The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-08-06

u ONOhOhOt July G0-<AS CNOiS SiAN
interested is now discussing Ha-
Fl waian labor problems 1 thought
that it would be a good idea to
- - test the public pulse and ,scertaln
whether any practical solution could be
obtained from the collective wisdom OF
some twenty score of representative men
of all sorts and conditions of men," from
the millionaire to the mechanic. L have
addressed to them two simple questions:
Are you in favor of retaining the
penal contract labor laws? If not, have
you any suggestion to make in con-
nection herewith to protect the en-
ployers of labor in their investments!
Have you any suggestion to make in
regard to the labor problem of procur-
ing sufficient labor for the needs of
our plantations and other industries!
Now, these very innocent and yet, me-
thinks, important questions have raised
a rumpus." BY some interests they are
regarded as being almost socialistic and
as containing some deep laid scheme to
ruin the country, while by others they
are deemed to be all that is proper and
gratitude is expressed to The Call for en-
deavoring to elicit information. Ger
tainly there are those who like a wealthy
planter to-day, believe in an eff1cac1ous
private lobby rather than the expression
of a private opinion in the public press
and l have no doubt that certain interests
of Hawaii viii be respectfully represented
a Washington during the next session OF
Congress; but how the people will Is at
present an unsolved problem, although
commission is talked of.
l think a sample of the answers received
over the signatures of the givers Will
prove of interest.
Hon. ?. c. Jones, eX-Minister of FL
nance, Vice-preSident of the Bank or Ha-
wall and a retired capitalist, well known
in his connection with the ancient and
honorable firm of c. Brewer & Co, says:
am in favor of abolishing the pc
nal clause.
1 believe that employers of labor can
be protected by adopting proht-sharlng
and similar means of giving the Ia
bOrer an interest OF some klnd IN the
enterprises.
lected, to be paid good, liberal sal
airy, to investigate the labor problem
and make reports from time TO time,
suggesting whence good men, who will
settle in the country, can be pro-
cured and the terms and conditions
upon which they can be induced to
come to the islands.
c. L. Wight, president of Wilder s
Steamship Company, writes:
l am in favor of the present labor
laws The contracts are fully under
stood by the laborers before they are
entered into.
making of these contracts. Men VINO
do not sign contracts have no trou-
BILE in, securing work on hianft tau rs
but when work is scarce the Tree Ia
borer is discouraged
The contract insures to laborers
regular employment, a house, fuel,
water (Where water Is scarceJs goou
medical attendance, all free of cost.
1t insures to employers a stated num-
Der of men 1T stated wages.
| can see no fault in our present syS-
tenn. Smart, provident men do no1
need assistance in coming to this coun-
try, nor 90 they need a contract with
an employer to secure STEADY "orh DIT
SIN fmproyident. lazy or stupid men need
TO be assisted to come to the country,
and penal contract Is necessary 10
secure their services after arrival
Young men who have not been able
TO save enough money at the rate OF
wages prevailing in the home country
are enabled to come here and At the
high rate of wages prevailing soon pay
off their debt. Such usually receive
an advance in wages over those ca!led
for in the contract. L am employing
young men, Portuguese, VINO came
here under contract. at the folloWnS
salaries: $40, $50, $40, SfO ana S4o per
month.
Hon. William o. Smith, ex-Attorney
General, says:
I am not in favor of retaining the
penal contract system which has mere
tofore been enforced in these islands.
believe that heretofore the system
has been a protection to the public
For many years the laborers intro
mainly Asiatics without families. ms
class of people, a rule, do not es-
tablish homes in the country, and in
view of the great proportion OF I'M
married men and the difficulty of iden-
tification and their lack of knowledge
Of civilized institutions the contract
system as heretofore enforced has
been of great benefit in maintaining
law and order, and has been somewhat
in the nature of a police regulation.
AS to the best provisions TO be maze
in the future for agricultural laborerS,
| believe that it is for the best inter-
est of the planters and OF the commq-
nity that greater effort should be made
to encourage American and European
farm laborers to come here. Much,
doubtless, can be done to encourage
these classes to come by means of CO.
operative and profit-sharing methods.
The Rev Serene E. Bishop, ID, en-
Joys an international reputation as sci
enlist and scholar, and also is the editor
of one of our pioneer papers, the Friend;
He is, Furthermore, like w. o. Smith, of
pioneer missionary stock. He says:
The penal contract labor laws should
be abolished.
blowers treat their laborers well and
give them good houses in place of the
present barracks.
Assisted labor from Europe should
be permitted to enter under con-
tract.
Hon w. f. Frear, Associate Justice of
the Supreme Court and one of the Ameri-
can-Hawaiian Commissioners, writes:
The penal contract labor laws should
be abolished. The penal enforcement
of labor contracts is not necessary to
protect employers in their invest
ments Employers would have no dif-
fculty in retaining laborers In suffi-
Gent numbers and at satisfactory
wages on their plantations If there
were a sufficient number of laborers
in the country. In order TO assure the
existence of a sufficient number in the
country proper means should be en-
nloyed first, to induce them to come,
and second, to induce them TO- to stay,
means of accomplishing this is to
change the labor system in such way
as to make it attractive to persons
other than Asiatlcs and then to ascer-
tain the best sources of such other
classes of labor and acquaint them
with the facts
A scientific man should be employed
TO study the conditions in these ISL
ands and the sources of labor supply
elsewhere and to make recommended
lions as to the best labor system to
be adopted here and as to the best
sources of labor supply to be drawn
upon scientific man is needed just