The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-04-22
EDUCATING
The ALIENS
Discussion As TO the
Benefit To
Hawaii.

Builders and Traders talked long and
earnestly last evening over the educa-
tional problems of Hawaii What
chiefly Interested them was whether it
paid to educate the Asiatics at the ex-
pense OF. the taxpayers to eventually
compete with American citizens In the
trades and professions. There was
talk also of possible legislation at the
next session Of the legislature relative
to this matter, and a strong commit
tee was appointed to investigate, and
IL advisable, to report with bill
which might be presented to the next
legislature. The majority of the me1n-
bers took a rather discouraging view
of the situation. believing there was
no solution possible, and that the Asia
tic children, being American citizens
could not be shut out from the advan-
tages of the schools.
Charles Carter was the only mem
Der of the old committee present. and
he reported that he had run against a
stone wall and couldn't get over it.
He said that from his Investigations.
ne was persuaded that the Japanese
and Chinese children could not be kept
out Of the schools. He believed that
the best way was to drop the agita-
ton and to permit the Asiatfcs to get
an education.
Stanley stephenson said he had
studied the question at one time.
chiefly from being in q city where the
Japanese overran the place. and forced
the white children into Easements and
new buildings. Finally the communi-
ty was compelled to issue 100000 in
bonds for new schoolhouses and then
an investigation was made, the cause
ascertained, and it was decided to
charge the Japs. tuition. sufficient to
pay for their share in the educational
system.
John Emmeluth thought the COM
nnittee should have brought in statis-
tics to show the cost per capita and
the amount of taxes the Japanese are
paying towards the support Of the
schools He said the whole thing re-
solved itself down toa question of the
survival OF the fttest, and in this case
the f1ttest would be the man who
could i've at the least expense and do
the most work.
Mr. Clark stated that the aliens paid
sheI taxes, and mat IN the country
districts they paid the bulk of the
school tax.
Mr. Enmeluth disputed the assertion, i
and said that the entire school tax
amounted to but $4,000 per year, while
the cost of the schools aggregated $780,
900 per annum.
Mr.. Howard suggested that more
equitable division of taxes would be an
assessment against the parent for each |
child of school age. He said that |
neither the Chinese nor the Japanese
were illfeerate; less so than the people |
of she Eastern States.
Mr.. Carter said that the Asiatics were
brought here originally to till the soil, |
that the taxes came from the planta- |
lions which were titled by these men, |
and that he did not believe that any
thing could be done to relieve the pres
ent situation.
L. e Pinkham read a letter which he
had received from a school teacher in
response to question as to what /
should be done with the Asiatic in the |
schools. The reply had been. that, had /
the Asiatics been given any induce
7nent, other than field labor when they /
came here. the problem would be much |
more complicated. But as they were |
brought here for field labor, they should |
be educated for it. 1t did no good to !
cit nc
they couldn't become citizens. and the .
Hawaiian boys had no incentive to /
study when they had TO compete with /
the Chinese. The teachers believed in
uowrr Unrrnr