The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1901-12-24

q the a,NrluUm, ~ the country. lut tnu
customs of the Filipinos have long been
such that they are disinclined Co labor
Except when pressing necessity Compyls
them 10 do So. This same condition ,N-
lists In many Of the islands IN the Pa
cifc Ocean. and IL has been found inn
practicable, IN some OF the most fertile
and productive OF thcm. To carry ON ag-
ricultural pursuits by aid solely Of the
inhabitants OF the islands where the
labor is needed. Consequently, In those
regions, labor has been secured almost
WHOLLY from other islands in the Pacific.
and it has been found that, when taken
from their ordinary environments and
placed in new ones where regular labor
is customary, where the reward of their
industry is adequate and certain. con-
tinuous labor is not difficult to secure,
and most of the people so carried from
their own homes to other islands have
become industrious and useful laborers;
but their transfer under contract for
| labor in all the British possessions in
the Pacific has been surrounded by all
= important safeguards, 81. as to insure
adequate food, clothing, kind treatment,
medical attention and safe return. The
system has apparently been useful to
employers and employees. In such cases
| provision has usually been made for
an agent of the government to be locat-
/ ca in the islands where the labor is 10
be performed. whose duty IL should be
/ to safeguard the interest Of the laborers
and to see that the terms of the con-
tract are in all respects complied with
The commission has not yet taken
formal action on this matter. but has
communicated with the Secretary of
War upon the subject Without under
taking in any way to anticipate what
the final action will be, |, personally.
am of the opinion that Il would be UNI
wise To allow parties freely to enlist
great bodies of laborers to be taken SO
far away from their homes without any
safeguards, under long contracts of
service: but thai, If employers desiring
to take Filipinos away to labor upon
the sugar plantations Of Hawaii would
execute a bond To the insular govern
ment. for the benefit of surh laborers or
other parties in interest in Il sufficient
sum. and with adequate securities to
be approved by competent local author
tiles. conditioned upon good treatment,
safe transportation To and from the
points whore they are to labor, medical
attendance, adequate foOn and clothing
during the time % their absence frDSI
the Philippine Islands securing the
right to take their families with them,
the payment in cash of wages accruing
upon any contract under which they
are employed, the wages 70 be deter
mined by competent locaI authorities
to be adequate, uIOD. compliance with
such conditions and tn, execution of
such IA bond, specified lumber Of la
A. 4 1.
to the Hawaiian Islands, ar elsewhere
under contract, the government of the
islands providing for an agent in the
Hawaiian Islands to look out for the
interests of the lahur.rs and to see that
the terms of the contract are in all re-
spects complied with. such an arrange
ment perhaps might no. he regarded as
violating our principles OF freedom of
action in the United states. when APP
piled to the special conditions here 1t
might likewise be the means of training
up body of skilled laboIers accustOm-
ed to the most improved methods of the
sugar industry, ana to continuous and
regular labor If such y result should
accrue, it would be a great stimulus
to the development Of that industry in
these islands. The production of sugar
per acre in Hawaii far exceeds that of
any portions of the Philippine Islands.
But the soil and climate are equally fla
Vorable here improved methods of cul-
turp and tr.u tm,Dt pniy are needed "