a
license before authorized to do common |
abor in this Kingdom, such license to be
gwen as matter of right for a nominal
ZEE, to be good only for two years and only
or the District in which it is granted.
This bill, it is believed, is constitutional,
"a nv lott |
ng to identify, individualize and locate
thus doing much to prevent eva
ZION of taxation, vagrancy and other laws,
md to eliminate that class of semi-idle
oerambulatory labor that is now floating
around the country and congregating in
he towns.
In conclusion, your Committee consider |
hat in recommending the passage of the