The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-09-13
Continued from Page u

able one. Large tracts of land were
divided into homesteads by the govern
ment, and private lands were acquired by
enterprising farmers; costly drying
houses and cleaning plants were erected,
and all the plans were laid for the con-
duct of the business on a sound basis
Much of the work Of a coffee plantation
can be accomplished by white men with
comparatively moderate amount OF help,
but during the critical time of harvesting
the crop, when a large amount of work
had to be accomplished in a very short
time, the necessary number OF pickers
was not forthcoming, and as the fall In
the value of coffee occurred about
this time, it was impossible for
the planters to pay the high wages de-
manded by laborers. and the coffee indus
try of Hawai- declined, while that OF
other countries more favored in their
labor conditions. apparently continues to
flourish despite the fact that there is SO
serious a difference between the coffee
market today and that of a few years ago.
1t is not unreasonable to suppose that If
the labor supply Of these islands was
abundant, and if coffee was subject to a
protective tariff in the United States, the
industry would survive and give profit
able and agreeable occupation to many.
The rice Industry of the islands has al
ways been large one, but the exclusion
of Chinese from the islands will have
the effect of gradually reducing the area
of rice under cultivation, until before
long little or none will be raised; valu-
able industry will be lost. and the land
rentals, which amount to so considerable
total, will no longer accrue to the own
ers, very many of whom are Hawaiians
The revenue derived by the government
from rice lands will, of course. be lost,
should rice cultivation be discontinued in
these islands, and to give some idea of
the value of the Chinese to the Territory
as taxpayers. it might be proper to men
tion that they pay taxes to the amount
of about $i35000 annually.
The arguments commonly used against
Chinese immigration are so well known
that it is unnecessary to repeat them. or
even to refer to them further than to say
that while they may be good when APP
piled to the mainland, they cannot with
justice be applied to Hawaii. Laws and
regulations which cover all the conditions
existing on the mainland do not of neces-
sity fit our conditions, and we urgently
and with all Difference would ask that the
excellent laws and regulations of the
United States be so modified for Hawaii,
not only in respect TO lab5c matters, but
in many other respects, that this country
may not suffer by their application.
We fully appreciate the immense
amount of work with which Congress has
had to deal since these islands became an
integral part of the great Republic of the
United States, and we know how difficult
it has been for members Of the Senate
and House of Representatives to find
time to study the conditions prevailing
here in Hawaii, but now that you gentle
men have favored us with this most well
come visit, we feel that the conditions
and needs of this outlying Territory win
be more perfectly understood, and that
we may reasonably expect to have ac-
corded to us permission TO avail ourselves
of an assured labor supply.
We would respectfully ask that in con-
sdering this question, and in laying it
before others, you bear the following
few facts in mind:
l. The industries on which these ISL
ands depend for their commercial exist
ence are sugar and rice, but mainly
sugar.
q The shipping, the extent and value
of our purchases on mainland, the
we'll being of our merchants, professional
men and mechanics depends either di-
rectly or indirectly these industries.
g. The success of these industries de-
ponds on an adequate and reliable supply
of laborers.
L. There is practically no Indigenous
population to draw field labor from,
S. Apart from the impoSsibiity of pro-
curing American laborers in sufficient
numbers, they cannot and will not work
in tropical cane fields.
g. If by reason of these islands not
having sufficient labor supply. or if the
full protection of the tariff is curtailed
our industries will naturally suffer as Will
the trade of the mainland with us; 8
trade by the way which is the largest
enjoyed by mainland manufacturers and
traders with any country of the size Of
the Territory of Hawaii.
So far as the labor situation is con.
oil poSnortfnliu SIhn1tf that THESE
six points. or facts, cover the ground. and
believe that when you have studied the
conditions prevailing here you will thor
oughly agree in their accuracy.
Respectfully submitted,
During the reading there were man.
questions brought out When the coffe
subject was touched Senators Foste
and Burton showed much interest ant
asked for further information. The lat
ter wanted not only the present produc
ton but as we'll what might be ex
spected in ten years time. He aske
if it would not serve the same purpos
as protection if there was a bounty o.
coffee. which would give the planter
equal advantage. He said there woul
be objection to a tariff unless there wa
a prospect of entire filling of the Amer
lean demand by local production, whe
it would come under the Republica
principle of protection of HON
product.
Among the many points raised, whe
the matter of labor was up, Senate
Burton said that something had bee
said before the Commission as to tn
system of contracrual labor and charge
of bad treatment. Mr.. Swanzy reptile
that any statement that laborer wa
ill treated was absolutely and III
equivocally false; the statement tht
the planters were cruel was untru
He paid compliment to the manager
who he said were clever men. He COZ
tinued that while it was not a prof
able or pleasant task to take off mu
thrown, it was sometimes necessary
do it He then proceeded to meet son
of the points which had been raised.
As to the charge that the houses we
unfit for habitation. he said that an