The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1888-11-27
ABOUT CHEAP LABOR.


led you already with manuscripts, 1
do not feel inclined to impose too
much upon your kindness. Still,
considering the subject of no small
interest, especially to working peo-
pie, / will, with your permission,
offer few more remarks.
The principal theme l should like
to write about, the life and treat
ment of contract laborers on the
plantations, 1 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-
ton 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 100, 900 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 workingnen's
cause and rights"
But then, Mr.. Editor, you surely
do not intend to say that SIG per
month is q magnificent salary for
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 q white
man ought to do the same. j 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 $12 to $17 per
month. The several amounts ere
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, q
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 all
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, oslo the first year, SIT the
second, and S18 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 65 marks, while 5 1e
is equal to about 73 marks. l will
!. uot say that there are not any goot
plantations or managers, for know
there are, were there is all done
} to insure all possible comfort to la
borers.
Now then let us take the tota
value of wages and perquisites re
ceived by these people at 500 or So;
per month, or about 80 to 80 mark,
in German coin. There is no on,
who will dispute that 25 cents il
Germany will buy at least as mucl
as 81 will here, or in other word
you will have to pay here 81 TO
what you pay in Germany only 2i
cents; or, if you like, your expenses
here will be at least four times al
high as in Germany. This is cal
culation which does not enter int
the brains of those duped to sign ,
labor contract for period of
years. Now then, taken on the above
scale, "a man getting on an average 81
per month or 40 marks, would hav,
to get here, so as to evenly balance
the value of his earnings, the sum o
$40 instead of $50. Here tits, wher,
/ say that the parties have been i'm
posed upon. But then some on,
will come with the excuse, that tn,
wives and children can earn littl,
by stripping cane. True, this is so
But are we, as citizens of that fire,
, country of our pride, the United
States of America, or all who believ,
in liberty and justice, are we going
TO uphold one of those barbarou,
customs OF some of the old countries
where the husband is considered
. only as the lord and master of hi
{ wife! where the mother has Z,