The San Francisco call., 1896-04-10
On the Hawaiian Islands It Has
Reduced Labor to a Pau
per Level.
BOWIE AGAIN AT HONOLULU.
Steamships Employing the Physician
to Be Overhauled by Health
Authorities.

morning of the 26th, after several prelim-
mary meetings, nearly 700 Portuguese
men marched in a body to the Govern
ment building and sent in a petition ad-
dressed TO the President and Legislature.
Their demeanor was entirely peaceable
and orderly. Copies of the petition were
at once made and presented to the two
houses of the Legislature. The grievance
of the Portuguese is that having been
brought here by this Government and
having settled in the islands and now in
creased TO 13 coo souls they find themselves
subjected to an invasion of Chinese and
Japanese immigrants, now over 10000,
which has reduced the wages of labor be-
low the cost of subsistence to Europeans.
They ask for measures to restrict A.iatic
immigration, also for a more equitable
system of taxation.
While no apprehension of disorder was
felt from the gathering of Portuguese, 1t
is considered bad precedent for the Leg
islature TO be approached by large as
semblage, and liable to have menacing
tendency, calculated to disturb and intim
idate the Legislature, especially if the
japanese should be induced to make
similar demonstration. 1t may be thought
petitions in this manner.
4 registration act has nearly completed
its passage by the two houses with great
unanimity. A similar act passed the Leg
islature of 1892, but was lost on its way to
the Queen by some unknown means. This
act compels every male above 10 years to
be registered, with full description and
thumb mark; also to produce his certih-
|, = ID
to a new location. The object of this
measure is 10 enable the Government TO
identity and control the great numb Der of
Asiatic vagrants in the country. It is es-
timated that $4,000 will annually be col
lected from Asiatics who have hitherto
evaded taxation. While the whites gen.
orally favor this law, few are opposed to
it on sentim entail grounds, as savoring of
European despotism. Minister Damon
strenuo1sly opposed it on this ground.
such law is generally considered indis-
pensable to any proper control of the
Asiatic population, who are extremely dii-
fcult 10 identity.
Finance Minister Damon is encounter
ing a strong opposition to certain acts
which he has introduced into the Legisla-
ture for consolidating the public debt by
new issue of bonds at a lower rate of inter
est; also for negotiating a new loan of
s., ,000, 900 for public improvements and
education, the bonds to be issued at not
exec eding $3.50, 600 per annum. At a con-
ference held on the 31st ult. by the Senate
with leading financial men of Honolulu,
the latter were unanimously opposed to
the method proposed by Damon. While
favoring the objects of the acts. these gen.
tlemen objected to the large discount pro-
posed of 15 per cent in case the bonds were
sold at per cent interest to replace the
present So, O05, 900 of bonds at per cent.
They also objected to the negotiations OF
the loans in London, contending that
much of the money could be obtained in
Honolulu itself, especially now that larg e
sugar dividends were being received.
Many persons, not investors, but seeking
to borrow, favor Damon's measure, as
tending TO lower the present high rates of
interest asked by Honolulu capitalists.
The citizens of Hilo have sent a COM
mittee to the Legislature with strong
resolutions demanding a larger share OF
appropriations for public improvements in
that district.
The Belgic arrived on the 2sth, bringing g
as her surgeon the same DIR. Bowie who
last August caused the disastrous cholera
epidemic by concealing the fact of deaths
from cholera on the Belgic's passage from
Japan. The port physician therefore
anchored the ship outside while he per-
sonally inspected every passenger. Find
ing Chinese leper. of whom Bowie knew
nothing, he brought the surgeon ashore 10
meet the Board OF Health. with whom
Bowie had no agreeable interview. The
Belgic was detained three hours outside
the harbor. The agents of the steamship
company have been notified that any
ship employing DR.. Bowie will be liable
to similar minute inspection and deUen-
ton.
The nuisance charge against Hayne has
received repeated postponements for over
two weeks, at the request of defendant s
counsel.
Minister Willis sails for home to-day.
He has sold his furniture. But this is
often and profitably done by persons
leaving here for a short absence in the
States.
The Foreign Office has still on hand an
unfinished discussion with her Britannia
Maiesty's Commissioner, Hawes, relating
TO his failure TO respond to the invitation
OF this Government to observe the 18th OF
january. There are also some still un-
settled claims against that Government
for damages in cases of persons arrested
after last years insurrection. The Foreign
Minister Is not prepared to give the publc
the present state of these controversies
The japanese Commissioner is bringing
compliant that the terms of the now ex-
pred labor convention with japan have
not been fulfilled, in that there have been
fresh impoEtations of Chinese contrary to
the agreement. This Government con-
tends the agreement went no farther than
to permit no increase in the number of
Chinese in these islands. which has been
done Japan contends that there was a
verbal understanding with Premier Glib
son otherwise.