Los Angeles herald., 1906-08-21
.COOL|E LABOR
TO DIG CANAL
SPECIFICATIONS FOR BIDS ARE
FURNISHED
Chinese to Be Provided With Free
Lodging, Fuel and Medlcine-Con-
tractor Must Give Big
Bonds
BY Associated Press.

BY Associated Press.
WASHINGTON. Aug. 2O.-Specifica-
tions for bids to furnish Chinese1abo
for the construction of the Panama
canal were issued today by the
Isthmian canal commission.
The basis for bidding is for $500
coolies, although it is made clear that
the commission may call for such adj
ditional numbers of Chinese laborers
as it may need, should the experiment
be successful, but the number shall
not exceed 1000 per month.
All proposals must be received not
later than 10 a. M, September 20, at
which time they will be opened. The
usual conditions regulating the COM
petitive bidding for government sup
plies is prescribed by the specifications
Individuals, copartnerships or corpo-
rations competent to fulfill the terms
of the proposal will be permitted to
bid, but the proposals must be accom-
panied by a certified check or by a
bond of $4,000.
The bond of the successful bidder
will be advanced to 100000. which will
be forfeited if he should fail to enter
into contract.
Proposals are to be expressed in
terms of hourly wages, payable in gold
currency of the United States, or its
equivalent, the labor Of not less than
$500 Chinese for a period OF not less
than two years, which may be ex-
tended.
Chinese laborers will be required to
work ten hours each day. Overtime
will be paid in excess of ten hours and
for all the work upon Sundays or holi-
days at the rate of time and a half'
Extra Precautions Taken
Extra precaution has been taken by
the commission in its specifica tions to
provide against liability for damages
or indemnity on account of the deG h
or disability of any laborer or employe
by accident or disease. The contractor
must accept the responsibility for any
such damages maintained by legal
claim.
Laborers coming under this contract
will be provided free of charge with
lodgings, fuel for cooking purposes
and medical treatment when sick. No
wages shall be paid to any laborer,
however, during Illness or absence
from work, either in quarters or in
hospital.
Contractors must deliver the Chinese
coolies at either Cristobal, on the At
lantic, or La Boca, on the Pacific
coast. The full number of laborers to
be furnished under this initial proposal
must arrive within the Isthmian canal
zone on or before January 7, 1907, or
within three and one-half months from
the time the award is made.
An individual laborer may be dis
charged at any time for cause by the
chief engineer of the canal work. and
when discharged, must be deported by
the contractor.
Transportation Included
Proposals to furnish coolie labor
must include the transportation Of
laborers to either of the parts in the
canal zone.
In addition to the bids to supply $500
laborers the bidders are required to
submit proposals for each additional
1000 laborers that may be required by
the commission.
Laborers are desired from the
southern provinces of China, and such
persons only will be accepted as are
accustomed to a climate as nearly
similar as may be experienced on the
Isthmus of Panama.
No laborers will be accepted who
have been brought from any part Of
the Hawaiian islands.
Exacting regulations will be made as
to the personal Identification of each
Chinaman coming within the zone The
contractor is required to give security
to the Republic of Panama that Chi
nese laborers and families shall be
promptly deported upon completion Of
their term of service.