The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1895-11-13
Peculiar Methods at Quaran-
tine Station.
INTO CONTRACTING.
Station House Permits Were
Labor COntracts-For Tricks That
Are Vain, Who Is Peculiar {!

There were twenty-eight of the
| Chinese immigrants who failed to
sign contracts after leaving Hong
kong, and these remain at the
quarantine station. Owing to the
fact that the British government
will not allow contracts to be
signed before leaving Hongkong,
the greatest care must be taken by
the immigration Commissioners
that the Chinese are in no way in
timidated in order to secure their
signatures. 1t will be remembered
that when the China's laborers
were in quarantine there was
trouble with them and police were
sent over to quell the disturbance.
The matter was investigated by the
Cabinet officers, but no blame could
be attached to any of the agents or
officials of the Government. The
newspaper discussion, however,
attracted the attention of Commits
sioner Halves, and he decided to
place an inspector at the station in
order that there should be no fur
ther question as to the methods
used to obtain signatures to the
contracts. When this fact was
communicated to the Government,
Minister Cooper felt that it would
be better for the Executive to take
some action. The result was that
James w. Girvin was sent to the
station yesterday as a commission
er to see that whatever was done by
the immigrants should be of their
own volition.
Commissioner Hawes was satisfied
with the selection and decided not
to send a representative. For the
Chinese Society, Chu Gem, man
ager for Kwong Sam Kee Co., a
thoroughly reliable man, was Sc
lected to act as interpreter.
When they reached the quaran-
tine station they found twenty
seven of the Coptic's Chinese pas
sengers who had refused to sign the
contracts. Mr.. Girvin examined
them separately, and each declined,
on the grounds that they had been
misled by the statements made by
Lau Chong while in China. They
had been told by him that the
wages they would get in the field
would be from $18 to $25 per
month, gold, per man with pro-
vision allowance of three dollars
per month.
1t was not incumbent upon them
to work on plantations unless they
wished, as there was plenty of work
for them as mechanics in Homo
lulu. Several of them claim that
the conventional blue card used by
the immigration agents in China
had not been presented them for
their signatures, though those in
the Foreign Office are all regularly
signed. They all admit signing a
card about the size of an envelope,
which turns out to be promise to
pay $54 for passage money and in
cidental expenses during the voy-
age.
After these statements had been
taken by Mr.. Girvin he notified
them that it was not compulsory
for them to sign contracts, and If
they did not wish to they
could 90 to the station house and
remain until there was a steamer
leaving for China. This was agree
able to the twenty-seven and they
We're sent into the fumigating room.
4 short time afterward Agent Nc
Weigh said the men were signing
contracts. Chu Gem remarked to
Mr.. Girvin that there was some
thing peculiar about it and sug-
gested that they inquire into it.
They then went into the room and
found eight or ten men numbered
and tagged for Honokaa planta-
ton. Chu Gem, under instructions
from Mr.. Girvin, questioned them
as to their change of front.
eve have signed a paper that
we will 60 to the station house and