The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-06-10
THE EXODUS TO HAWAII.
Increasing Movement of LnbOrers
From Porto Rico

From Porto Rico
The movement Of Porto Ricans to FTa-
waii is assuming considerable proportions
and is arousiug great interest among
those people who have been devOting their
attention to conditions in the new pos
sessions. Owing 10 the application of the
immigration laws to Hawaii, the sugar
planters have been deprived Of their for
mer supply of labor from the Orient. The
proposition to take American negroes
from the South to the islands Is not
looked upon with favor and the few that
have gone there have not been of d class
to change this attitude on the part of
the Hawaiian people
Owing TO the uncertain status Of the
new possessions. the Treasury Depart
ment has been very chary in its handling
Of this Porto Rican movement Whether
this attitude Will be changed by the Su-
preme Court decisions. is yet to be deter
mined AS It IS now and has been since
the sugar planters commenced to move
these people. the Porto Ricans are not al
lowed to land in the United States and
scatter throughout the mainland They
go from Porto Rico to Hawaii via New
Orleans. They are shipped from New Or
leans to San Francisco practically in
put in special cars under the care Of a
responsible keeper and are delivered in
bulk to the steamship company at the San
Francisco wharves-
There have been some complaints as to
the manner in which this immigration
was handled. AS a result the Hawaiian
Government has made an investigation Of
the matter and the Porto RicaDS have
sent several weII-known men to accom-
pany these shipments and find out what
the prospects were for their people after
landing in Hawaii One Of these men has
recently made a report and he seems well
satisfied that the Porto RiCans have been
unusually well treated, that they are go
ing TO a favorable elm ate. to work to
which they are accustomed and to people
,Tho VIII take a kindly interest in their
welfare Ir speaking Of his trip with a
recent Shipment, he said:
--Tha Hawaiian planters looked after
the emfgrants well from the moment Of
their recruiting until they We're placed
on the plantations where they are to
work Horses were provided for those
who had to come any distance to GuaHica
to the point of embarkation in Porto Rico
Some of the people had to wait at Guanica
as long as eight weeks for the vessel that
y
ing their wait they were supplied with ali
necessaries and even tobacco and cigars.
At San Francisco the women were given
calico for the making Of garments for
themselves Whether these things viii
be deducted later on does not at present
appear. The officers Of the steamship
were very kind and attentive, and the
doctor gave close attention to the passen-
gers.
AT home these people were paid 20
cents q day. IN Hawaii they are TO re-
Ceive $l5 a month for the first year and
for the second year 81 a month, with free
house and water. The house IS no small
part Of this bargain in view of the size
Of some of the families for instance, one
planter TO secure the head Of family
provides shelter for sixteen relatives. in
Guiding a grandmother. OF the - Peo-
pie in . recent shipment. 30 were women
and children the latter below the age
Of fifteen There has been some com
plant made in Hawaii about the women
and children especially the latter, as they
become a charge upon the public educa-
tionaI fund, but as they seem to b. a de
siTable class of immigrants there is little
real protest against their coming
The Porto Rican planters are opposing
this emigration to Hawaii They have
spread all kinds Of stories about the ISL
dudS. especially as to the wild beasts and
snakes which they aIlege make life Uueu-
duGa BILE There IS no danger of q mark
cd shortage Of labor IN Porto Rico. al
though II IS possible there VIII CeCeSSd Tiiy
be an increase in wages, which win not be
a serious calamity in d country where
wages are now at a minimum Nearly
four thousand Porto RiCans nave already
reached Hawaii Ten thousand have been
contracted for by the Hawaiian planters
This number, il IS estimated viii supply
the temporary needs Of Hawaii for IA Dor
on the sugar plantations. and the oppOr-
tunity TO secure these people from Porto
Rico is looked upon as the solution of
what threatened to become a most serious
problem.