The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1890-11-08
THE LEGISLATURE.
123p DAY.
FRIDAY, Nov. Z.
AFTERNOON SESSION.

AFTERNOON SESSION.
Committee of the whole resumed
at 1877, the third subdivision Of
Sec. l of the labor bill pending, as
follows:
Third. That such bearer shall
not engage in any other occupation
than that of agricultural labor.
Rep. Brown moved to add: "Pro-
vided that the term agricultural la
borer' shall be held to include labor
in sugar mills, rice mills and coffee
mills, and all labor incident thereto"
Rep. Bush held that this provision
was an infringement of the liberty
of the individual. No matter IL the
laborer consented to it before leav-
ing China, the moment he landed in
this country he was accorded per-
sonal liberty under our Constitu-
ton. The Supreme Court seemed
to evade the question on which this
House wanted to be instructed He
was there pledged to protect the in
terests of the working classes as
well as of the wealthy. This mea-
sure would bring relief to the plant
| ers, but he was convinced that,
when the contracts expired, the
| Chinese laborers could not be de-
| ported without violation to our Con-
stitution. He could not see that the
entry of Chinese was detriment
to the natives so far as labor was
| concerned, but their unrestricted
admission was a menace to the inde-
pendence of the kingdom. In an
swer to a question by Noble j. M.
Horner, as TO whether the laborer
could not be deported just before
the contract was out, he said the
laborer was not bound to his master
but to his contract. He moved that
the subdivision be indefinitely post
poned.
Noble Widemann said the hon.
member for Koolaupoko had built a
pretty structure, but his argument
did not support his conclusions.
He Noble W.. wanted to know
whether our Constitution was oper-
alive in China. He. did not think
it was. Why we should not invite
Chinese to come, if they were will
ing to come under the conditions we
imposed, he could not understand.
This bill was for the protection of
Hawaiians in their own country to
do the work for which the Chinese
were wanted. This country was a
Paradise for the Chinese, and this
bill proposed to give them a taste of
it, and then send them back if they
did not renew their contracts. The
necessity was upon US and we had
to make the best of it.
The subdivision was numbered
Second and passed as amended
by Rep. Brown,
Fourth. That if such person
shall be found out of employment at
any time during such term or en-.
gagged in any other employment than
that of agricultural laborer or shall
be found in this Kingdom after the
expiration of such term, he may
thereupon be arrested and held in
custody until an opportunity occurs
to return him to China.
| Changed to "Third" and passed.
Fifth. That one-fourth of the
money due to such person as CON-
pensation for work done shall be re.
tanned by the employer each month
and forwarded by him to the Board
of immigration, to be by it deposit.
ed In the Treasury of the Kingdom
as special deposit, subject to the
order of the President of the Board
Of immigration, and to be returned
by The said Board to such person
upon his leaving the Kingdom
Provided, however, that such reten.
ton and deposit shall cease, when
ever the sum to the credit of any
one laborer shall amount to the sun
of seventy-five dollars. The sale
Board shall have the authority tc
pay the return passage of such per
son out of such sums So deposited
If such person shall enter into any
other employment than that of agri
cultural labor or shall desert his EN-
ployer, such money SO deposited
may be forfeited to the Hawaiian
Government.
Noble Baldwin moved to strike
out the. words, "spch money so de
posted may be forfeited to the Ha
waiian Government" and insert tn,
following: ''or should the employer
or person giving the bond provided
for in Sec. 2 of this Act be compell
ed for any cause to pay the penalty
prescribed by such bond, by reason
of the failure to comply with thu
terms thereof, that then the sum 81
deposited shall be returned by tn,
Board of Immigration to the princi
pal or surety of said bond so pay
ing said penalty" He considered i
was only fair to the planter that, Il
the laborer ran away and the planter
had to pay the bond, the plantel
should get that money.
Noble Widemann considered thu
bond farce. The planter coull
not get a man out Of the country
unless the Government helped him
Noble Muller said a deposit Of
S75 was required from the laborer
while his passage only cost $50
That was premium OF $40 on run
away Cinnamon to the planter, i
this amendment passed he should
/ a. f.1