The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-06-15
A DOLLAR 4 DAY.
Many Japanese Working for
That Wage.
TACA VALLEY ALIVE WITH THEM.
Some Of Them Contract to Go to Work
as StOneCutterS.
Thousands Going Into the Country to
Take Employment on the
Ranches.

Japanese contract labor-what shall be
done about it?
The questi on gathers importance day by
day.
japanese with seven-year contracts in
their pockets to work at stonecutting at a
dollar a day where " bite laboreTs have been
getting IS to 81.
Japanese for railroad work at a dollar a
day where white labOTers would get 81. and
even Chinese would receive from 81 % 10
81 80.
Japanese for house servants at $40 to Sl5
q month where white servants would get
So to S2j.
japanese for ranch work at $50 month
without board when white workmen set SO
and board, or say SIS altogether.
japanese for any kind of work at 81 TO
81 10 a day without board while white
workmen get from s. to So.
This VIII not do.
The CALL has been making more investi-
cations in regard TO the japanese question.
1t has been found that owners OF large
ranches have been contracting for hundreds
OF japanese to displace white laboreIs and
Chinese because the MikadO's people will
work for 81 a day.
c. R. Hansen, the employment agent,
said that one big rancher who owns farms
In different parts Of the State told him
lately that be had hired 90 japanese expert
mentally, placing a number on each of his
ranches
"If they do we'll" said the employer to
Mr.. Hansen, II Will employ eco to 800 next
year"
The japanese employment agencies in
this city have been besieged by applicants
for cheap labor of late.
''Send us all the dOllaT-a-da men you can
scare up is the standing order
The japanese seen on our streets are
mostly students. All who are coming here
from Yokohama as lab0TeTs remain but a
short time. Most Of them come under con-
tract for long terms, ranging up TO 10 years.
Those who DO not come under contract have
no difficulty in obtaining work.
ANY man. white, brown or black, can get
work if he is willing 10 accept a dollar a
day.
At the ferry one sees great many jap
anese leaving for the country.
Where do they all go?" was asked of a
man who sees their tickets.
Lately good many have gone to Win
tiers. Vacaville and other parts Of the Vaea
Valley" was the reply.
Amy to SacrRmento?"
"Yes. good many. Also quite a number
to OToville and Stockton. Oh, they 60 all
over, but mainly to the places 1 have
named"
To the San Joaquin Valley"
Yes. indeed Why. Sisson, Croker &
Co have sent big gangs down into Fresno
Ia st o. n 1
stone"
AT what wages?"
"a dollar a day."
What kind Of work ?"
"Oh, for the Tailroad-anythng that they
need 'em for, in fact They 60 as labOrers,
you know"
Are they displacing Chinese%
Yes, 10 a considerable extent"
"Why?"
Because they work cheaper"
What do the bosses say about them-do
they give satsfaCTiOn?'
We'll, a Sisson q Croker boss told me
only yesterday that the first men set to
work did very well. He was pleased with
them. he said they did more work for less
pay than any other class Of laOoTers. They
can dc almost as much as white men. You
see, they are enthusiastic at first and think
they are making big money when they re-
celye $50 or SIS at the end OF the month.
They eat the same kind Of food that China
men eat-nearly all rice"
"Will they work with Chinese?"
mot always. You see, there Is great
enmity between the japanese and Chinese
nations and 1t is kept up with bitterness
among the lower classes. One gang of
SissOn, Croker IL Co.'S men refused to
work with Chinese. Had they been forced
TO do so there would doubtless have been
trouble. Up north they are using a great
many japanese for railroad hands. / mean
in Washington, Oregon and Idaho. We
will soon have large numbers at work for
the railroad in California"
United States Immigration Commissioner
Mcpherson, who has a 2y4 office in the
old Chamber of Commerce building, on Bat
terry street, said yesterday that he was
doing his best to keep out the contract
lah0rers.
"Of course" said he. they will come
here ia spite OF all can do, but have sent
back good many. | have searched them
from time 10 time on their arrival here, and
find contracts on their persons. Many have
come TO work for 81 to 81 10 day, and some
for as little as $50 month and board them
selves"
Have you warned the authorities in
Japan not to let contract laboTers start Tor
this pOintY
"0h. yes. recently sent a cOmmunica-
ton to the MkadO in which gave him a
full statement of the condition of labor
here. Of the wages paid, Of our laws against
contract lab0rers being permitted to land,
and other matters tending to enlighten him
on the subject. The letter was sent through
the japanese COnsuPs office"
HAS 1t borne any fruit?"
ut has been too soon to notice any won
derful results, but | ara officially informed
that 2C0 contract laborers who were pre-
pairing to leave Japan for this country were
prevented from embarking"
% ra MANY canning in on g iliug shfDc 9J
mot now. They come along in small
parties Of six or eight or a Dozen"
''Ihe vigilance of the Government officers
has been Increased Of late on this point, has
it not2"
"Yes. Formerly this Office used to est
through with an examination of 90 or GO
Japanese immigrants in one day. Now We
take six or eight days. We intend to keep
up this vigilance and 10 protect the interests
of California laborers as much as possible
OF course, there Is no restriction against
japanese coming to this port In any num-
bers they may choose, but contract laborers
will not be admitted. i am satisfied that
many laborers are coming in and that GER
tain proportion OF them are under contract,
but how am to tell that this is a fact in any
particular case when there is no proof?''
Many OF the orchardsts in the Sacra-
mento Valley are supplied with japanese
fTuit-plckers for the season. They take
them in preference to Chinese, as they
work harder and will take less pay.
japanese are well treated in America. but
| the policy Of the Mikados people of late has
been anything but satisfactory to foreigners
| in Japan.
The Japan Mail of recent date saws
Several Of the native papers and political
parties have taken up the old subject OF
| treaty revision, and the oyerreaching selfish
ness displayed if persisted in is fortunately
| calculated to Illustrate the acquisition OF
what is sought to be arrived at. What is
Japanese aspirations is the securing of both
tariff and judicial autonomy, the right OF
| taxing foreigners without representation,
the denying to them the right to acquire
land in fee simple, and that mixed residence
shall be, as now, forbidden. No foreign
judges are TO be employed, whether in
| Courts of First Instance or in Courts OF