The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-10-13
JAPAN'S Low WAGES
Twenty-Five Cents a Day for
Tea-Handling Experts.
SIX CENTS FOR BOYS AND GIRLS
fifteen or Twenty Cents Day for En-
broidery Women-stevedores Wages
Advanced TO Thirty Cents.

Kanagawa Letter in Chicago Record.
The enlistment and CONSUMPTION Of about
4oq.ee9 mechanics and coolies for the war
FIRST brought the employer class in Japan
TO realize that they have the best. the
cheapest and the most skillful labor for
the money IN the world, and that they
may be compelled some time in the not
very distant future 10 confront a theory
and not a condition. TO paraphrase the
language OF a very eminent man. The
walking delegate has not yet made his
appearance in this country. In China
there are guilds, and. although labor IS
quite as cheap. If not cheaper, in the in
terror OF the great empire. il is much more
difficult 10 control. as the Chinese is
stubborn and oftentimes an ugly person
TO deal with. The Japanese are more gen
tie. more doc!le. more patient and more
enduring.
There are no such things as labor unions
here. but with the introduction OF machin-
cry and modern ideas, with the establish
ment Of factories. which require certain
degree of training. and the growth OF In
telIigence. which will be the inevitable
result Of the present system of popular
education. the organization OF the labroing
classe for their own protection and ad-
vercement is sure 10 come. The greatest
protection is in the multitude OF people
mat TO sleep upon and few handfuls OF
rice for food. But even under such cir
cumstances the conscrption Of a compar
ativeIy small number OF laborers from the
~, go 90 that populate these little islands
shows how sensitive the masses are to
any unusual disturbance, and should set
thinking men to considering what may
happen when millions OF dollars are locked
up in manufacturing enterprises. and the
mechanical products OF Japan are no
longer made In the households and sold
in the market piece by piece.
The advance in the cost of labor caused
by the war is very small when considered
in the light of wages paid in other coun-
tres. vet it has been felt in prices. One
or cents day does not seem very much
TO men who are accustomed to receive $50,
So and So a month. but here. where the
average income OF the workingman does
not exceed SIS or so year. 1t is matter
Of Importance on both sides.
Middleton 4 Co, one OF the most promi-
ncnt tea-shipping houses I'm Japan. employ
in their establishment a large number of
persons, men and women. who work from
) O'Clock in the morning until o'clock 8
night with three intervals az s, L and
o'clock respectively. when they eat their
rice and what other refreshments they
bring with them and rest for twenty min
utes or half hour. The highest wages
paid by the Messrs. Middleton are - sen
a Gay. which Is equivalent TO Il cents in
United States currency. This is received
by men who are experts in handling tea,
and have acquired their proficiency by
natural ability and long years Of expert
ence.
The lowest wages are paid 10 young boys
and girls who pick over the tea leaves TO
remove the stems and other foreign sub
stances. They receive - sen. or ST. cents
day for about twelve hours work not
including their resting spells
OF the entire force in the establishment
twenty are paid q cents day in United
States currency ninety are paid IL cents
fifty get X cents. S25 get 10 cents 27S get
10 cents, five cents ard thirty 81 cents
day, and they board themselves.
The same rates are paid in all the tea
go downs as they are called, and sim
liar wages in the factories and manufac-
turing establishments throughout the
country
Embroidery women who make the work
that is so much priced by Americans and
Europeans for decorative purposes seldom
receive more than Is or % cents p day in
our money. although in any other land
they would be estimated as artists Iba
the finrickisha man whom I have hired
by the week during nay stay because he
can speak English and was a resident Of
Chicago for year or more during the
Worlds fair, is paid 20 sen or s. cents a
day. and is expected 10 b. on hand from
s o'clock in the morning until % o'clock at
night, with his exaggerated baby carriage
20 haul his employer M hill and down. al
ways AZ a run, ard often miles at a go
for distances are very great in these
cities And from his IS cents day. or 50
n month. he is compelled TO nav a
squeeze" TO the proprietor Of the hotel
! don't know how rquch-f0r the privilere
Of attaching himself To their establish
ment. instead Of standing at the street
corner like less fortunate 'ricksha men
and picking W ordinary customers who
are more exact in making change and 90
not give pour boires." Iha tells me con-
hdenUally that he often gets more than
. the regular fare as presents from tour
lists when he tells them that he was once
in Chicago. and that Is the way he got me.
The wages paid in Yokohama. as have
said are the highest in the empire. as %
foreigners money has a smaller value and
they are not such close traders rs the ma
tives. Yet in this city the ordinary pa
irol0aen az the police force are paid ven
or s in cur money a month. while the ser
GENTS receive s. and the other officials
or higher rank a corresponding amount
Ordinary freuen got s. - a month. fore
men ~ bose carts g. and engineers OF
steam FIRE engines. who are supposed 10
possess the highest grade 81 talent. re-
ceive 90 a month. All are furnished two
suits az clothing year. one for summer
ard one for winter and an oVerreat
Night watchuen. who q about the prem
ises Of citizens. in addition 20 the reeu-
lar police. as 4 safeguard AGAINST IRE and
burglars. set 81 a month. They patrol the
district on which they are employed from
dark 20 DAYLIGHT. and are paid BY their
patrons. although licensed by the city and
sworn ga as special police
There has been some rise in wages In
she ..lflna SIM IL, -r-.- 49,,