The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1888-11-23
ABOUT CHEAP LABOR.


led you already with manuscripts, I
do not feel inclined to impose too
much upon your kindness. Still,
considering the subject of no small
interest, especially to working peo-
pie, 1 will, with your permission,
offer a few more remarks.
The principal theme 1 should like
to write about, the life and treat
ment of contract laborers on the
plantations, / will at present not at
tempt to discuss, at least not until
am invited to do so. The only
subject at present will be the ex-
ception'taken to the term, "starva-
tion wages"
The Daily BULLETIN has at all
times been, and still is, about the
only paper in the Hawaiian Islands,
which generously opens its columns
to all matters of public interest, no
matter whether the subjects talked
on are in accord with the EDITORS
views or not. The fact is generally
recognized, especially by the work
ing classes, who would like TO see
the subscription lists of that
paper swelled, so as to contain the
names of 100000 subscribers.
The Daily BULLETIN claims, and
with right, that it is the working
mans paper. This claim is ac-
knowledged and undisputed, for the
! working classes have always found
the Daily BULLETIN to be the
champion of the workingmen's
cause and rights %
But then, Mr.. Editor, you surely
do not intend to say that SIG per
month is magnificent salary for a
man and his family to support them
selves ON. If Chinese and Japanese
can manage to live and save money
besides on SIG per month, it is GER
.tainly not expected that white
man ought to do the same. / know
your sentiments too well to believe
such to be the Interpretation of your
words. If the law allowed would
go with you to the Postal Savings
Bank, to examine the books and ac-
counts of some of those laborers
who are working for S12 to S17 per
month. The several amounts Gre
dited to their names, sometimes
more than the total amount of wages
earned by such individuals, is truly
astonishing. But how did they come
to possess such amounts? From saw
ings of monthly salary of say SIG?
We know better. From the sale of
opium, samshoo, beer, whiskey, gin,
etc. Thus did they live and save
money besides. Is it desirable that
people of other nationalities should
act accordingly?
Finally, will mention another
fact. Let us take, for example, a
party of German contract laborers,
immigrants. An agent arrives at
their homes, praising up everything
and anything pertaining to the Ha-
waiian Islands. Castles in the air
are built before their fancies until
their heads swim with all kinds of
notions; they bind themselves to
ship to these Islands, here to work
on plantations at monthly salary OF
SIG, ($16 the first year, SIT the
second, and $18 the third, fourth
and fifth years), house rent free, as
we'll as the use of about J acre of
land, besides free fuel. But what
these people think is that SIG is
equal to about Go marks, while SIS
is equal to about 73 marks. / will
uot say that there are not any good
plantations or managers, for know
there are, were there is all done
to insure all possible comfort to Ia
borers.
Now then let us take the total
value of wages and perquisites re-
ceived by these people at $50 or $22
per month, or about 80 TO 80 marks
in German coin. There is no one
who will dispute that 25 cents in
Germany will buy at least as much
as 81 will here, or in other words
you will have to pay here 81 fol
what you pay in Germany only %
cents; or, if you like, your expenses
here will be at least four times as
high as in Germany. This is cal
culation which does not enter into
the brains of those duped to sign a
labor contract fer a period of 8
years. Now then, taken on the above
scale,a man getting on an average SIC
per month or 40 marks, would have
to get here, so as to evenly balance
the value of his earnings, the sum oi