The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-07-29
STATUS OF HAWAII
The Island Is Practically q Foreign
Country as Yet.
COOLIES ARE BEING RUSHED IN
The Population Will Be Largely Com.
posed Of AsiaticS.
CONTRACT LABORERS FROM ITALY
Are Also Being Brought Into the Country
by Hundreds
PASSING THROUGH THE UNITED STATES
There In No Way to Prevent the
PRACTICES Which Arc Being Pur-
sued by the Sugar Planters,
Are Also Being Brought Into the Country
by Hundreds
PASSING THROUGH THE UNITED STATES
(special 10 The pnstA

Washington. July S-Arrungements
arc being made for the transportation of
1000 italian contract laborors from Itnlv
10 hawaii. Owing to the failure of con-
| gress TO enact code of laws for Hawaii
or to extend the immigration laws of the
United States to the Islands. there is no
restriction upon tho Introduction of con-
tract laborers. and 1t Is even proposed
to transport the Italians through tho
United States. Commissioner General OF
immigration Powderly said today
that he had been asked by representa-
tives of transportation lines as to tho
possibility OF carrying 1000 Italians
through the United States He said
there was no way In which this govern
ment could interfere, though the men
would of course, be inspected at the port
of arrival in tho United states to ascer.
tain If any of them came within tho
clauses prohibited from landing on nc
count OF disease or likely to become pub
lie charges. II is probable that the trans
portation lines will be required to give
bond to insure the United States against
body while In transit and remaining in
the United States.
In anticipation of tho extension of the
United States immigration laws 10 Ha-
wall during the next session of congress,
there has been a rush to take contract
laborers into the islnnds in advance OF
such congressional action. Some China
mon have been taken in hut most OF tho
immigrants since the annexation reso-
luton was passed have been Japanese.
There have been in all IL ,1s9 Japanese
immigrants into Hawaii from the date OF
year. or these all but 1877 were con
tract laborers. AT the present rate OF
immigration from Japan and China, 1t is
inevitable that before congress can meet
and enact any legislation to stop the
tide the majority of the population OF
the island will be overwhelmingly Asiatic.
This was forescen by the immigration Of
ficIals. and efforts were made to have con-
gress enact law extending the immigra-
tons laws to Hawaii. but the matter was
prevented from coming NJ In the senate
by senator's who insisted that nothing
should be done in advance OF the enact
ment of n complete code OF laws for the
new possession. Such a code was drawn
up and introduced In both houses. but
failed of consideration. Hawaii has con-
sequently continued to be practically for
eign territory as far as the laws OF the
United States are concerned.
Honolulu, July n, via San Francisco.
Cal, July 2s.-Sugar planters and govern
ment officials are worried over the dis
cussion of the Hawaii labor contract sys-
tenn now going on In the United States.
They deny that the laborers are treated as
slaves and while admitting that the con-
tract system viii eventually be abolished
Insist that under present conditions they
have no other recourse.
The transports connemaugh and City Of
Para have arrived here on their way to
Manila.