The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-07-25
LABOR QUESTION
Some Of the Objects of Mr..
Rays Visit.
Has No Doubt the Territorial BIu
viii Pass at the Next
Congress.

is the secretary of the Senate Inter
State Commerce Committee and pri-
vate secretary to Senator Cullom. He
came here with the United States
Commission last year, and his visit to- |
the Islands at this time is for the pur-
pose of investigation. Specifically ne |
will look into the matter OF labor and |
his report will be handed to Senator |
| Cullom on his return.
You will understand he said to-
Herald representative, that the COM
mission looked pretty generally into
everything when here, but when they
arrived back in Washington and
framed the bill that was presented TO
Congress, and defeated. they found a
pretty strong opposition. This came.
| in part, from the anti-eXpansionists
and from men who oppose the meas
ure with a main view to disorganiZinS
the Republican side. The bill will be
brought up early in the next session
of Congress and the commissioners
want to make their position as strong
as possible For that reason l was dis
lpatched to the Islands to ascertain the
lexact number of laborers arriving here
ssince the 18th day of August, and the
number departing. Then | will find
tout the laborers and their nationality
engaged on the Islands in agricultural
pursuits. This labor question is apt to-
icut an important part in the debate in
1.-THE Senate, and both Senator Morgan
land Senator Cullom are anxious to be
familiar with every detail.
Il cannot say whether the United
States labor laws will be extended
here but feel free to say that the
present labor laws of Hawaii viii he
modified Since annexation took
Iplace Chinese immigration has ceased.
but the laws of the Islands permit un-
Limited immigration of Japanese. This
can hardly be considered fair. OF
course, the Japanese can come In by
their treaty, but it may be necessary
to make some arrangements with that
government regarding future immi-
grafton If this is to be done L guess
the United States is in a position to
make the arrangements.
while l am on the Islands L Will
Iconfer with the planters and others ana
get their views. | have had an inter
esting conversation with IA. +. Bald
win and he has promised TO give me
his views in writing. This and any
lother reports | may have | will hand
lSenator Cullom on my return and the
commission will discuss them. Know
ing the pulse o. the Senate as / do
can say this much: The labor prob
lem will be solved to the satisfaction
of the people of the United States and
the Islands irrespective of individuals.
1t is barely possible that Mr.. BALDWIN
report or any other report may be LAID
aside unless they are in touch with
public sentiment; the opposition may
not want to consider such statements
owing to the fact that Mr.. Baldwin ana
the planters are directly and personally
interested, though l do not for mo-
ment believe that he would make
statement on this subject for personal
gain. There have been n number oi
lanti-expansionist people here from the
. Mainland some of them sent here foI
the purpose of investigating conditions
: and reporting their observations. Sen
O ator Pettigrew, bright, capable man
IL has visited the Islands and he mas q
stack of documents as high as your
desk. When the bill comes before the
Senate he will be primed with infor-
;, nation on the subject. Personally
have no doubt the bill Will pass; pos
sibly it may be amended slightly, pos
= sibly not. | know that among some
lchise has been given considerable
Thought There are some who Oppose
lproperty qualification. others who op
nose educational qualification for va
rious reasons but when the time comes
they NAV let these items pass wtthOu
serious opposition. Personally. | looi
tupon a limited property qualihcatloi
= with certain favor. because II was II
force during the monarchy when tn
IHawaiians were believed to- he salts
fed. | admit it is un-American u
principle and it may not be in the OIL
when il passes Congress.
so far as your election is ConCerne'
am sure it will be set for time whel
lit will be agreeable for all parties an
the time will be fixed in the bill. Their
are q few matters connected with tn
war that will first have the attention
of Congress early in the session. bu
action on the Hawaiian bill will no
be long deferred. Interest has no
waned among the Senators or anon
the people in the United States an
whenever and wherever l am willin
% 70 talk on the subject l find many in
terested listeners.
THE people of Hawaii need not b
concerned as to the form OF govern
- ment they are to have. | do not be
Heve colonial Will be considere
and | can speak almost authoritative
ly when | say you will have territoI
ial form of government. with possIbl
certain notifications. The commits
\ sioners have a high regard for I'll
present government and personally
consider il the best on the face of th
earth. With a territorial form YOU wi
have municipalities, and sUburba
towns will be governed different
from what they now are.
Before | left Washington | met ID
Pritchett, superintendent OF the Unite
States Coast Survey and during a col
versation he requested me to secure a
possible information regarding u
surveys of the bays, etc, made by tn
Government. These will be used as