Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1902-09-27
W. @. Smiths Statement
TO COMMISSION
On Labor and Plantations

saving any further trouble in connec- /
ton with the matter on the part of the !,
Commission, that the whole question |
of the treatment of Porto Ricans was
long since taken up by the administra-
ton at Washington, and the Collector
of Customs at this port, as well as the
United States immigration Inspector
we're requested to investigate and re-
port thereon. The matter of the mu-
tiny was Investigated by the Collector
of Customs, and the result reported TO
the Secretary Of the Treasury, Bureau
of Navigation, under date OF March 1,
1901. The investigation as to the con-
dition of the Porto Ricans and their
treatment upon arrival here was made
and reported by Mr. J. X. Brown, U.
S. immigration Inspector, to the Hon
orable 7. V. Powderly, Commissioner
General Of immigration, under date OF
June /. 1901. This latter report was
sent in reply to the Bureaus letter,
No. 26637, dated March 30, 1901. Both
the reports above mentioned proved
conclusively that the runors and news
paper reports had been grossly exag-
gerated. That there was no blame at
tached to the planters or their repre-
sentatives, the condition of the labor
ers being the result OF the conditions
existing in Porto Rico prior to their de-
parture from that country, and not a
result OF bad treatment en- route or
upon arrival. These reports refute the
statement Of Judge Humphreys.
Plantation Doctors.
The doctors resident in these ISL
ands, like doctors in every other part
OF the world. depend for their practice
on the residents in their vicinity. No
statement has been made by the Plant
ers' Association to the effect that the
plantation retained the exclusive SER
vices of medical men: all that has been
said was that they furnished free medi-
cal attendance to their laborers. The
doctors in the country, wherever they
can get the appointment, act as gov
eminent physicians, plantation doctors
and private practitioners.
The attempt to prove that the ben
Gifts derived by the plantations. from
the fact that their doctors are some
times government physicians, amount
4 to the taxpayer paying half the cost OF
the medical attendance of the laborer.
does not need further comment.
Reply to Vivas.
Mr.. Vivas stated before the Commits
sion that nearly all the public lands
were taken up by plantations, and that
there was no show for a poor man. In
reply to this II may be said that efforts
have been frequently made to get Por-
tuguese to take up land and to secure
planting contracts. but with very few
exceptions these efforts have been I'M
= successful, the majority OF Portuguese
preferring to work for day wages to the
taking OF any risk connected with the
= raising Of a crop for market. Should
u the Portuguese desire to take up con
u tracts for the planting of cane, II may
with confidence be stated that plenty
'' OF opportunities will be given to then
; to do so, as they are highly thought o
and are considered desirable elemen
y of our laboring. population. Further
. more, II 1t could be arranged to pro
mote the immigration Of Portuguese,
: from the Azores or Madeira into thes'
Islands, the planters would receiv,
: them gladly and pay them wages con
/ siderably In excess OF what they coul,
l. earn in their own country, or arrang
t.rfth 70 lei nm
i profitable basis to them.
u TABLE "B"-EXHIBIT OF AMOUNT
o OF INVESTMENTS, TERRITOR'
+ OF HAWAII, AS OF JANUARY
Is 1902.
lie Local sugar corporations. IS 51,SS4,50
n San Francisco incorporated
plantations ............. N,OOO,OO
i Sugar plantations unincor-
- porated ................. 1,SOs,5O
8 74,6s4,OO
Coffee, fruit and fibre cor
Le porationS .....,,........S 400, ~
A. Coffee and fruit growers not
y incorporated ........... 25O,OO
&
l6 1880
5; Stock and sheep ranch cor
es porations .............. $500
D., Stock and sheep ranches not
S; incorporated ............ 1906. OF
F.
3 2,43O,OC
in Mercantile corporations ...s l5,3ls,2C
.. General corporations les
It's tates, etc. .............. 12,17O,6I
no Business firms and enter
ct prises not incorporated E. 1857 OF
n
re 5 35,O55,S'
Railroad corporations ....S 100000