The sun., 1905-10-22
WILL.

1t is we'll known that life in the tropics is
80 easy and necessaries are procured with
so little exertion, that the natives have not
generally been accustomed to steady toll.
Yet if the plantation and mining districts
in tropical regions are to be developed the
native males will have to become accustomed
to work more regularly and energetically
than they have done heretofore. How are
they to he persuaded 30 to work? This.
Of course, is one Of the problems with which
the insular government Of the Philippines
Is confronted.
After reviewing the incentives applied
by Britain, France, Holland and Spain in
their colonial possessions, our author points
out that the principal method by which
natives are induced to work and are re-
tanned for long periods Of time as employees
consists of contracts enforceable by penalties.
Contractual obligation Is itself, of course,
in harmony with ndivdualistic liberty.
If laborers are permitted freely to choose
their employers and to bind themselves
only to those provisions respecting wages,
length of service and kind of worl, to which
they freely consent, no diminution Of liberty
can he said to be involved. A contract of
this kind, however. looked upon merely as
an institution of the civil law, proves in
tropical regions insufficient for the purpose
of keeping native lahorers steadily at work.
Should they break their engagements an
employer demands more adequate remedy
than Judgment for damages. which would,
in most cases, be valueless. A penal clause
intended to assure specific performance Is,
therefore, added to these contracts, provid-
ing that in case worker fails to perform
- ~, al i
inefficient manner, he may be punished,
and will not be subject merely to judgment
for damages.
1t is further to be noted that in many
regions a system of credit bondage has
grown up. Advances are made to laborers
by employers at the time of the hiring, and
the former are then obliged to work of
the debt which they have thus incurred.
When they have succeeded in paying of
the first debt they have, usually, from
want Of foresight, become indebted anew
to their employers, so that they are gradu-
ally forced into condition Of permanent
dependence. The Mexican planters use
the system Of advances in order to secure
a trustworthy supply of labor. and the laws
of the republic of Mexico oblige the laborer
faithfully to work off his indebtedness In
the event of his failure to do so he may
be drafted into the army, which is looked
upon as an UNIV welcome alternative The
same system formerly existed in the Philip
pine Islands. As under such circumstances
employers find it impracticable to secure
laborers without advancing a large sum
OF money, they have some cause to demand
efficient means Of holding the laborer re-
sponsble; otherwise it would he an easy
matter for him to enter into several engage
nents at tho same time, with no intention
Of keeping any Of them.
In the chapter on defence and police our
author admits that the employment Of
natives in the colonial constabulary is rem
dered absolutely necessary by the great
cost OF European personnel. Ho reoog-
nzes at the same time the difficulty OF
finding among the indigenous population
satisfactory material for the police service
inasmuch as the natives are inclined to use
their official power to take revenge upon
their enemies for any former injury, and to
practice general extortion upon all who are
not strong enough to resist them. The or
ganization Of a reliable native constabuary
is. of course, one of the most difficult prob
lens which the Philippine Commission has
had to solve. This is not surprising. when
we bear In mind that even in British India.
the civil police force bears a very bad repu-
tation on the score Of bribery and Of the
trumping up OF unjust charges against
natives In the hope Of extorting money.