The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1890-09-13
TEE LEGISLATURE.
SEVENTY SEVENTH DAY.
FRIDAY, Sept. u.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
ouse resumed nj 1 10.

Noble Baldwin, on suspension Of
the rules, presented the report OF
the select committee on the item Of
$50, QUO for encouragement of immi'
grafton, as follows:
To the Hon. j. $. WAIVER, Pres
ident Legislature Assembly.
SIR; Your committee to whom
was referred the item in the Appro-
priation Bill, $50, 900 for the en-
enlargement of immigration, beg
leave TO report that we have had the
mater under careful consideration,
and find the facts relative to the
labor question in this country TO be
as follows:
There is universal complaint Of
the scarcity of labor throughout the
islands. Chinese labor has gone up
rapidly during the past few months,
from SIS TO $40 per month TO S24
and S26.
The following figures we obtain
from the Report of the Board of
Immigration for 1890. There were
l.2lO less Chinese employed on the
plantations January, 1890, than in
January, 1888. All classes of labor
engaged on plantations decreased
during the last period, except jap
anese. That is to say there
was decrease in the number
Of Hawaiians, Portuguese, Chinese,
and South Sea Islanders en-
ployed on the plantations, from
1883 to 1890. The total number uf
laborers on the plantations, jan
uary, 1888, was IL, 999; January,
1890, II ,895, or an increase during
the two years of 1886 laborers.
The Board of immigration placed
on the plantations during the period
1927 laborers, but the increase as
above shown was only 2,S99, show
ing that the difference of 4,63l lab
orers was required to take the places
of those who left the plantations
and went into other occupations or
left the country.
There is greater demand for lab
orers in the country to-day than
there was in 1888, Notwithstanding
that the Board of Immigration placed
on the plantations during the last
| period 1927 laborers, and since
then 1904. making total of 1851.
This demand for labor is due to the
expansion and increase of the opera
tions of plantations already existing
in the country. Then again three
new plantations have been start
ed during the past few months
which will require in the near future
something like 1000 laborers. The
starting of other plantations is also
contemplated.
Moreover, the Oahu Railway will
draw largely on the labor supply Of
the country, as we'll as new enter
prises it is anticipated this railroad
will open up.
Not only the projectors of al
these operations, but every man Oh
woman who employs q cook or yarc
man, every mechanic and tradesmar
in the country, is interested in there
being an ample supply of the lower
classes of labor. 1t is estimated
that an addition of from 5000 Il
5000 laborers will be required dur
ing the present period for planta
ton purposes, and if 1900 laborer!
the number that left the planta
tions last period-leave that service
this period, it will be necessary
to introduce about 10000 laborer
the present period.
If, however, the proposed tariff re
vision on sugar should pass th'
United States Senate, the above es
innate should be reduced somewhat
as in that case it is not likely neV
plantations will be started.
Portuguese immigration has beer
discontinued.
1t is not best to bring into tn
country japanese only. 1t seems t.
US wise for this Legislature to pas
the necessary legislation to intro
duce Chinese under restrictions, ant
for this Government to negotiat
convention with China TO carr.
out this object. 1t will requir
some expenditure to negotiate thi
convention.
We find that during the past fiv
periods the amounts appropriate
by the Legislature for the encour
agement of immigration were as fol
lows: