The Irish standard., 1905-05-27

1SlduQ. Even now East indians are
imported by Jamaica to work their
plantations and to aid in the shipment
of fruits. The Jamaicans are not as
industrious or thrifty as the Chinese
and they cannot be so easily handled.
There is a strong desire on the part
of the officials to employ Asiatic labor,
if it can be done in accordance with
the laws of the United States.
The mechanics who have come here
from the United States and have been
willing to rough it have done we'll, and
they are likely to do better. They are
paid about the same, and in some
cases little more than at home, but
the climate is such that they can get
in many more days per month or year
than in the United States, and on this
basis wages are higher.
Blacksmiths, boilermakers, machin-
lists, moulders and pattern makers are
now receiving IS cents per hour, or
$3.50 per day, while their helpers get
from rs to IS cents per hour. Plumb
ers get $3.50, and so do skilled me.
| chanics of many kinds. If the men
prefer it they are often taken on at
salaries of s1O0 per month, a large
number of the mechanics being EN-.
ployed by the month instead of by the
day, and in such cases the wages are
often raised after time if the men
prove good.
Many of the mechanics, however,
do large amount Of miscellaneous
kicking. Some begin to find fault the
moment they land, and others want to
go back Immediately with free trip
to the States.
Many of the kickers objected to the
ten hour day, although the hours are
specified in their contracts with the
commission, and others want an in
crease of wages upon their arrival
One plumber, for instance, demanded
$125 per month before going to work
He was told that if he could show
that he could earn $125 he would gel
it, but not before.
Mechanics who come here must not
expect the same labor conditions they
have had in the United States. They
must be willing to turn their hand te
anything and the foreman must ex
pect to use tools if necessary.
It is the same with boss carpenters
and boss mechanics of all kinds
Those who come here are expected tc
do what they are ordered, and they
cannot draw the line as to their work
as they do in the United States. The
only men who are absolutely inde
pendent in this respect are the steam
shovel men and the crane men, who
work under an ironclad agreement
with their union, and who receive
from $135 to SITS per month.
AS to hours, the ten hour day is a
necessity here, and it is question
whether it can be changed as far as
mechanical labor is concerned. II
eight hours are given to certain
classes of American mechanics 1t will
be with provision as to overtime;
and the men will have to work the ten
hours in order not to disarrange the
native labor.
Good men will be in steady demand
and wages will be increased in proper
tion to efficiency and skill. The best
mechanic will always command the
highest wages, but the poor workman
is liable to be graded according to
what he actually does, and that with
out regard to the union rules of the
United States.
The engineering corps at Panama is
bound to be high priced one. The
head of the commission, Mr.. Shonts
gets 100000 year; the chief engineer
Mr.. Wallace, $25,00O, and the Gov
ernor of the canal zone $17,500. The
subordinate engineers are now receiv.
ing something like $4,000 and less, the
young engineer just out of college get.
ting salary not higher than that uf
the average government clerk.
Such men, however, have great op