The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1902-12-02
GOVERNOR DOLE
ON PORTO RICANS
SAYS THEY ARE BETTER TAKEN
CARE OF THEN THE CONTRACT
REQUIRES, BUT ARE HOMESICK.

! REQUIRES, BUT ARE HOMESICK. |
Governor Dole's report to Washing |
| ton on the complaints made by PoriJ !
| Ricans in Hawaii contains some inter-
esting statements with regard 10 the |
condition of the Porto Ricans, and in
cludes an exhaustive report by Secre- |
! tary A. q. Halves, who was sent 20 !
! Paauilo to Investigate complaints. /,
| Halves investigation and the Cover |
nor's letter of transmiItal to the Sec
rotary of the Interior constitute the |
| first official reports that have beer
made public on the condition of tne |
people who came here from Porto Rico, |
and they show the reasons why COM |
plants are so numerous.
SecrG tary Halves went to Paauilo last |
| October, to look into d memorial sign |
ed by many Porto RicanS. and contain
| ing all sorts of sensational charges
against the plantation. As a result OF
his examinations of Porto RiCans he
| expressed the opinion that hOmesiCk-
ness was the main trouble with them.
The questions and answers We're taken
down in a number of cases and they
| throw much light upon the memo
rails" to Washington, another one of
which is now being gotten up in Hilo.
Julio Asosting, who admitted having
got up and circulated the petition, was
| among snOSe eNdUllutu. Alltl a NuNo-
ton from Halves as to how be had
been trampled on and treated like a
slave, as charged, the dialogue ran as
follows:
I'VE have been trampled on because
the promises made us have not been
fulfilled. They agreed to give us only
10 houIs work day and we have to
work liz hours"
What time do you get to work il
the fiecs?"
From 6, $50 to o'clock" i'.
What time do you stop?'
I "At 4;45 or o'clock.
"How long do you have for lunch?"
"Three-quarters of an hour"
Can you explain to me how this
makes liz hours work a day."
I'VE are made to get up at $3.50 and
start for work then"
How are you treated like slaves as
mentioned in the report?'
Because we have to get UP at 5:3O in
the morning when it is dark and go to
work"
rs that the only way you have been
treated like a slave?"
lin that way and in having to work
liz hours instead of 10 hours"
DO you wish to return to Porto Ri
coz"
Yes, very much"
"Why?"
Because l like my own country bet
ter"
What led you to circulate this COM
plaint?"
Because myself and my friends want
to go back, and my father told me that
if | would circulate a petition and get
| a lot of names, he would have it sent
80 the Governor General and we would
be sent home, and so l told friends and
they agreed to sign IT,"
| h,l 90 - 4
that they had not signed the petition,
though their names appeared, all in
Agosting's writing. All said they want
ed to go home, and those who acknowl-
edged the signatures gave this as a
reason for signing. Only that | like
my own country better than this" said
Esponda, and this answer is a sample
of many.
Because l was very sad" said one.
Il was worried over the death of my
wife and did not care except to leavA
here"
Was your wife well treated while
she was sick?"
Yes, she was treated more kindly
than | could have expected"
Halves report shows that the Porto
Rican5 are well housed and fed and
that most of them testified that they
had no complaint to make except that
they wanted to go home, and Governor
Dole, in letter to the Secretary of the
| Interior, said:
Mr. Halves, report probably states
the sentiment of all the Porto Ricans
in the Territory, who are Industrious.
upon the subject of returning to Porto
Rico. As far as ] can ascertain 1t aris-
es from the inconsistencies that natu-
rally belongs to circumstances of leav-
ing hime and settling in a new country.
1t does not appear to be a very pressing
INN Nlg.
undoubtedly subSide as time goes on.
These complaints appear to be
worked up in each case by an imagin-
ative person, wTso, as the evidence in
both of these Investigations shows,
easily obtains the consent of others
who do not necessarily know what the
paper contains and do not greatly care
for him to sign their names to the
document prepared by him. You will
'. notice that the signatures are all in the
|, same handwriting.
Il am satisfied that these complaints
are not borne out by the facts, and that
they have been treated better than the
unders landing under which they left
home calls for Their general health
has greatly improved since their arri-
val.
I Even If there existed any reason for
sending these persons home | do not
know how the expenses of such trans
portatlon could be met. The planters
would not be likely to put up any
money for such purpose, as they need
their labor and are employing them
and stand ready to employ more of
them;, moreover their introduction has
already been heavy expense to them.
) The Hawaiian government has no APP
preparation out of which such expenses
, could be paid, and there seems to be
no logical reason why 1t should be call
ed upon in the matter.
II have the honor to be, Sir
Very respectfully,
SANFORD b. DOLE"
Secretary Halves report says
WIheN are housed Naru nn1nfnrtn hl,t