The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-11-29

The following extracts are from an
important article, indirectly bearing
upon the labor problem in Hawaii,
contributed to the New York Independ-
ent by Prof. Jeremiah w. jerks, A. NJ,
Phi. D.. Of Cornell University.
The conditions in the Philippines seem
likewise to demand outside assistance
such as the Chinese can give better
than any other people. The population
of the Philippines as a whole is about
1000, 900, according to the estimate OF
the census office on June LIST, 1900 In
the $50 municipalities the population IS
about 100000. OF this number by far
the largest number fall below the stan
d,s@sd which our government has thought
II narssssary to set to qualify them as
eIactars @here, according to the laws
of the I1piter} States, we might expect
something more than half million
-ge,ters, under the stsri29dd ards mat II mas mas
been found necessary To-s seI---ssSr'- the
islands there are less than 5O,O0O. w mere
in the United States some ~ per cent
of the population vote, in the Phlllp-
mines per cent have that privilege.
The standard of qualifications unoer
the circumstances has been placed
higher. no one being allowed to vote
unless he can read or write, is possess
ed of $3.50 in property, pays tax OF
s15 a wear or has been an office holder
in the community. But While IL mas
been found necessary to set the stand
ard higher, owing to disturbed condl-
lions. the average of intelligence ana
culture is vastly lower than at nome.
The standard of living of the poorer
people in the cities and of most people
in the country districts is very much
lower than in the United States, ana
in many particulars, although not IN
all respects, is lower than that OF the
Chinese. While the manners of the
people, their habits of cleanliness and
of decency, are better than those OF the
Chinese, their food and probably their
morals are no better, and in dillgence'
thrift, business capacity and business
morality they are distinctly inferior
The admission of the Chinese to the
islands cannot be opposed, therefore, on
the same ground that was taken IN
the United States-that they could un-
derbid the native on account OF their
lower standard of living. 1t is true
that in many particulars they would
underbid the Filipino. but this IS be-
cause they would be more diligent ana
faithful. They are not willing to work
for less by the day, but they will ac-
complish more for the same wages IN
a week or month.
According to the best estimates there
are at present in the islands some 3D.
900 Chinese, OF which probably nearly
30, 600 are in Manila alone. These chi
nese, like those in Java, are mostly
merchants or peddlers or skilled WORK
men-tailors shoemakerS, cabinet max
ers carpenters and metal workers.
few of them are engaged in performing
the common heavy labor, but TINS Is
exceptional. The work on the planta-
tons is performed by native t1llplnos.
The work Of transporting goods in the
cities and elsewhere the Filiplnos also
do, and it is upon the Filipinos that the
Americans and others must depend
speaking generally, for domestic ser
vice, driving, and for all the ordinary
work performed by the day or week
But here again the best cooks ana
waters are ordinarily Chinese, because
they are more efficient and trustworthy
The great demand for labor which has
arisen since the American occupation
has doubled or in many cases trebled
wages. Where an ordinary house ser
want, under the Spanish regime. re-
ceived Sc or IS month and boarded
himself, one now receives from $40 TO
$25 or $50 a month. In some cases even
these wages are now paid in gold NO
one who has not experienced serious
embarrassment from lack Of service
can realize the difficulties under which
employers are working in the Philip
pines today. 1t is not uncommon Tor
people at noon on a hot tropical DAY
to be compelled to walk for half a mile
or a mile to their lodgings because of
the impossibility of securing CABS OF
carriages or transportation of any kind
The supply of vehicles is so limited that
all of them are practically engaged
either by the day or for hours ahead
Moreover, Filipino drivers in man!
cases, if the days work has been falrl!
busy. are so indolent and careless o
gain that they prefer to go to thel
homes in the evening and will refuse
contrary to the city ordinances, to TAX
passengers, however urgent the deman
NAV be. When some months ago
company was organized to bring LOU
iinrikShaS into the city to be drawn b
either FiIipinos or preferably by China
men, the Filipino laborers, especial
The drivers of the carromatas and cal
riages, made such an cutlery and threat
eued so vigorously to run the jinrtksha
down, that it was practically imposs
BILE for the company to put them on ii
streets. Another difficulty of a diffe
ent nature came from the fact that TT
Filipinos had so little mechanical SKI
that it was extremely difficult to g
the jinrikshas set up after they ha
been received in Manila in parts. al
men had to be brought over from Honl
kong for that purpose.
Except where the military has been
the position to compel labor on q
roads it has been extremely difficult
have good roads built, even though. t
Government has been willing to p'
double the wages ordinarily common
the country. On a road which the Go
eminent wished to build to the heal
resort so much needed in Benguet, va
Gus gangs of men We're engaged in go
faith and We're expected to do regul