The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-09-30
Enormous Development Of In.
dustry in Japan
INCREASED OPIUM REVENUES
Collector j. H. Wise Discourses on the
Working of the Law
Smuggling Of Opium No Longer . Lucrative
Business-The Importation Of the Crude
Product Causing Some Trouble

The marvellous aptitude Japan has
shown for stimulating the knowledge Of
the west and carrying on manufacturing
enterprises on such an economical basis
that the efforts of its people in this direc-
ton are direct menace to the higher
civilized nations who have been the
teachers of the little brown men. In this
state, particularly, large amount OF at
tention is being given to the subject and
there is a growing demand that the in
fux of Japanese emigrants be limited.
This demand Is rather in the nature Of
safeguard against what may happen rather
than in consequence of anything that is
taking place at the present time.
In the larger industrial centers of Japan
weavers and spinners average 10 cents
per day: women receiving 6 cents. The
trst factories were built by the govern
ment and at a later dats turned over to
joint stock companies. The industry that
has been most prosperous is that of the
manufacture of cotton goods. One estab-
lishment at Kamgfuchi employs 210o
men and 300 women, who are divided
into.day and night shifts of twelve hours
labor each. The spinneries at Osaka are
carried on under a similar scale. All
these factories are fitted with the most
improved English machinery and the
plants are constantly being inreased for
the production is not yet up to consump-
ton. Large dividendsare being declared
and employers of labor there have found
out that female labor is much cheaper If
not quite so efficient for statistics show
that thirty-five spinnsries give work to
16, 897 women and only $3.50 men.
With such development OF manufacture
ing industries it can only be question of
time when Japan will reach out for other
than the home market. That such an
element of competition if introduced
would threaten American labor is what
is now being taught. hence the outcry
against the Japanese emigrants and the
growing demand that some restriction be
placed upon their free admission to this
country.
Upon this subject John H. Wise, col
lector of the port at San Francisco, talked
most Interestingly yesterday. While not
falling exactly within his province as
collector, the subject of Japanese emf
grafton being in some respects closely
allied to the kindred question of Chinese
exclusion, is more or less fam iliar to him.
The present gowing demand that some
cheek be placed upon the free entry OF the
japanese to this country" remarked Col
lector Wise, ''seems to me to be the re-
suit of a fear of what may happen in the
future ther than from any we'll ground
ed objection to ths influx going on at
present. At the same time it appears to
me that if a choice has to be made the
IA. All
dents. In travelling through the state
have been told repeatedly by ranchers
that Japs can be hired for considerably
less than Chlnes:that the latter are more
skillful workmen, and among the mer-
camille class are much better business
men,"
Passing on to speak of the success OF
the exclusion law Mr.. Wise gave few
figures that put the case concisely and
show the ASTONISHING decrease in the
mum per of Chinese coming to this coun-
try. :,
said Mr.. Wise, -four steamers were ar
irving at San Francisco each month, and
each vessel brought from 500 to 1000
Cinnamon. At the present time each ar.
irving steamer brings from thirty to forty
Chinese, making an average per month
to China. Altogether the law is working
well, and the Chinese being struggled in
are com paratively Insignificant in num-
bers."
Being askad as to the importation of
opium under the Democratic tariff, Mr..
Wise also was enabled to give some data
that illustrated the wisdom of reducing
the exor bitant duty that had previously
been placed upon the seductive COM
pound.
when the duty was $40 the returns
were between 100000 and 5000, 900; when
the duty was dropped to $6 the consump-
ton increased to such an extent that the
revenue was nearly 81, 400, 900, and later,
when the duty was jumped to $l2 per
pound the revenue declined to $500. 900.
After studying the situation and master
ing the details in conjunction with others
| who had studied the subject. l appeared
| before the Wilson comm ttee with the
result that the duty was placed at Sc per
| pound. There are about 10000 pounds
| consume ed and, approximately the revenue
| will be $1,000, co.,"
The consumption" of opium referred
| to by Collector Wise is more apparent
| than real AS he very properly pointed
| out. the consumption of the drug has not.
| so far as could be learned. varied much
despite the vicissitudes of high tariff and
| low tariff. The essential difference be-
tween the two lies in the fact that with a
| low tariff it does not pay to smuggle, and
| the government receives the benefit in
| 56
is profitable business, and the difference
! in revenue received is FILTERED away
among the white men and Celestials who
bark upon the illegal but lucrative
business OF opium smuggling.
| One draw back to the successful work.
ing of the law has been the placing OF
crude opium on the free list. Inasm UGH
as at the passage of the last tariff bill
there did not appear any good reason why
the crude drug, used only for medicinal
purposes, should be taxed, it was placed
on the free list. Collector Wise advised
DUTY of SO per pound, but his commnu-
ication arrived in Washington too late to
receive any prolonged consideration.
Since then, however, the Cinnamon have
attained great skill in cooking" the
opium, and while the product is in every
way inferior to the ported article, i,
is largely used, and in this way the gov
eminent is defrauded. At the next ses.
sion of congress an attempt will be made
| 10 amend the law in this direction,