Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-23

of each batch. so there is no stop for DIM
ner. Some mills have come to see the ma
terial good. that comes from having one
day in seven for rest, and observe four rest
days every month. in addition to about ten
national holidays through the year
In report to the Department of Com
merce and Labor Special Agent A. B.
Butman writes from Belgium that the
hours of labor in that country are very
long. THE laborer,' he says, commences
work at 6 am. and ceases work at pm,
paid according to the trade in which he is
employed, on the average cents to > cents
per hour for ten hours and for additional
two hours . per cent increase, aking
his daily wage from 81 cents to S10S for
twelve hours. Children begin their life
work at the age of twelve years; and as
regards hours for child labor. the law
states thae no child under sixteen years
of age shall be kept at work for more than
twelve hours day. A Belgian statisucian
estimates the average earnings OF an ar
tsan at about $3.50 per year, which includes
child labor. am informed that there are
numerous factories in this country which
have been established by British firms ow-
ing to the very low rate at which labor
may be secured here
Consul General William H. Michael, in a
report to the Department Of Commerce and
Labor tells of the growing sentiment
among the coolies Of India to go out into
the occidental world for the purpose of
earning higher wages. They nave peen ar
irving in large numbers in British Column
bia this year, though the Canadians object
to their presence Mr.. Michael writes from
Calcutta:
Ten sturdy looking Punjab Mohammed-
ans. some of whom could talk English SO
as to be understood. called on me recently
to ascertain whether they would be admit
ted into the United States If they should go
there to find employment on farms They
said they had each 100 rupees (s33,3 with
which to pay their passage and other ex-
penses. I told them that with that amount
of money they had better not undertake
the journey. They said that some of their
friends were in America working on DAIRY
farms. and that they thought they could
do we'll in America. as they understood the
care of cows and the work of a dairy. But
they returned to the Punjab with the pur-
pose of earning more money. and when
they had enough money to justify the VEN
ture wound go to the great country,
which they called the United States.
There Is a good deal of discomfort in In
dia among the labornS classes. especially
the capable and more Intelligent laborsrs.
good many Indians have gone to Natal.
where they earn from $50 to $50 per month.
whereas they would not be able to earl
more than St or 81 per month at home. In
deed in most localities the average wage
per month is not more than 81 to "a. 1t Is
little wonder that there is discomfort. and
growing desire on the part of Indian labor
ers to go away from their own country in
the hope of finding better wages and better
opportunities.
The question of labor supply for the tea
gardens in Assam has become so serious
that it is engaging the attention of the
government of India, which has come to
look upon the scarcity of labor in Assam
and its necessary consequences with some
degree of alarm. An investigation COM
mittee was appointed to discover the causes
and to provide a remedy. Some have as
cribed the cause to the penal contract sXs-
tenn, which authorizes a contract ior the
period of four years and gives to the em-
ployer the right of private arrest Under
the operation Of the law which prescribes
four years and confers the right OF private
placed almost wholly at the mercy of their
employers. To be sure, the new law OF
1901 limits contracts to four years and
prescribes the following minimum monthly IN
wage schedule: For the first year, $l.65 Tor
man and s1.25- for a woman; for the
second and third years. $1.81 and S1.a; for
the fourth year. $1.9S and $l.65, respec-
lively.
With the prices of foods advancing, with
employers binding men and women up tight
In a penal contract, with the power OF pri-
vate arrest to enforce the contract what
wonder that even the ignorant and dis
pirited coolie should rebel. Though ignorant
easily persuaded and long suffering, the
coolie after a while learns thing or two
Besides he has heard from his brother
who has ststruck 1t rich" in Natal and
other places; he has seen evidences OF the
prosperity of those who have gone 70
Natal in the way of gold trinkets ana
sweethearts; and, finally. he has seen some
of his brothers return with enough. money
to enable them to settle down as aericui-
turists On the other hand. he has. seen
his fellows return after four years Oh na mar,
labor in the tea gardens Of Assam with
Just enough money to reach the village
which they left in high hopes OF imprev-
ing their condition.
I have previously referred to the feasibil-
ity of procuring laberers in India to work
ON the Panama canal. While Chinese cool
fes are being sought for this work why
would 1t not be advisable to CONSIDER the
Indian coolie? The latter Is stronger ana
more intelligent than the former, and is as
we'll If not better, able to Withstand the
heat and trying conditions of the isthmus.
There is not the same prejudice against the
Indians as exists with respect to the chi
nese. and it might be that tria! OF one or
two thousand Indian coolies would 50 DEM
onstrate their fitness that other and larger
drafts would be desirable upon India for
laborers for work on the canal.
Responding to a Texas inquiry. Consul
John c. Covert Of Lyon writes that the
saddle and harness business is conducted
very much the same in France as in the
United States.
The wages paid to men are from SO cents
to 81. Is per day. for ten hours work. There
are seven saddle and harness stores IN
Lyon. which has a population Of 100000
people, including the suburbs The finished
harnesses and brides are made about the
same in France as in the United States.
The straps used In the army, especially IN
the cavalry, are not blacked. Those made
for private use are generally BACKED. They
are all creased and generally rounded on the
edges.
The Clyde Steamship Company has pur-
chased the wharf property in Norfolk,
which II had leased for number of years.
ha Was G16E O00 Ollrchaae