The Daily bulletin., 1892-11-16


On motion the report was ac-
cepted, placed on file and ordered
to be published.
Mr.. T. r.. Walker, in the absence
of Mr.. F. M. Swanzy, Treasurer, pre-
sented that officers report. The re-
port was referred to the Board of
Trustees for inspection.
The Secretary read the report of
the Committee on Labor, in the
absence of the chairman, Hon. r. ID.
Walbridge. On motion the report
was accepted and ordered to be pub
lished. The following is an abstract:
Regret is expressed at the delay
of action by the Legislature on the
four bills on the subject of labor, as
the reports of the committee and
debate in the House would bring
forth statistics and valuable opin-
ions, which could not be as we'll
obtained in any other way. The
need of cheap labor and plenty of it
is regarded as an admitted fact, not
only for the salvation of the sugar
estates, but for the benefit of new
industries and homesteaders. Espe-
cially is this SO if we are to compete
with foreign countries in raising cof-
fee, cinchona, ramie, spices and other
tropical products. Although the
rates of wages had been reduced
they were still too high, especially
with regard to old contract laborers.
The present Japanese labor cost
about Sl9 a month, which is being
modified by employing them when
their contracts expire tas also the
Chinese) at from S12 to Sl4 month
with nothing furnished buta dwelling
house. Gwen at as low rate as S13
per month it will be seen that our.
prospects will be severely handicap
ped if we are to compete with India,
where they produce large quantities
of tea, fibre, silk, etc, with wages at
Sc. per day, or Ceylon and China at
i6c. to zoe. per day, or the British
West Indies, Nho ship to England
and New York, at 20c. per day,
where III many cases they work six
teen hours a day" The case of
Queensland is adverted to, where the
importation of black labor had to be
resumed to save the plantations, and
the report says there is a necessity
for keeping up the supply here, and
that the importations should come
from different countries, that we
may have variety of nationalities,
is believed to be generally conceded.
Some statistics are then given, show
ing total immigration of japanese
since March II, 1891, of 6212 men
and 1877 women. From July II,
1891, to Oct Is, 1891, there arrived
of Chinese 3l5 men and 1l6 women.
The total number of immigrants ar
rived under contract from March IL,
1891, to June II, 1892, including wo-
men and children, is 1920. Depar-
lures of Chinese and japanese from
the first of 1891 to March IA, 1892
were 5O3i, and the male arrivals 7407,
leaving a balance remaining here of
1913. The report concludes that
although the Legislature will have
this matter under serious considera-
ton, it is a subject of so much i'm,
portance in general and in detail, it
would seem advisable to have com.
mittee appointed by the Planters
Labor " supply Co. to investigate
the question and confer with the
labor committee appointed by the
House."
Mr.. Baldwin thought some action
should be taken by the Trustees on
the labor question before the close
of the Legislature. The Labor Bill
had been handled in the House fol
political purposes. 1t should have
passed long ago if it had not been
for political purposes. He moved
the report be reconsidered and re,
ferred to committee of three with
Col. Spalding as chairman.
Reconsideration carried.
The Secretary favored reference
to special committee as moved. Il
required committee of the strong
est kind to present their views tC
the Legislature.
The motion passed.
Col. Spalding said he had been /;
Trustee for some years, and woulC
not say the Trustees were not cap
able of handling the question. TIL,
trouble with the labor question
hitherto was that it had not beer
attended to by the practical plant
ers. What was wanted was com
mittee of planters, not merchants
lawyers and doctors.
Mr.. Atherton-A good idea.
The President appointed as
committee on labor legislation, Col
Spalding, Messrs. Kay and Lowrey
Hon. j. NJ. Horner read the repor
of the Committee on Cultivation.
Col. Spalding desired to max
some remarks on the report, especi
ally as he had not had an opportun
ity to shoot off for some time. Ii
former times committee reports wer
discussed and thus much valuabl
information was elected and pull
lished. The practice had unfortur
ately died out and, by the silen
adoption of reports, it might
thought that their contents were at
cepted without regard to mistake
they might contain. Now, the ques
tion of depth of plowing was jus
like those of cane stripping, trans
portation, etc, on which differen
circumstances might dictate divers
practices. 1t might be the prope
thing on Mr. Horner's plantation t
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