The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1896-02-07
A Company Under New Prin-
cipIes.
REGISTRATION ONE FEATURE.
The Kobe Company Works an In
nOvation-None but LabOrers I'M
ported PrecautiOn Taken for
Their Return to Their Country.

Of all the immigration compan-
les doing business with the planta-
tions on the islands, that known as
the Kobe has rules and regulations
for supplying labor which as nearly
conform to the proposed Registra-
ton Act as anything in existence.
This body is incorporated under
the laws of Japan, and its object is
to furnish laborers at the current
rate of wages. So far as that point
goes, it does not differ materially
from any other corporation.
The Kobe company claims to get
its remuneration by way of COM
missions from the laborers when
engaged in Japan as well as from
the steamship companies, or
through transporting the labor
ers in vessels chartered for the
purpose, when the orders for labor
ers will warrant it, and bringing
them here, together with freight.
The sum charged for transporta-
ton is $50. If the company has
four hundred Japanese engaged
under contract, it is probable
vessel could be chartered to bring
them here for a much smaller sum
and the difference would be the
profit to the company. On the
other hand, if the circumstances do
not warrant the chartering of a
steamer, the company believes ad
vantageous terms can be made with
agents of the regular steamship
lines for passage rates less than the
same stated above. Whatever dis
count would be allowed the immi-
grafton company, would mean a
profit to that amount.
The contracts with the laborers
are for three years, and at the ex-
piration of each six months during
the term the sum of $5 is deducted
from the laborers' wages and de-
posted with the immigration COM
pany, this sum to be used in pay
ment of passage. In addition to
this sum deducted there is another,
amounting to 81 per month, which
is paid to the agent of the immi-
grafton company and by him de-
posted in the specie bank to the
credit of the laborer. At the ex-
piration of three months this
amount is transmitted to the near
est relative of the laborer residing
in Japan. In explanation OF this,
the agent says that in his four
years experience in dealing with
japanese laborers be has noticed
that during the first year of the
immigrants life on the plantation
he is in frequent communication
with his family and friends in
Japan. The frequency of the ex
change of letters grow less, how
ever, toward the end of the year, in
some cases at the end of six months.
During this time the immigrant
is prompt in sending portion of
his earnings to his family. The
return letters to these are usually
of an advisory character and often
speak of the happiness expected
when, at the expiration of the con-
tract, the laborer will return with
an abundance of wealth to his
family.
While these letters are passing
to and fro the laborer is contented,
but with the formation of evil con-
nections the desire to hear from
home grows less and the remit
tances cease when the relatives IN
Japan do not receive money they
are less apt to write as many of
the peasants are ignorant and un-
less there is a special object they
dislike to call on their friends to
write for them.
This new immigration company
believes it will, in great measure,