The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1890-10-08
PLANTERS CONVENTION.
Annual Meeting of the Planters Labor
and supply Company.
SECOND Day.

| V'Io IueIe were pIeoeut L. IL
Walker, r. d. Walbridge, r. Hal
stead, p Isenberg, j. NJ. Horner, Il
z. Baldwin, w. NJ. Giffard, L. c
Bond, J. b. Anterior, w o. Smith
j. Marsden, j. r. Renton, Capt. II
w. Mist, II. w. Severance, Chas. r
Bishop, w. r. Castle, F. A. Schaefer
l.. a Thurston, G. Z. Fairchild, anC
III. Morrison.
The minutes were read by the Sc
cretary, w. o. Smith, and adopted.
The meeting then proceeded to the
consideration of the labor question.
Mr.. Baldwin stated that the House
Committee had boiled down all the
bills on the labor question into one
and the Secretary proceeded to read
thisbill The bill provides that spe,
cial residence permits for the term OF
five years shall be issued to Chinese
immigrants, permitting them to en-
gage in agricultural employment.
MIR. Isenberg did not like the bill
in all it's provisions, and would pro-
pose that the planters send joint
resolution to the Legislature, calling
for the sending of a Commissioner
to China to negotiate, if possible, a
convention with the Chinese Govern
ment, by which labor could be OBJ
tanned for agricultural purposes.
The price of labor and all details
could be fixed by treaty. Without
such a treaty, it would be dificalt to
obtain any.
Mr. Baldwin thought such reso-
luton would be useful, but in the
meantime the Legislature would
have to pass some kind of bill.
The universal opinion was that the
Chinese Government would not allow
Chinese to come here under contract.
We had not, as a matter of fact,
wanted them under contact, as
they run away so. This bill creates
a sort of permit contract between
the Board of immigration and the
immigrant. He comes here under
the provisions of that contract
Mr. Anterior asked whether he
thought Chinese could be obtained
under such law?
Mr.. Baldwin thought it would be
easier than under a regular contract.
That was the opinion of Intelligent
Cinnamon.
Mr.. Isenberg's idea was not to
have any contract at all, but to have
the laborers sent by the Chinese
Government (who would have
Commissioner here) to work here
under the provision of the law here.
The arrangement would be like that
under which the japanese are here.
If the Chinese were opposed to con-
tract they would not like the bill
either.
Capt. Mist states that Mr.. Goo
Kim, who was thoroughly informed
as to the policy of the Chinese Gov
eminent was now in China.
Mr.. Schaefer inquired if a bill
could not be drawn which would be
simpler in its provisions.
Mr.. w. 0. Smith said it might not
be known to all that action was
taken in regard to a convention
with China in 'S3. Mr. Carter con-
ferred with the Chinese Minister in
Washington. The correspondence
entered into at that time showed
the feasibility Of it. The Chinese
Minister at that time stated that
the Chinese Government was favor
able to the subject. The Chinese
do better here than in Peru and
elsewhere. The point is to have the
Chinese Government take charge of
the laborers. They do not fear our
laws. AS to the bill, the great objec
ton has been to having contracts.
This bill is neither one thing nor the
other. 1t involves the hardships of
the contract system without its
advantages. 1t is not a contract.
Who is to enforce it? They are not
bound to contract for the planta-
tions. They can work for the Chinese
rice plantations. We might as we'll
throw open the doors as pass acts
which cannot be enforced.
Mr.. Walker thought that under
this law any discontinued laborer
could go back to China by simply
deserving. The bill seems to contain
many provisions which are similar to
a contract.
Mr.. Marsden stated that individ-
ual contracts with Chinese were USE
less. The only way was to get them
from Cinnamon, as at present.
Mr.. Baldwin thought that the per-
NIT was contract as far as it went.
He was not lawyer, but that seem
ed to him the common-sense view
of it.
Mr.. Thurston thought that the bill
was very faulty because there was
no one entitled to enforce the condi-
tons of the permit. The only way, as
he thought, was to put the laborers
under contract to the Board of I'm
migration.
Mr.. Baldwin thought this bill
would give the Board of Immigra-
ton special rights against the la
borers entirely independent of the
general contract law.
Mr.. w. 0. Smith observed that the
law gave the Minister of Foreign
Affairs no discretion at all. 1t says
he "shall" bring them in.
Mr.. Thurston said without con-
tracts you would not get any la
borers on the plantations. They
would come in and in two weeks
they will be melted into thin air.
Mr.. Marsden said the Chinese