The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-08
cody CONTRACT LABOR,
Interesting Developments at
Yesterdays Investi-
cation.
A JAP CONTRACTORS OFFER.
A. G. Plat States That White Labor
ers Are Better Workers
Than Asiatics.

The investigation of the cheap cody
question that was begun last Tuesday in
Pleasanton was resumed yesterday at 215
Sansome street before Labor Commissioner
E. L. Fitzgerald, United States Immigra-
ton Commissioner w. /. Stradley and
Deputies Dam, Greene and Geffeney. In
order to secure for the records information
possessed only by Deputy Geffeney the
latter was put on the witness-stand. For
years he was interpreter and agent for q
large tea house in this City. and while in
Japan he had ample opportunity of gather
ing much valuable information. He has
been in the service of the Federal Govern
ment for the past three years. During his
term of service hundreds OF Japanese
coolies have landed in this port, mostly
from Yokohama. Many came from Kobe
by the way of British Columbia. as there
seems to be less chance of their being de-
ported from the United States than it they
came from Japan direct.
In 1893, while acting as an interpreter
for immigration Commissioner McPher-
son, Geffeney found on the Walla Walla
from Victoria seven Japs who bore cards
from the American Immigration Society
of Japan, which stated that the bearers
would meet upon the dock in this port q
man who would recognize the cards and
provide the holders with work. Upon
examining the men Mr.. Geffeney learned
that they had given man in Japan SIS TO
secure for them their passports, ETC., and
the promise of work on their arrival at this
port. Mr.. Geffeney is satisfied that SINH
lar bureau and school exists in Japan to-
day.
He said: "While was in Japan was
told that nearly all the Japanese laborers
who come to America do so under contract,
both written and implied. The contracts
to the coolies here, and the amout to their
families in Japan. That this state of af-
fairs exists to-day l am positive"
The next witness was e. r. Lilienthal,
who is interested in the Pleasanton Hop
Company. Mr.. Lillienthal stated that in
order to present his position properly be-
fore the commissioners he had prepared
the following statement.
In 1892 the Pleasanton Hop Company bought
heretofore been farmed to barley and q part
thereof being uncleared land, covered with will
lows and tulles, at an expense of about
hops, trellises erected, hophouses and ware
houses constructed, and this done with white
labor. This land, that formerly required q
maximum expenditure of 5000 to $500 per
month, now disburses to white labor, ex-
elusive of picking and curing, over $1,000
monthly. In the month OF May this year it
had thirty-six white people on its payroll.
The hop-gathering begins about August 90
In the gathering Of the 1894 crop the Company
advertised through the intelligence Offices of
San Francisco and Oakland for white
labor and harvested and gathered that
crop exclusively with whites, excepting
about 100 Indians, the latter being employed
because of their skill and cleanliness in pick
ing. A portion of this white labor was from
the district bounded by Altamont, Niles and
Davisville and consisted of individuals, heads
of families, women and children, the schools,
by agreement, having been closed at that time
make some money. The home labor, or that
within the radius described, was extremely
satisfactory and will be given preference at
harvest time. The company will not repeat its
attempt to import foreign white help Qaborers
secured from the cities, as they were found
unsatisfactory, both to the company and the