The Hawaiian gazette., 1890-04-01
THE LABOR QUESTION.

The following letter was written
by Mr.. W R. Castle to-be read at the
open meeting Of the Board of Immi-
grafton, but was received too late to
be read there, and it is accordingly
printed here:
To His Excellency L. A. Thurston, Min
lister of the Interior, etc, etc.
SIR: Yours Of the 18th OF March re-
lative to the labor question is before me
Owing to an attack Of asthma, | shall not
be able to attend the meeting to-day,
but, feeling the Importance of the sub
iect, l desire to say word or two. l
must say that | feel great deal OF ap-
prehensi0n with regard to the continued
Introduction OF japanese, feeling that it
may cause more trouble than tile Chi
nese immigration. The admission of the
number Of Chinese permitted by the EX-
ClusIOu Act, that l. Of twelve hundred III
a year, VIII not meet the requirements
OF course, but in two wears the admission
Of two thousand Chinese, VINO could
easily be obtained, would certainly help
10 relieve the labor market, and | think
that the preparation and attempted en-
fJrcement OF contracts which would re-
quire their departure at the end OF their
term Of service would have some effect
in checking their large increase. I-alsO
assume that constitutional amendment
Will be adopted at the next Legislature
which will practically place the matter
within the control OF the Government,
and 1t Is not at all certain, l suppose, that
the Supreme Court would hold a contract
as non-enforced which required the de-
pOrtatiOn OF Chinese alter the expiration
OF the contracts, though | express no
opinion on that point. l also look upon
the importation OF mixed nationalities as
being valuable from the fact that they
are not likely to coalesce and will be q
check one upon another. Therefore, |
think that the importation of some
Chinese, probably few more Japanese
and some Portuguese, will assist materi-
ally in relieving the labor market.
This, however, Is wholly preliminary,
and do not believe that it goes to the
root OF the question What this country
requires and what We should bend every
effort to obtain, Is the immigration and
settlement Of different class OF people
a better class Of people. l will say now
that the proposition which the Oahu
Railway and Land Co are now enter
tanning with regard to their proposed ex-
tension OF the railway on Oahu, If indeed
concessions can be obtained which will
permit the extension Of the railway as an
economical measure, is this: to import
from the United States, or possibly from
Europ- directly, Immigrants who shall
not belong to the psuper class, paying
them wages certainly higher than would
be paid 10 Chinese or other low ciaSs
lab0rers, with the promise and intention
Of furnishing homesiezds iOr a consider
able number OF these people along or
near the line Of the railway. If We can
also obtain certain concessions. which We
propose TO ask Of the next legislature, We
shall then 20 ahead and build . railway
from HiIO TO Hamakua and import lab
orers of that class With their families, ii
poss be, and settle them along the line
Of the road nave 10 doubt that con-
siderable increase can b. made in the re-
Spectacle settled population Of the coun-