New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-07-29

HAWAII SHORTHANDED.
Mr.. Sargent Talks of Island Oppor-
tunities and Immigration EUils.
[FRoM THE TRIBUNE BUREAU

IRON THE TRIBUNE BUREAU
Washington. July 2s-Fresh from tour of
investigation In the Hawaiian Islands and on
the Pacific Coast. Frank P. Sargent, Commits
sioner General of immigration. will visit New
York tomorrow to inspect Ellis Island for the
first time in two months. Mr. Sargent returned
to Washington benefited in health and with new
energy to prosecute plans for the betterment OF
the service which he formulated on his trip.
Affairs at Ellis Island his first thought
after he got back. and he will spend day or
two at New-York looking things over.
81 expect to find everything in satisfactory
shape" said Mr.. Sargent to-day. but am anx-
ious to get in touch with what Is going on at
the station"
Asked concerning his trip to Hawaii. Mr. sar-
gent said he found remarkable condition IN
the islands. which. because of the exodus or
Japanese to the United States, are in grave need
OF labor and facing the necessity of reducing
the acreage of their crops. He added;
While In the islands saw one thousand male
Japanese leave for San Francisco and Seattle.
whittier they were attracted by the promises or
agents Between July l. 1904. and April 80.
left the group for the United States, and more
than two thousand returned TO Japan. In addi-
ton there were some thousands Of women and
children.
A special territorial commission is now in
vestigating this and other phases Of the labor
and immigration question In the islands, and
will soon come to this country and thence go TO
Europe 1t is proposed to advertise widely
Hawaiis advantages to settlers. What the
islands want is a class Of small farmers-Tnen
who will purchase small tracts and settle upon
them And there is no reason why Hawaii
should not get them Fine opportunities are
offered. ate some OF the finest grapes have
ever tasted in Hawaii. 1 saw corn cultivated In
quantities and, OF course, the sugar cane inter-
ests are immense. On the plantations the labor
consists mainly of Chinese. Japanese and
Portuguese. with the japanese predominating-
I heard the Japanese spoken of highly as labor
ers. while some of the farmers individually pre-
ferred Chinese or Portuguese
Asked with regard to the Chinese boycott in
view Of his visit to the Pacific Coast Mr.. Sar-
gent said emphatically: 'T do not consider the
situation alarming. There has been much ez-
aggeration."
On the general subject OF Chinese innrnigra-
ton. Mr.. Sargent said:
Recent developments have convinced me moro
than ever that the best solution for this prob
lem as il Is for the whole subject OF imInigra-
ton is to put the exclusion regulations in eff
feet in the country from which the aliens come
rather than to shut the doors on their faces
here. Let the government establish agents in
China empowered TO issue credentials to the
Chinese who are entitled to enter this country.
and there will not be the slightest difficulty for
those properly vouched for to get in, provided,
Of course. their health condition is good. I
can never have other than a sympathetic feel
ing for the thousands OF immigrants turned back
from our shores after the long ocean trip, and
who could have been saved that trouble the
other side by the proper regulations. hope the
day will come when nations will agree to I'M
migration rules by which agents empowered to
act in the first instance will be maintained in
the respective countries OF exit. This is what
have recommended in my annual report and
am more than ever convinced that it is right.
Mr.. Sargent said he had not heard about the
new rule on Ellis Island prescribing cigarettes.
That must have happened while I was
away" he said. and then added snilingly, IT
am not much of an advocate OF smoking,
though. I don't use them myself. and don't
see how the immigrants could object"