Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1902-04-27

and selling quickly. Shareholders
were unable to pay up and stock de-
clined. But enterprises have gone on
TO fair working basis. Large sugar
mills are making sugar at . 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 few PRISONS,
and no stock Is offered for sale.
The uncertainty as to the action OF
Congress 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 Ac;
went into effect has been disturbed.
Previous to the Organic Act, which be-
came operative June "A. 1900, we had a
forced penalty. This system was ana
lagous to large degree to the system
used by vessel owners in employing
sailors in the old whaling times. Ship
ping on plantation is a common eX-
preston used by laborers who hire
themselves out.
When this system came to a sudden
termination by the operation of the
Territorial Act these men were under
no restrictions. Labor of the whole
country was Immediately disturbed al
though not completely. Many laborers
left the plantations where they were
employed and roamed about the ISL
ands. They went TO Honolulu to see il
they couldn't ind something better OF
more to their liking to do. They were
imbued with the belief that the Or.
ganic Act opened the way for higher
prices for labor. There was no strike
There was no organization among them
and their false hopes soon became en-,
phasized. They always steer for Ho
nolulu.
Prices for labor went lower. In q
lew months the disturbance settled
down. Some went back to the ole
nentations. others went to new place,
OF employment, The condition adjust
Ia Itself. Labor wages went up q lit
tie. japanese, Chinese and Portu
suese laborers are constantly ieavin,
the plantations when they can ge
something better to do. Plantations
are always looking for new labor.
Porto Rieans Disappointment
Then new Chinese labor was shu
/ cut. The japanese were INTERRUPTED
iCl the time being. Finally the plan
tatlons began to bring in Porto Ri
cans. This was in January, 1901
/ About 2OOO men and half that numbe
/ OF women and children were imported
They have been a disappointment t,
some extent. The Porto Ricans ar,
rot very good workmen. They are in
ciEed to beggary II any one will Lister
I" them. Their tendency is to leav
thc plantations and come to Honolulu
to beg. The Porto Ricans have no
proven satisfactory as laborers or a
additions to the population.
THE planters are now conslderin
nrw they shall keep up the labor SUI
ply. The Japanese are coming il
slGwly, but steadily. 1t is desirabl
to have more than one nationality
These are the difficulties. The plaI
tNtlons are making a great crop thi
year Generally they are in a goo
agricultural Condition. They hav
the best of producing machinery. Som
IN the Island of Hawaii suffered s,
Verely last year from the drought, bu
they have recovered considerabl,
They expect this trouble every fe,
years.
There is some complaint anon
business men and 1t seems to be du
to the tightness of the money marke
There are no failures or assignment
I" speak of, The cause of the con