The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-13
LABOR IN HAWAII.
Interesting Facts From the Report
Of Special Agent scweu.

b
Labor conditions In Hawaii have been
investigated by Mr.. seweli. special agent
OF the United States at Honolulu. who has
forwarded some instructive statistics to
the department OF state. Unskilled labor
on the plantations Is performed largely
under the contract system. the free
labor contingent being an uncer-
ally the contract man enters the
country for a term OF three years. his
entry being authorized. under certain con-
ditions as to health and capabillty. by the
government. The secretary Of the Ha-
waIian bureau Of immigration. Mr.. Wray
Taylor. has furnished Mr.. Sewell with In
formation to the effect that contract Ia
borers are expected to do agricultural and
mill work. The former comprises clearing
land cutting wood and brush, grubbing
out roots, moving rocks and brush, team
ing and blowing. care OF horses, ditching,
hoeIng. irrigatirg, fertilizing, planting,
stripping and cutting cane, loading and
unloading cane cars, and any other neces-
sary farming operations. In and about
the mill they are occupied in feeding the
cane carrier and furnaces. tending any Of
the mill machinery, handling sugar. load
ing cars, etc. From the contract labor
class the carpenter blacksmith. engineers
and sugar boilers select their assistants,
and these. as they learn and become COM
petent. obtain higher wages and often
command from $50 to $50 per month.
When the profit-sharing system Is In
practice, contract men, If deserving, are
allowed to take these special contracts
and have made from SIS to s35 per month.
In few places men have been allowed to
take small pieces Of land and cultivate
them at their leisure. In order to do this.
they are compelled to work early and
late. Sundays and holidays, and the mill
buys the cane at fixed rate per pound.
Wages vary according to supply OF la
bor end in many instances are governed
by the price of sugar. The contract price
Is now SIS per month for Oriental and $1s
for European laborers. Old contracts call
for only $3.50 for Oriental, but in most
cases $3.50 bonus is given to these lat
ter, conditioned on good behavior. Wom-
en- receive $3.50 TO $40 per month. Only
actual time spent In labor is paid for. A
man receives no pay for enforced idle
ness. whether caused by sickness or any
thing else. A plantation official, called
timekeeper. keeps strict account of
working time and the pay roll is made
out from his report.
Mr.. Taylor discusses at some length the
reasons for desertion. Natural causes may
render the work disagreeable and burden
some, as rain, cold, mud and overgrowth
of weeds. severe overseer will render
all disconnected, and the boldest will de-
sert. Accumulated debt Is a prolific cause;
pure laziness is another. The prospect of
getting better wages and the alluremen;
of being with friends entice many away
from their contract master The report
continues:
"They came here not to settle and make
but in as few years as possible to
accumulate sufficient to enable them to
return to their native country with capt.
tai enough to live on In manner superior
to their own class at home. With this OBJ
ject in view, as a class they are saving
to an extreme degree. A Japanese will
live on. from 81 to So per month; a China
man. from 50 to 81 per month. and a
European, 81 to sl3. The latter only is
likely TO DO assimilated and become a
desirable citizen"
Consul General Haywood, of Honolulu,
has transmitted tables showing that on
October 81. 1899, the total number of labor
ers was 35,9S7. OF this number 20,6A1 were
under contract and 15,346 day laborers
Japanese number 1854, Chinese 1868, Por-
tuguese 2,153, Hawaiians 1895.