Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-04-10
HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS
Governor Dole Arrives in
This City Today.
EFFECT OF A BOOM
ENTERPRISES BEYOND THE
AVAILABLE CAPITAL.
Trouble About Labor-Porto Ricans a
Disappointment-Fall in
Price Of Sugar.

ritory of Hawaii arrived in the city today,
having come at the invitation of President
Roosevelt to attend conference regarding
the conditions existing in the government s
new possessions in the Pacific
Gov Dole left Honolulu on March 25 on
the steamer Sierra and reached San Fran
cisco about a week ago. He was accom-
panied by Mr.. William Armstrong of Homo
lulu. The journey from San Francisco was
made by way of New Orleans and was
without incident. He will likely remain in
this country for a month or six weeks.
The last visit of Gov. Dole to Washington
was four years ago. He was at that time
president of the Hawaiian republic He is
enjoying the best of health and looks in
excellent physical condition. On reaching
the city this forenoon Gov. Dole was driv-
en- first to the New Willard and later to the
Albany, where he will make his headquar-
tiers during his sojourn at the national capt.
tai.
The first caller on the Hawaiian govern
or was former Secretary of State, John
w. Foster. Later in the forenoon Gov.
Dole met Mr. l.. A. Thurston, who was
formerly minister from the Hawaiian re-
public to the United States, and Senator
George Carter of Honolulu. the latter of
whom was summoned here by President
Roosevelt a few weeks ago.
President Roosevelt not having returned
w.,
morrow being cabinet day. it is likely that
Governor Dole will not call at the White
House before Saturday.
Gov. Dole Talks.
Il do not know that can say anything
of interest regarding Hawaii other than in
a general way" Governor Dole said to an
Evening Star reporter. who called on him
this afternoon. The affairs of the terri
tory have been so uneventful. everything so
much in the routine, that it would be diff
cult to single out any one thing to talk
about
I'VE are Just emerging from one of the
seyerest rainy seasons that the islands have
ever known. There has been a tremendous
rain fall throughout the season. 1t has
beaten the record for years.
The expectation of annexation to the
United States and the realization Of it in
1898 produced an activity in business and
in land particularly. Land values went up.
1t was not a boom such as some parts of
the United States have experienced within
the past decade. New plantation enter
prises and old ones developed on a bigger
scale were taken up and their stock placed
on the market. The old basis was 500 on
a share. For facilitating the dealing in
shares many were made on a basis of $50,
or five of the new to one of the old
This tempted many persons with little
money to buy. particularly of the stocks
that were placed on the market as assess
ted to pay in instaIlments as called for.
There was great interest manifested; 1
don't know but excitement would be the
better word School teachers, employees.
hack drivers, nearly everybody who had
the money made investments. Women as
wen as men patronized the stock market
Beyond Available Capital; ;as73'
The new enterprises We're on a. large
scale, not wildcat. although some were so
MT hat okor has ste
was not investigated. and they went
through AS a rule they were solid, but
they were beyond the available capital of
the country. Money became tighter. and
many persons were unable to pay their
assessments. They bought stock antic-
ipating an advance that did not pan out A
large number OF persons did realize profits
by buying and selling quickly. SharehoId-
ers were unable to pay up and stock de-
cined. But enterprises have gone on to a
fair working basis. Large sugar mills are
making sugar at a fair profit.
In the meantime prices Of sugar have
dropped. This naturally affected stocks
All plantations were affected and the stock
Of all on the market went lower The
stock of some OF the plantations is held by
a few persons, and no stock is offered for
SALE
1.-The uncertainty as to the action of Con-
gress toward Cuba has had some effect.
1t has injected an element of uncertainty
as to the future In sugar prices, and IT has
also affected the value Of plantation shares.
Labor Disturbed.
Labor since the territorial act went into
effect has been disturbed. Previous to the
organic act. which became operative June
IA. 1900 We had a system of labor contracts
that was enforced penalty. This system
was analogous to large degree to the sys-
tenn used by vessel owners In employing
sailors in the old whaling times. Shipping
on a plantation is q common expression
used by laborerS who hire themselves out
when this system came to a sudden ter
mination by the operation Of the territor-
ial act these men were under no restrictions.
Labor of the whole country was immedi-
ately disturbed. although not completely.
they were employed and roamed about the
islands. They went to Honolulu to see if
they couldn't find something better or more
to their liking to do They were imbued
the way for higher prices for labor. There
was no strike. There was no organization
among them and their false hopes soon be-
came emphasized. They always steer for
Honolulu.
Prices for labor went lower. In a few
months the disturbance settled down. Some
went back to the old plantations others
went to new places Of employment. The
condition adjusted itself. Labor wages went
up little. Japanese. Chinese and Portu-
gueSe laborefs are constantly leaving the
Plantations Wnen they can get something
better to do. Plantations are always look
Ing for new labor.
Porto Ricans a Disappointment.
Then new Chinese labor was shut out.
The Japanese were interrupted for the
time being. Finally the plantations began
to bring in Porto Ricans. This was in
January. 1901. About 200 men and half
that number Of women and children were
imported. They have been a disappoint-
ment to some extent The Porto Ricans
are not very good workmen. They are in
clned to beggary II any one will listen to
them. Their tendency Is to leave the plan
tations and come to Honolulu to beg. The
Porto Ricans have not proven satisfactory
as laborers or as additions to the popula-
| ton.
1.-The planters are now considering how
they shall keep up the labor supply. The
Japanese are coming in slowly. but stead
| lily, 1t is desirable to have more than one
nationality. These are the difficulties. The
| plantations are making a great crop this
year. Generally they are in a good agri-
| cultural condition. They have the best OF
| reducing machinery. Some on the Island
Of Hawaii suffered severely last year from
| the drought. but they have recovered con-
| siderably. They expect this trouble every
few wears