The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-12-21

/ 1lSL Ettt4Ntl DA4 LA-I ~ - 49,
4 Maru. contains the following in
+srviaw with Commissioner Ide on Fill
pino labor for Hawaiian sugar pianta-
tons:
| For some time past there has
ibeen 4 good deal of talk about sugar
planters in Hawaii having approached
the Philippine government thr ugh the
United states Civil Commission, for in
formation as to the possibility Of Undue
ing large numbers of Visayans to emf
CRATE to Hawaii to work in the sugar
plantations in those islands. When seen
on the subject Friday by a representa-
tive of the Times. Judge Ide said:
THE commission have had under
consideration the subject of laborers
going in considerable bodies from por-
tions Of the Philippine Islands to Ha-
wall to labor on sugar plantations. This
question has arisen upon applications
made by agents in the interests of Ha-
waiian sugar planters for leave to en-
gage such laborers. In accordance with
the general theory of the government
Of the United States, as applied to af-
fairs in that country, no restrictions
whatever are ordinarily placed upon the
right of our people to so freely from
one portion OF the country to another
and engage in any lawful occupation
in any part of the country, and this is
irrespective of the question whether
they are going from one section to an
other individually or in larger bodies.
This has no connection with the restric-
lions that are imposed in the United
States upon the importation of contract
labOrerS, as is apparent from the fact
that recently large numbers of labOrers
have been taken from Porto Rico to the
Hawaiian Islands under contracts of
service Those laborers passed through
our country, and no action Of any kind
was taken to prevent their immigra
ton, which is conclusive evidence that
no policy embraced in the laws of the
country was being thereby infringed.
Porto Rico and the Hawaiian Islands
are both related to the United States
in a manner quite like the relations
which exist between the Philippine ISL
ands and the United States. There is
no information at hand to show that
the immigration into the Hawaiian ISL
ands by Porto Ricans has been injuri-
Gus to the laborerS or to the people of
Porto REQ, CT to any of the general
interests OF tLr United STATS Dr its
"a boring population. T. the :ratter,
t,Ic: efore, ,Nsce to be determined solely
II, m the general principles chat appcr-
tain to the movement Of the citizens of
the United states 20 any part or rs
sessions Of the country it W"ull appar
entity be impractic15le II impose any
restriction upon the movements of BOD
les of laborers from the Philippine ISL
ands to the Hawaiial Islands, il the Ia
borers wished TO go
But on the other hand. most Of the
of the Philippine Islands
who would be likely TO accept offers 10
90 10 labor for a period of years in the |
Hawaiian Islands are uneducated and !
To business methods and |
in need of safeguards 20 protect them !
from imposition and the great hardship |
Of, possibly, being left several thousand |
miles away from their homes in power
ty and distress. The conditions here
are entirely different from those in the |
United States in respect to the ability |
Of laborers to care for themselves in so |
large matter as the removal of them |
IN considerable bodies from their own
country to the Hawaiian Islands. OF |
course il cannot be truly said that the !
Philippine labor market is Overstocked !
the reverse of which is probably true
n Porto Rico). and that therefore the
aborers are not needed here to aid in!
he development of the country, but the
.Ustoms of the Filipinos have long been
uch that they are disinclined 10 labor
kept when pressing necessity compels
hem To do so. This same condition ex-
SITS in many of the islands in the Pa ,
life Ocean. and il has Speen found i'm n
practicable. in some of the most fertile t
nd productive of them, TO carry on as- !
icuitural pursuits by aid solely of the /
nhabitants of the islands where the
lbor is needed. Consequently. in those Il
egions. labor has been secured almost G
holly from other islands in the Pacific. I =
nd u has been found that. when taken (
rom their ordinary environments and
laced i'm new ones where regular labor
) customary, where the reward of their
Industry is adequate and certain. con-
nCous labor Is not difficult I'd secure.
nd most of the people $50 carried from c
heir own homes to other islands have e
ecome industrious and useful Iaborers: q
ut their transfer under contract for :
ibor IN all the British possessions In
he Pacific has been surrounded bv all >
nportant safeguards. So as 10 insure ! }
lequate food. clothing. kind treatment
ledieal attention ana safe return The
'stem has apparently been useful 10
npioyers and employees. In such cases
revision has usually been made for
y agent of the government to be Iocat- ="
4 IN the islands where the labor is 70
p performed. whose duty it should be
safeguard the interest of the Iaborers L
nd 10 see that the terms of the con- %
art are in all respects complied with
The commission has not yet taken
'rmal action on this matter. but has
'mmunicated with the Secretary of
ar upon the subject. Without under
king in any way TO anticipate what A
le final action viii be /. personally. =
m OF the opinion that it would be un-
Use u allow parties freely 10 enlist
'edt bodies OF laburers to he taken SO K
II away from their homes without anv