The Hawaiian gazette., 1901-08-27

w civil service commissioner,
reached Washington this morning from
East st. Louis, ILL.,, where he stopped
a few days en- route from Honolulu.
Mr.. Rodenberg has been in the islands
for nearly five weeks. During that pc
riod he introduced the civil service sys-
TEN in the islands, and conducted ex-
aminations at which there were 10 APP
plicants, goodly portion OF whom
were natives. Most of the applicants
were examined for entrance into the
customs and postal service. Before
leaving the islands the commissioner
appointed a board OF examiners at Ho-
nolulu, and "A custodian board at Hilo.
Mr. Rodcnberg speaks enthusiastical-
~ of conditions on the islands, and of
the future possibilities they possess. He
/ says that now the greatest problem
there Is that of securing desirable la
Dor. Up to the time when the Islands
became part OF the United States no
such problem was presented because
tof the ability of the planters to Import
iChinese labor When the United States
iacquircd the Islands the Chinese exclu-
sion act was extended to the Islands.
For time this did not affect the local
labor situation. as the number of Chi
nese on the islands was sufficient to
meet the requirements OF the big sugar
planters.
with the increasing possibilities
which connection with the United
States offered to the islands, the sugar
planters sought to extend the acreage
of their plantations. The supply of
Chinese labor was soon exhausted. Ex-
perments were made in several direc-
tons. Laborers were imported from
Japan, from Portugal and lastly Porto
Rico The Porto Ricans were brought
/ to the islands at great expense, and
great care was exercised in their sclec-
tons In spite of this it was found
that they are too slow and Indifferent,
If not positively lazy.
Mr.. Rodcnberg says that this was
the condition when he reached the ISL
ands Il few weeks ago. He found the
sugar planters discussing ways and
means for meeting the labor problem.
They seem to be confronted with the
condition that only Chinese labor viii
meet the necessities of the peculiar
work which they desire performs 81 4
bare possibility exists that n portion Of
the desired labor can be secured from
the Philippine islands, The planters
hope to secure the permission of the
government to an experiment in this
direction. They have little hope, now
ever, in the present labor famine being
met with other than Chinese laborera.
The planters do not desire to import
Cinnamon in great numbers, nor Is
there a sentiment in the ISLANDS in
favor of taking down the bars alto
gcther To Chinese immigrants
The planters have about decided To
Dslg .t l,A a. Of I, tnsp.f Ns-,s
an amendment to the Chinese eXclu-
sion act which will permit of the I'M
portation of such number of Chinese
as will be needed for work ON the SUI
gar plantations. TIE planters are will
ing that the amendment shall carry re-
strictions which will prevent the Chi
nese from coming to the United States
from Hawaii. They do not object to
the condition being made that the Chi
namen shall be employed solely In ag-
ricultural pursuits. They will give a
bond II the law requires, for the re-
turn of the Chinese laborers to China
after period of ten years.
The planters told Commissioner 70
denberg that the Chinese would in no
way come into competition with white
labor. White and black labor from the
United States had been tried. nut 1t
was found that they could not stand
the work in the fields. The fields were
left but partially developed because OF
the provisions of the exclusion act and
the laws against importing contract
labor Mr. Rodenbcrg believes that the
Hawaiian planters will inaugurate n
movement during the next session OF
Congress which will result In some
concessions being made them. The
terms of the Chinese exclusion act will
expire by limitation next year, so the
next Congress will have to deal with
the question. The planters Of Hawaii
believe that Congress will re-enact the
terms of the law, and they hope the
time will be opportune for securing
concessions for the Islands.
Mr.. Rodenberg is enthusiastic on all
that pertains to the Islands. He says
a trip to the Islands will convince any
one of the wisdom OF the Republican
party's policy of expansion. He de-
scribes the Islands as the Paradise Of
the Pacific" and says that the Won
derful possibilities of development
which they possess have not been APP
preciated i'm this country. Illinois pos
sessses some of the best agricultural
land in the United States. and yet the
farmers of that State are well salts
fled with returns which reach s25 per
acre. The sugar acre in the Islands
. yields to the planters from six TO seven
tons of sugar, which can be sold at $50
a ton. Eighteen months is necessary
TO secure sugar crop. Mr.. RodenberS
says there are substantial indications
that the natives are rapidly becoming
Americanized One OF the strongest
indications is in the fact that they took
such a hearty interest in the Fourth
Of July celebration which was held at
Hio, where Mr.. Rodenberg was orator
OF the day.
Last year. Mr.. Rodenberg says, the
total production of sugar in the ISL
ands Appropriated 300 900 tons, and he
believes. as soon as sufficient labor can
? be secured this amount can be increas-
ed TO $780, 900 tons. This would neces-
sarily result in a reduction OF the cost
Of sugar to the American consumer.
, Since annexation number of gigantic
enterprises have been inaugurated,
and several plantations have been cap
A italized at from $4,000. 900 to $1,000, 900
= each. AS a result of this very rapid
$ development of the Islands there is a
~ INV sIFS