East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1906-10-24
LABOR CONDITIONS AND WAGES PAID IN
HAWAII

Since many laborers and skilled me-
chancs are going from the Pacific
coast to the Hawaiian islands, the fol-
lowing resume of labor conditions and
wages in the islands, from the report
of tnd bureau of labor and commerce
will be interesting. The report says,
The wages and hours of labor of
white mechanics in Honolulu and
elsewhere throughout the archipelago,
when considered in connection with
the cost of living and steadiness of
employment, presents as favorable
conditions for workingmen as prevail!
elsewhere in the United States; other
wise white mechanics would leave for
California. The high wages of skilled
labor in Hawaii are due to some eX-
tent to the fact that much of the
white labor employed in the territory
is supervisory labor, directing less
skilled native and Portuguese helpers.
Although but few of these superin-
tendinS workmen are needed, it Is
in the territory.
Many carpenters are paid as high
as 81 for an eight-hour day, and brick
masons and plasterers from $3.50 TO
Sc day Plumbers receive from
$3.50 to $3.50 for an eight-hour day.
Painters are paid as high as SO and
$3.50 a day. While work is at times
irregular on account of slackness of
business. there is not the same sea-
sonal unemployment as in most other
parts of the United States.
The clothing trades are almost en-
tirely in the hands of Asiatics. \ few
white tailors are engaged in busi-
ness in Honolulu, and there is one
white firm in Hilo but they all with
the exception of the Hilo tailor are
| said to employ Chinese or japanese
/ workmen. There are practically no
white wage earners engaged in max
/ ing mems garments or boots and
shoes, although a few find employ
ment independently in repairing and
cobbling. Native Portuguese sewing
girls are reported to earn 81 day
when constantly employed.
Although these trades are almost
monopoliZed by orientals the average
rate of wages is probably not lower
/ than in larger American cities, and
the economic condition of the Chinese
or japanese worker in these occupa-
tions is absolutely, as well as relative
ly to his standard of living, better
than that of the sweat shop workers
of New York and Chicago.
The preparation of food and drink
affords employment to a number of
workers, who are mostly Asiatics
Most Of the bakeries confectionery
shops and hotels and restaurants en-
| ploy Chinese help. or, as a second
choice, japanese. Workers of the
latter nationality are more common
| ly found thar the Chinese in laborious
occupations, such as operating aerat-
ed water machinery The Honolulu
brewery, which is the only establish
ment of the kind in the islands, em-
ploys only white or native Iapor In its
manufacturing departments and de-
livery service. Bottlers and common
laborers are paid from 81 to $1.75 IL
day, teamsters from s54 to SIS
month. while skilled help receives
from 800 to $3.50 a month. Asiatic
bakery and confectionery hands are
paid from 80 Oto $40 a month, with
board and lodging.
Practically all domestic servants are
Asiatics. and their rate of pay varies
with their skill, reliability and knowl-
edge of the English language to such
an extent that it is quite impossible
to estimate their average earnings.
Plantation cooks receive from SIS to
$50 month. Similar rates are paid
in the wealther households of Homo.
lulu.
A part Hawaiian stationary engin-
Ger was paying his Japanese servant,
who cooked for his family, $3.50 a
week and board, while ir a neighhor-
ing family a japanese boy who did
not cook. but attended school and
performed household duties out of
school hours, was paid $3.50 a week
and board. Domestic servants are or
ganized into guilds. japanese serv-
ants are frequently under some obli-
cations to employment agencies kept
by their countrymen, and are changed
from one position to another, to serve
the convenience of the agency or as
they acquire increased skill and ex-
perience.
Caucasian mercantile establish
ments employ white clerks and sales
men except for dealings with Asiatic
customers. AS all the better houses
have some retail trade with the ORR
entails, and sometimes sell goods reg
ularly to Chinese and japanese mer-
chants. they generally have one or
two clerks of those nationalities upon
thei- pay rolls. Few, IL any, whites
OF natives are employed in the ORR
entail stores.
The salaries of white salesmen and
office clerks are rather higher than
in towns of equal size in America.
Bookkecpers are paid from 800 to
$3.50 and 5000 month, copyists and
stenographers from $50 to 800. and
salesmen from $40 to 800. Many
retail stores have some part Hawaiian
and Portuguese clerks who are paid
lower rate than Americans or north
Europeans. Most of the mercantile
establishments in the American quar-
ter close at p. M, but the Oriental
stores especially small shops and
GaI-