Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1907-04-18

encountered by the laborer and the
mature OF the work. II these
conditions are properly observed in Sc
llecting laborers, no better laborer eX
lists on earth today than the cool g,
flor any climate and under all conGi-
itions. BY nature they are peaceable,
law abiding clearly, sanitary and
frugal but withal Of muscular, why
frame. A good laborer who would
perform satisfactory work in Canada
would prove a failure if sent to Cel-
trail America, and one who would give
entire satisfaction in the low lands OF
the tropics would be utterly useless n
the elevated mountainous regions OF
the same ATTITUDES. Likewise, labor
ers for digging should be selected
from the agricultural regions and be
accustomed to earthWork. If selected
from the river population, many mil
lions CT whom live on junks on tie
waterways of China, such laborers
would prove an utter failure.
The problem of satisfactorily sup
plying cooIie labor for work in foreign
countries has been successfully solved
and brought to a high degree of Fer
Election in the Chinese provinces Of
FoUquien and Che-kiang, under the
direct supervision of the Viceroy of
these provinces, Tuan Fang, one Of
the foremost and most enlightened
statesmen of China, and whose prov
inces have a population of more than
forty millions. This vicerOy has made
a careful study of the labor questi IN
from an economic standpoint, and in
the course Of the past eight years mas
developed a highly perfected system
of labor expectation. The subject
was first called prominently to his at
tention about eight years ago, at
which time the French government de-
sired to engage a number of coolies
from his provinces for work IN NADIA
gascar. These coolies were to work
for a period of two years, and at the
expiration of their terms Of service
were to be returned to their homes in
China at the expense Of those engag-
ing them. Satisfactory arrangements
were made for this to be done, and t
lis from this start that the present
system has developed. The viceroy
was quick to realize the advantages
which would accrue to his provinces if
he could furnish considerable NUM-
Der Of his people with employment M
foreign countries for a limited time,
enabling them to make stated remit
.tances to their families at home and at
the same time to accumulate a fund
from their wages sufficient to insure
their independence upon their return.
And it IS an ampIiication of this idea
which furnishes the foundation Of the
system in vogue in these provinces at
present.
A bureau of foreign labor service
of semi-off1cial nature, has been es-
tablished at FouchOu, in the province
of Fouquien, through which all shil-
ments of laborers for foreign coun-
tries are recruited and handled. This
bureau is in charge of Francis Vetch
a Frenchman of long experience in
cooiie labor matters, and an expert On
the requirements of the various cOun-
tries To which they are sent.
Whenever an order is received for
cOolie labor, the class of labor desired
and the climatic conditions from which
to recruit them are first determined,
and then prOclamations of the vicerOy
are issued and distributed in that pOr-
ton of the provinces meeting the eli
matte requirements, stating the nature
and terms of the work, the number of
men wanted, the rate of wages and
such other information as may be
requisite. This usually results in ap-
plications from ten times, or more
the number of men required, and a
careful selection Of the required num-
Der is then made. These men are
then subjected to a thorough physical
and medical examination, usually
made by the medical authorities dos-
ignated by the government of the
country to which they are to be sent,
and all untitled are rejected. When
the required number of men have
DSSu ISCl ulC6u CuSy are uIFIuSu IlltO
gangs of from fifty to one hundred
men, each gang in charge of a fore
man, who has absolute charge of his
gang and is responsible for the work
done by them. An individual contract
lis then made with each laborer, setting
forth the terms and conditions of his
employment. This contract is printed
lin Chinese characters and also in
French, Spanish or English, according
to the country to which the laborer is
to be sent, and after being thoroughly
explained to each man, is executed by
him, approved by the proper consul,
and accepted by the viceroy, and a
copy publicly filed in Fouchou, where
remains open to any interested
party.
Under these contracts, the laborer
agrees, if he leaves a family, that a
certain amount of his wages shall be
RENTED to them each month by his
employer, during the entire term OF
his employment. He also agrees that
a certain percentage of his wag IS
shall be deposited each month in some
bank, to be paid to him only upon his
return to China at the expiration of
his contract