The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-07-03
NEED OF'LABORERS
EXPLANATIONS
John M. Horner Urges Gov
ernmht to Relieve the
Pressure.

Editor Nvertiser;-It must be admit
ted our Igor for productive business is
in rather an unsatisfactory condition.
and broght on by tie unwise act of
Congress in freeing all laborers brought
into thse Islands since August, 1898.
This al and the confusion and loss re-
sultin{rom II. seems too small and un-
becoming to a great nation like the
UniteI States. when all would have ad-
justeI themselves in a few months had
theybeen permitted to do so. without
loss % any.
IT'S confusion and loss has been fos-
terl by the planters refusing to CO.
opdate to maintain the status of their
lapr as IT existed up to within a few
wkks. Had this been done all could
/ i've retained their help without a
/ Use in wages, as a raise in wages has
/ bt encouraged more TO labor or to do
| better quality of work or more Of 1t,
tut the concensus of opinion is that
tnce wages were raised more laborers
have lain in" and many who did work
worked reluctantly, particularly those
whose contracts were Cancelled ana
wages raised, showing clearly the raise
of wages done no good. on some plan
tatiOns the whole force Of freed laborers
quit work for several days.
Aside from the act of the Government
and the refusal of the planters to CO.
operate, there have been other matters
that have caused discomfort among day
laborers and their raise of wages, viz.
profit sharing" "cultivating cane on
shares, raising cane by contract" etc
This has been going on on rather a
small scale until quite recently. Wher
some planters. like the foolish virgins
neglected supplying oil for their lamps
until 1t got too late, and fearing a de-
ficient supply of labor. seized upon the
idea OF having their cane raised by con
tract. honestly believing Chinese and
Japanese could raise cane cheaper thar
they. Besides, they had heard of some
good results from that idea. So they
began to give out contracts largely q
Tom. Dick, Harry and others upon th'
best terms.
We have heard the first year tina
some contractors had realized $50 pc
month. some SIS. some $50, and som'
over $40 per month. This being known
among the workmen, they demand
higher wages. They did not wish Z
work for SIC or even SIS per monu
when they could make sure $40 pc
month. and perhaps $40 by raising can
by contract. This has forced up wage
and made laborers discontinued and un
certain. This has worked to a create
or less extent against most of the plan
tations; even those giving out contract
are not exempt from Its evil influences
These have all assist 4 to demoraliz
labor, making less labor available, an
what there Is of less value.
| Whatever may be the cause, the poin
Is clear. some plantations are short c
I help and must suffer severe loss If
| 'emedy is not soon available. The onl
relief in sight is for the Government
/ stop public improvements for a fe'
onths, or longer IL necessary. The fe
thousand laborers thus let loose woul
be ample to relieve the present pres
sure. Roads, streets and some otht
contemplated improvements could
permitted TO remain as they have exis
ed the past ages. III SO left the Peep
will suffer less than they will if Il
plantations are crippled in their on
put OF the wealth that sustains all oil
business and people.
We think our Island Government ow'
this to the business community and Il
plantations. as the wealth of these Is
ands came from the soil, and nearly 9
the labor that has produced this wealt
have been brought in by the plant;
tions, and the Government revenu
are largely collected from the plants
lions and the wealth they have create
And IL seems unwise under the CT
cumstances that the revenue should
used against the plantations by hirir
their labor for public improvement
which could be deferred without inju
to any, and IL so postponed no dou
many of the laborers would again fir
employment in wealth production
the plantations. and thus enable the
TO finish their harvesting and plantil
in good season at small loss.
iii i hear some European government
! when crises occur among farm labo
ers at harvest time. they send their SC
| diers into the field to assist the farne
| In gathering their crops. and methin
; our Island Government could assist
Indicated without injury or loss of III
nifty. JNO. NJ. HORNER.
/ he rrnw Al