The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1902-12-09
PROBLEMS OF CHINESE
LABOR IN PHILIPPINES
Islands Make Same Demand as Hawaii and for
Same Observation-Disclosures Prosperity
Dependent on CooIie Field Hands.

upon the labor problem in Hawaii,
contributed to the New York Independ-
ent by Prof. jeremiah w. jerks, A. M,
Pm. 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 n whole Is about
1000, 600, according to the estimate OF
the census office on June LIST, 1900. In
the $3.50 municipalities the population is
about 200, 600. OF this number by far
the largest number fall below the stan
dard which our government has thought
it necessary to set to qualify them as
electors. Where, according to the laws
| of the United States, we might expect
something more than half a million
voters, under the standards that 1t has
been found necessary to set Tor the
islands there are less than 30, 900. Where
in the United States some 20 per cent
of the population vote, In the Philip
pines 2 per cent have that privilege.
The standard of qualifications under
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 a tax or
Sl5 a year, or has been an office holder
in the community But while 1t has
been found necessary to set the stand
ard higher, owing to disturbed condi-
tions, the average of intelligence and
culture is vastly lower than at home.
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, and
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 diligence
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 I'M
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 and
faithful. They are not willing to work
for less by the day, but they will ac-
la week or month.
According to the best estimates there
are at present in the islands some 3D.
600 Chinese, of which probably nearly
50 900 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. "A
few of them are engaged in performing
the common heavy labor, but this Is
exceptional. The work on the planta-
tons is performed by native Filipinos.
The work of transporting goods in the
cities and elsewhere the Filipinos 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 and
, walters are ordinarily Chinese, because
, they are more efficient and trustworthy.
I 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 So or S. month and boarded
himself, one now receives from SO to
S25 or $50 a month In some cases even
t 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 for
, people at noon on a hot tropical day
, to be compelled to walk for half mile
) or mile To their lodgings because of
/ the impossibiity of securing cabs or
5 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 many
cases, If the days work has been fairly
I busy, are so indolent and careless OF
) gain that they prefer to go To their
homes In the evening, and will refuse
, contrary To the city ordinances, 10 take
, passengers. however urgent the demand
may be. When some months ago a
company was organized To bring l,OOC
/ Jinrikshas into the city to be drawn by
either Filipinos or preferably by china
men, the Filipino laborers, especially
the drivers Of the carromatas and car
riages, made such an cutlery and threat
I euea so vigorously to run the jiurikshas
down, that II was practically impossi'
Y bic Tor the company 10 put them on the
. streets Another difficulty OF differ
I ent nature came from the fact that the
Filipinos had SO little mechanical skill
70 that It was extremely diliicult 10 gel
g tho jtnrlkshas set up after they hai
70 been received In Manila In parts, ane
4 men had To be brought over from Hong
q Nens for that purpose,
d Except where the military nas been n
x tie position 60 compel labor ON IN
Il roads b has been extremely dinicult 4
\ have good roads built, even though IA
% Government has been willing o. pa,
II double thr Wages ordinarily common n
the country on road which The dsy
'r ernWrut wished to build Geo no hrllt
a rssnri FOO much needed m lluusuei. Narl