Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-04-24

I
encountered by the laborer and the
mature OF the work If these
conditions are properly observed in Sc
llecting laborers, no better laborer ex
lists on earth today than the cool g,
for any climate and under all conGi-
tons. BY nature they are peaceaole
law abiding. clearly. sanitary aud
frugal, but withal of muscular, wiry
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
1.-THE elevated mountainous regions of
i the same ATTITUDES. Likewise, labor
ers for digging should be selected
from the agriculture, regions and be
accustomed to earthworK If selected
| from the river population, many mil
lions Of whom live on junks on tie
Waterways of China, such laborers
lwou.i prove an utter failure.
The problem OF satisfactorily sup
plying coolie labor for work in foreign
countries has been successfully solved
and brought to a high degree of Ter
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 population OF more than
| forty millions. This viCeroy mas made
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
ttention 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
gas> ar. These coolies were to work
for q 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-
We're made for this to be done, and t
is 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 mum.
Der Of his people with employment III
foreign countries for 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 application of this idea
which furnishes the foundation of INC
system in vogue in these provinces at
present.
A bureau of foreign labor service
,of a semi-ofEicial nature. has been es-
tablished at FouchoI, in the province
Iof 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
.coolie 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 tEen proclamations of the viceroy
are issued and distributed in that p0r-
ton Of the provinces meeting the eli
matte requirements, Sitting 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 moro
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 'Ihfsical
and medical examination, Isualv
made by the medical authorities des-
igDated 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
been recruited they are divided into
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
is then made with each laborer setting
forth the terms and conditions OF his
employment This contract is printed
in 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 yiceroy. and a
copy publicly filed in Fouchou, where
t remains open to any interested
party.
Under these contracts. the laborer
agrees. IL 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 5s
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
IL