Evening star., 1898-11-22

tte, soeS ,aete as manager Mr. LoWr1e
1t 4oOe0 toIs. This is to be accomplished
by means of artesian wells and pumps,
bringing unoer culture large tracts of arid
but fertile land, hitherto untouched on the
lower western slopes of Haleakala noun
tain.
Question es Labor.
There is another consequence of some
Importance which grows out of this sudden
enlargement of our plantations. 1t is an
apprenended difficulty IN securing the labor
necessary to conduct them. Probably from
5,ooo to 1000 laborerS)w will be required in
addition to those already at work. There
| is no doubt that there are as many as
s'ooo or looo9 Chinese and Japanese labor
ers partially unemployed in these islands
who would be attracted to the work by
considerably higher rate of wages than
that now offered, say SIS a month. Proba-
bly, s25 month would secure their services
but this is more than the business is felt
10 justify. In consequence the planters
and agents are looking to the future of the
Dor problem with much solicitude.
Some LOU Jaranese laborers have been
imported under contract during the past
year But it is understood that under
tne new American regime contract labor
will be inadmissible. Hence great anxiety,
and an earnest movement by the planters
to get the application of United States law
to that subject postponed. While believ
Ing, with majority of the planters, that
the contract labor system is Objectionable
and bound to disappear l would not for
moment admit that it is, often alleged,
a species of slavery. 1t should be clearly
understood precisely what that system is.
The contract laborer voluntarily binds
himself to serve the employer for not more
than three years. in consideration of a
money advance paid out of his anticipated
wages to an immigration company for the
cost of engaging and transporting him
lither USUALLY Hbont The law M
pels him to fulfill this engagement, laboring
faithfully as ordered until the time eX-
pires. The employer is also strictly held
to good usage, and due supply of food,
lodgings, fuel, medical attendance, etc.
Failure in this releases the laborer. Deser-
ton from labor subjects the latter to mod
crate penalty. The relation of planter and
labOrer is always precisely that of ship
master and seaman on the ocean. Labor
ers are always spoken of as shipping
on the plantations. The system originated
in the employment of native Hawaiians on
the earlier plantations thirty and forty
years ago, before Asiatics were introduced.
The natives could only be induced to en-
gage by means of large cash advances,
such as they got from shipping as sailors
on the whalers. Or # they did engage
they were tickle and would drop their work
any day, unless bound by contract. In
those days nearly all the laborers were
thus bound.
Oue-Third Are Bound.
At the present time about one-third of the
laborers on the plantations are so bound.
Two-thirds are entirely free, usually ex-
perienced hands working for higher wages
than the recent immigrants. These free la
borers work better because more willingly;
and most of the planters would prefer to
depend altogether upon that class if they
could get enough of them without paying
too high wages. To that alternative they
may yet be compelled to yield if United
States law aboishes the contract system.
This labor question hangs as a menacins
shadow over the future of the Hawaiian
sugar industry. 'ni.
A somewhat hopeful solution of the prob
lem has appeared In the introduction of
American white labor upon the plantations.
While it cannot be expected that American
farmers will be willing to labor in the cane
fields in gangs under overseers, as do the
Asiatics, it is found that they are quite will
ing to cultivate the fields on shares work
ing under their own direction. The most
successful of our managers Lowrie of the
Eva plantation, has already secured in Cal
ifornia the services Of some hfty Whlte
farmers, a part of whom are already at
work in their fields at Eva. The expert
n ent had already been successfully tried
with Portuguese and japanese snare work
ers, so that the planter knew precisely what
was necessary.
The terms of this cooperative farming
are as follows. The plapeation furnishes a
comfortabl house and garden, plot, fuel and
plies at moderate prices, The managers
also supply all tolls and implements used
in cultivation, with teams; all the foregoing
free of charge.
They also plant the cane and care for it
until its growth is established. The farmer
then cultivates. irrigates and strips 1t,
giving it all the care required for, say, fif-
teen months, until ready for grinding, The
plantation cuts and manufactures the cane.
For his labor the cultivator is to receive
Cne-sixth of the sugar produced from the
land cared for by him. Each farmer has
about ten acres. FROM THIS ne Will earn
about 5000, or $40 a month.
Stripping the Cane.
The only part of the required labor likely
to be trying to white men is that of strip
ping the cane on account of the heat in
side of the dense masses of the tall cane
The farmer can easily hire Asiatic laborers
for such work, if necessary. He is required
to keep the cane in first-class order. treating
it faithfully as directed by the manager.
There seems to be no doubt of the success
of this system of labor. 1t seems probable
that it will come to be widely introduced,
While it will help to supply the needed Ia
Dor element, it will perform a still more
valuable service in helping to increase the
white American element in Hawaii. 1t will
contribute to furnish immediate employment
to American immigrants without capital un-
til better openings are made for them Our
hope is that the future one million inhab-
itants of Hawaii will be mainly of Euro
pean stock. and not of Asiatic.
Our city has been Swarming with Amer-
can soldiers from the transports bound to
Manila. which for a fortnight past have
made Honolulu their stopping place. These
bright young men are delighted with Homo
lulu, and it will not be strange if very many
of them hereafter seek to make Hawaii
their home. Gen. King and his force, who
have sojourned so long in Camp OTIS
have at last embarked upon the Arizona,
and are anchored in the outer roadstead
awaiting the development of several cases
of fever on board, probably typhoid. 1t is
most sad to record that typhoid fever be-
came epidemic both in Camp OTIS and
in Camp Mckinley wholly through ne
glect of efficient sanitation. 1t Is believed
that the cause has now been rectfed.
KAMEHAMEHA.