The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-04-28
MEETING Of THE CABINET HOUSE may TAKE ACTION TH POLICE JDGSH|P
COMMISSIONER FITZGERALD AND
THE LABOR QUESTION.
Asiatic Labor Must Sooner or Later Be
Replaced by Whites--Labor Bureau
May BE Started Shortly.

Labor Commissioner Fitzgerald, by
invitation, attended special meeting
of the Cabinet this morning, and eX-
planned TO President Dole and his Min
listers his views on the labor situation
lin the islands. He held the close at
tention of the members of the Cabinet
for nearly two hours, answering their
questions and explaining his plan for
the redemption of the isk ads from the
labor standpoint. At the conclusion
of the interview both the President
and the Ministers agreed with hi n
that the Asiatic laborers must be
sooner or later replaced by Americans,
and that the sooner the work was
commenced the better it would be for
the islands.
Mr.. Fitzgerald exhibited to the Cab
met officers an astonishing mass of
data secured by him and his secretary
Mr.. Greene, during their brief stay in
the islands. His conclusions from this
data have already been printed in he
Star, and need no repetition here. In
announcing them to the Cabinet he
backed up his arguments with facts
and figures that We're indisputable
and thoroughly convincing. He showed
no hesitancy in saying that the Asia
tic labor, upon investigation, has been
proven to be a drawback, rather than
an aid to the sugar and coffee indus
tries; that white labor could be en-
ployed on the plantations to much
better advantage-even from the
standpoint of wages. Should the pres
ent conditions continue he could not
consistently favor reciprocity or an
nexation, as either would bring ,he
cheap labor products of the islands
into direct competition with the pro
ducts of American labor.
Every question arising from the
topic under discussion was brought W
and thoroughly aired. The commits
sioner showed that he was master ot
the situation. His study of the labor
question in the islands has not beer
merely superficial; he has gone deeI
into the root of it, and is certain o1
the remedy.
How to apply the remedy was mex
discussed. and the Cabinet officer.
agreed with Commissioner Fitzgerald
that it would be necessary to open {
labor bureau, under the auspices O
: the Government if possible. No funds
. are available for such a purpose, bu
: it was suggested that the planters
f would be willing to stand the expense
= The President and Ministers wer'
r anxious to have Mr.. Fitzgerald taxi
the matter up in connection with hi
. work at San Francisco, expressing full
confidence in his ability and goot
faith.
Mr.. Fitzgerald replied that he coult
not think of undertaking the work, a
he already had more than he could do
He would be willing to lend the move
ment his moral support and give wha
advice he could. He suggested tina
the Government have an agent in Sal
Francisco and another one here. Th
agent at Honolulu could ascertain
when and where men were needed
and the agent in San Francisco coult
select the men, picking out only th'
best and most reliable. The necessar,
funds could be raised the commission
er thought, by tax of say five cents
per ton on the sugar exported.
Although the Cabinet has taken NJ
definite action in the matter, it is full!
awake to the necessity of the hour
Commissioner Fitzgerald wants t.
leave for home tomorrow, but th
planters are anxious to have him re
:, main over another steamer, in orde
that he may assist them in gelting tn
! bureau started. He has not yet decid
ed to stay, although the planters ar
4 very urgent in their invitation.