The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-01-23
DIFFERENCE
Of 40 Cents
Prevented Trade
Between Two
Merchants.
Native Explains the
Ethics of Coal
Business.
But Hours of Argument Fail to
Shake Decision OF q
japanese.

A very bulky native stood on the
Hackfeld wharf for some hours yes
terday morning and argued with a Jap
anese about the price of coal. The ma
tive posed as a business man and the
Jap passed as a coal merchant, but
despite strenuous mornings work
neither party made money.
For several weeks number of Jap
anese have been dragging the harbor
for coal, taking it to the Eva end Of
the harbor, drying it in the sun, and
then bagging it for sale. A native no.
ticed a big pile of this coal, all sacked
up and ready for sale, and drove down
that way in dray early yesterday morn
ing to buy ton. The dray was hir
ed one manned by two Chinese.
He accosted a 'wiry little Jap who
had charge of the coal pile and notified
him that he had come to buy coal. He
wanted a ton, was willing to pay the
cost of weighing the coal, would cart it
home, half mile away, and would re-
turn the bags in which the coal was
handled to the japanese. He would
also pay the japanese the sum of So
for the ton of coal. Everything con-
corning the bargain, except the price,
struck the Jap in a soft spot but re-
garding the price he was doubtful He
IL -I.%s ~ .I,1 :
a ton. Other people around the shore
end of the wharf declared that the
two argued for an hour and then the
Jap went away to get some advice from
on bag of coal and lit a f1ve-cent
cigar. His Chinese draymen sat stolid-
ly on their dray. In a few minutes the
native was again in volubIe converse
ton with the Jap and his friends. The
writer happened along and heard the
following conversation:
The native said: You much better
sell. L raise my price thirty-five cents.
Coal is boiler coal, not good for stove,
but I got good stove and SO L use.
business man. I deal fast. Trade now
by more business. Haole have big coal
pile. He sell plenty and sell quick. He
make small profit. But he make room
for more coal and keep making more
small profits. You got all your bags
full up. You can do no more business.
You must sell 'em out. Make room
more business. You look like much
business Japanese. What you say, sell |
s5.35?"
The Japanese gave the native look
of contempt and then said something |
to the other Japs. They laughed bois- |
terously.
The native got angry. What's mat
ter. You no want do business. All |
right. Bineby many Clouds big storm. |
much water come down from valley. |
Nuuanu stream get big. Wash all your
coal out sea. Then I think you be sor-
ry All right I go way, no come back |
[ go trade quick with haole.''
This did not seem to impress the Jap |
much. The native went as far as the |
dray and returned to the charge again, |
lighting another five-cent cigar.
What you say" said the native, |
trade or no trade. Five dollar thirty
i've, bags returned, and I do draying /
and weighing?"
The Jap shook his head. remarking,
L think you much better pay five dolla
seventy-five''
IT say, Japanee, You member coal
cheap now. Haole put price down.
Congress say Custom House take all
1uty off. No more pay for wharfage
,or coal ships. Everybody burn OH.
See that ship discharge oil. No coal
ships in port. Bimeby coal no sell at
an''
The Jap did not appear any more
with this than he had been
With former arguments. After noon the
writer found the native and the Jap
anese at the same place as in the
morning but the dray was gone. Coal,
md its value, was still the sole topic
If discussion.
The native recognized in the reporter
IN eager listener of the mornings de-
oate. He turned to him with a sort
# pouty smile and explained that no
rade had been effected He say five
iollars and seventy-f1ve and is very
I say 1 split the differ
uSe. ne sum say same price JdpaIleS
rot no business in his head. I business
man, like quick trade. I should
rade with haole. He trade quick l
ell this Japanee five thirty-five and
lie hold out all morning. I lose plenty
ime from work. I bring Chinaman
nd wagon. Bimeby I smoke fifteen
ents worth cigars, one dollar for time
llowed. and two dollars for dray Now
go home. lose three dollars ff+aa1 |
ents and still no trade and I go home