Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-01-12
Wages of the LabGrers.

Wages vary according to supply of labor,
and in many instances are governed by the
price of sugar. The contract price is now
sl5 per month for oriental and SIS for Eu-
ropean laborers. Old contracts call for only
s1o.5O for oriental; but in most cases a
$3.50 bonus is given to these latter, con-
dtioned on good behavior. Women receive
$3.50 to $40 per month. Only actual time
spent in labor is paid for. A man receives
no pay for enforced idleness, whether
caused by sickness or anything else. A
plantation official called timekeeper keeps
strict account of working time and the
paw roll is made out from his report.
Generally the wages are paid on a fixed
and convenient day between the Sd and
18th of every month, for the previous cal
endar month. The individual presents his
identifying tag and receives the amount
that is to the credit of that number.
Force, in constraint, is not allowed and
is fast giving place to other methods. Tact,
to legal fines and Imprisonment are the
means used. Rewards for good behavior
are not uncommon.
working Hours.
The number of hours Is settled in the
contract, being usually ten hours in the
field and twelve in the factory.
The day begins at an hour varying with
the season, taking advantage of the light In
the early morning. rising bell or whistle
wakes the men at, say, 4:M am. AT $50
they are ready to proceed to the held, ana
II s o'clock the work day commences. From
1l:3O to u noon there is an intermisslon
| for lunch in the field; then they work till
4:3O pm.
relieved by the night shift at pm. Over
| time is paid for at contract rate. In some
cases time is counted from the time of de-
parture for the field
| Actual Conditions.
| Mr.. Taylor says:
| "Now. what are the. hardships? The
main one is compulsory work under mas
| ter. Here the law compels. At nome, need
| held the whip They expected to WORK
when they came; but the comparison with
| free men makes comoulson seem hard-
ship. Generally they are contehted. Inc
sewing machine is common in every camp.
| The tailoress plies her trade. The petty
| storekeeper, with his room neatly nned
| with goods, drives his bargains with MS
| countrymen All day long the simple laun-
| dering is in progress. The mother works
| with her babe near at hand while the older
| children are at school. The happy chatter
| of womens tongues does not evidence as
| content There is food enough and place
| to eat and sleep and live in, equal IN COM
| fort to that they have left behind. Con-
! yenfences are multiplying. The laborer re-
| turns to his home in the evening, ana every
| repression is relaxed. Sunday is a day for
| rest il, most cases. The barber is in de-
| mand. Clean clothes are donned, and the
| pipe and cigarette lend solace. No one
| wn,Ild dream of hardship to look in their
faces Internationally. l may remark
| that a labor camp is no place for a SICK
| person.. For amusements there are Tres-
Ting matches peculiar dramatic entertain
mentS. and gambling games WIN all sorts
| of counters.
| But let some real or fancied grievance
break the monotony. and the scene
changes. A tin pan is beaten noisily to