Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-07-21
SAIlORON|'|B[E|I||l|l|G|IR|'
Continued From Third Pase.)


OF doubling this amount. She will prob
ably be able at her maximum to send
US about 4 or 5 per cent Of our present
consumption.
4 @. About how many tons would that
be-5 per cent OF our p.esent consump-
ton PA. gave per cent because /
had figured 1t to be about per cent.
Q. How many tons in the aggregate
do you think Porto Rico can send in the
future?-A. She will probably double
her present output.
@. AT present that is $4,000 tons, and
you think she may be able to double 1t,
which would be approximately s per
cent of our consumption?-A. Yes. 1
have forgotten just the figures. know
that is what estimated 1t at the time.
As to Cuba and the Philippines, the
Question Is somewhat different Cuba
is capable of a large output of sugar. 1
understand the same is true Of the
Philippines
@. Have you been to the Philippines?
IA. No.
q. Do you know how much we re-
ceive from there at present?-A Not a
great deal. The Porto Rican and Phil
|ippine trade was entirely with Spain,
and their trade with US has just begun.
i SO far as sugar Is concerned Hawaii
has been sending US all her sugar.
4 ss4s
The one thing that gives to Porto
Rico and Cuba and the Hawaiian
islands and the Philippines their great
advantage in the cost of production Is
the cost of labor. In Porto Rico UNI
skilled labor is 80 cents day, the la
borer boarding himself; skilled labor,
such as brickmasons, carpenters. etc,
60 cents a day. This would make the
wages of unskilled labor about SO q
month. In the Hawaiian islands sugar
has been manufactured largely with
contract laborers. These laborers are
in most instances Japanese The con-
tracts are for $3.50 to SIS a month, the
i laborer boarding himself and the ems
nloyer furnishing living quarters, medi-
ca! attendance, etc. If we shall start
with California as a comparison in the
production Of sugar. there we would
find that the same kind Of labor in
lSCalifornia is about $50 per month.
@. You mean Japanese labor?-A.
Japanese labor and Cinnamon. This Is
the conclusion i have come to after
very careful investigation along that
L
Years ago this same labor was paid
wages on a par with that received by
4 the Japanese and Cinnamon in Hawaii,
4 but under the Influences that operate In
4 this country. one of which was the ex-
ciusion of the Chinaman, these wage
earners receive at this time $50 a
month"; Now. If We take 1t for granted
4 that these Influences are going to OPP
lfat.o t.,s
4 can territory, and there is no doubt
that there Is a tendency now, a very
noticeable tendency, for an increase in
wages in Hawaii, we must conclude
4 that the wage -eaTners Of that country
will finally be receiving something
4 equivalent to what is paid on the west
ern coast of this country. In that event
it will cost as much to produce sugar
in Hawaii and place 1t in our markets
as 1t does at the present time to pros
duce beet sugar and place 1t in the
market.
@. Youride is. then. that those who
engage in the production OF beet sugar
in this country have little reason to
fear this competition from the islands?
"A. Yes. Is that the idea you get
from my talk?
O. We get the idea from your talk
that, in spite of our having acquired
this territory 1t Is still safe business
to engage in here A. Yes; perfectly
4 safe.
@. (By Mr.. Conger.) In your opinion,
then. the future OF beet sugar in the
United States is not menaced by this
acquisition Of territory? IA. l do not
think so. do not think island compe-
,ition is going to be extensively started
at once. and think every year we are
lin 1t that our people will reduce the
cost of production, and that the islands
will be increasing in the cost of pro-
Notwithstanding to the Hawaiian
islands and Porto Rico and Cuba Now.
one OF the great problems with these
planters in Hawaii is where they are
going to get further labor. There Is a
rapid development going on there in all
the lines demanding labor, while there
4 are about $4,000 japanese, and about
WELL L do not undertake to state-quite
"a large number OF Chinese The China
Imam is estopped. YOU know, from com-
ling into that country, the same as in
1 this. He begins to diminish. and there
lis a great development all along the
lines in Hawaii. demanding labor. That
demand is getting too great, and there
Is tendency for wages to increase
VERY rapidly. and that tendency is true
is Porto Rico and Cuba. notice all
thru those countries there are strikes
for eight hours day and for stipu-
Hated wages. 1t sounds very much like
agitation In this country already to
hear the demands they are making. all
3stimulated by emissares OF organized
labor in the United states proper
@. (By Mr. Ciarke) So long as there
remains considerable difference In
wages between those possessions and
this country. and while our beet in
dustry here is still young and slowly
growing. what would be the effect upon
this domestic industry Of Importation
.of free sugar from these possessions -
A. We alread yhave it free from Ha-
wall.
@. Certainly: and have had for a
long time.-A. lit is not to be prece-
dent on what shall happen further
along with Cuba and the Philippines, I
should say 1t would not have any ef-
feet SO far as Porto Rico Is concerned
or possibly so far az the Philippines are
concerned for long time, because they
have not the sugar interest developed
4 there.