The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-27
REPORT ON COOLY LABOR,
immigration Commissioner
Walter P. Stradley'S OBJ
SerVatiOnS.
He Officially Informs His Superior
of the Late Japanese In
VeStigation.

United States immigration Commits
sioner Walter P Stradley yesterday adj
dressed to Hon. Herman Stump, Commits
sioner-General of Immigration at Wash
ington, D. c., his report of the late
Japanese cody investigation held in con-
junction with Labor Commissioner E. L..
Fitzgerald. His communication reads:
l have been investigating some alleged VIC
lations OF the contract labor laws since the
receipt OF your telegram OF the Sd inst, pursu-
ant to instructions therein contained.
have had IN the investigation the hearty
and efficient cooperation OF E L. Fitzger-
aid, the Commissioner of the State Labor
Bureau. Under the State statute creating this
bureau the Commissioner has the power to
summon before him any person or persons
who, in his opinion, may throw any light upon
the condition OF labor. This makes il possible
to secure the testimony of witnesses whom it
would otherwise have been difficult to bring
before me.
Under these circumstances, in company with
Immigrant Inspector Geffeney, Labor Commits
sioner Fitzgerald, his deputy c. L. Dam, and
Special Agent Greene, held an investigation
on the 4th and 9Th of this month in the town
of Pleasanton, Alameda County, Cal, one of
the centers of the beet and hop growing in
dustries, and on the 18th and 18th in Vaca-
vile, solano County, Cal, one of the impor-
tant frult-groWlng communities. In the in
term the investigation was held in this City.
The results of these Investigations are about as
follows:
have been exercised over the number OF
japanese laborers who come to this port ana
have strained every nerve TO ascertain if they
were coming under contract. Until this last
investigation | thought that q majority of
them did. 1 had noticed close business con-
nection between the Japanese hotel-keepers in
this City and the proprietors Of hotels in Yoko-
hamo and Kobe, and [ naturally thought that
they were engaged in the business of import
ing japanese laborers. But after a most
thorough investigation must conclude that |
was mistaken, and that, except in isolated
| cases, japanese laborers come here not under
contract, but in response TO q strong demand
Tor them. In the fruit orchards and in the beet
and hop fields of this State, / ascertained that
a japanese farm laborer receives iron 20 cents
TO 81 per day wages in this State, and finds
himself, whereas the average farm aborer in
Japan receives only 40 sen go cents and finds
himself This readily explains why they are
SO eager to come TO California.
The japanese work under contract with a
japanese boss. who in turn has q contract with
the ranch-owner, to harvest a certain number
OF tons of beets, acres of hops or to pick so
much fruit. The boss agrees to secure the
necessary number OF men. If he cannot find
them IN the community he comes or sends TO
one OF the japanese boarding houses, where
there are always new arrivals waiting for work.
Ihus there is not except in Isolated cases,
any necessity for the importation of laborers,
lnasmuch as the laborer i'll japan is morally
certain he can secure work in this State and
therefore does not need the stimulus of an
agreement to cause him 10 emigrate.
however, secured enough evidence during
the investigation to convict one Japanese boss
under section of the act of March 8, 1891
vi this, however, will write you later.
L also secured evidence OF the existence in
Japan OF a company which guarantees laborers
desiring TO come to this country work for q
period OF three years Concerning this com
pany write you in a separate communication
OF even date herewith. Very respectfully yours
WALTER 7. STRADLEY, COMMISSIONER
The matter referred to in the conclusion
of Mr.. Stradley's letter is the contract OF
agreement of the Emipration Rurean in
Japan that was published in the CALL two
weeks ago. The original document and
the translation will be forwarded with this
letter.