The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1910-03-08
CASES
ARE DISCOVERED
Diphtheria Among Russians Is
Very Widespread, but in a
Light Form.

Light Form.
II the Russians now dwelling in
quarantine under detention owing to
the recent outbreak of diphtheria
among them, do not come to terms
with the planters as regards monthly
wages, Russians now working Kauai
plantations may stop working, come to
Honolulu and join the most recent ar
rivals from Manehuria.
The statement has heen made that
the interchange of opinions with regard
TO plantation work between members
of the first band of Russians who have
tried it. and those who landed here on
the steamship Mongolia a couple of
weeks ago, has resulted in bond of
sympathy, which may seriously en-
danger the prospects of a settlement
of the grievances of the newest immi-
grants, and prevent the experiment
from getting beyond the experimental
stage.
are very happy. They are being well
fed and are given the best of medical
attention by Doctor james and nurses.
They have no kicks at the present time,
for their treatment is of the best, but
they are looking forward to the day
when they are released and will again
face the planters shed where Royal ID.
Mead presides.
Thirty-Tw Cases Now.
Yesterday forenoon President Mott
| Smith of the board of health, Doctor
| Brinekerhoff, Doctor Pratt, Doctor
! Sexton and Mr.. Reinecke went to Quar-
antine Island, ana every man, woman
I and child of the Russian colony was
| given a throat and nasal examination,
| the swabs giving evidence of thirty
I two cases of diphtheria, however all in
(, a mild sense.
Lightfoot's Compromise.
/ The suggestion has been advanced
A and Mr.. Lightfoot considers that il
! would be a fair way to a settlement OF
differences between the planters and
4 immigrants, that the bills of the Rus
1 sian laborers for the half, at least, OF
the first month IS bill at the plantation
! stores, be wiped off at the end of tine
| month, and that, the cash to which the
laborer is entitled as his earnings be
| turned over entire to him, and the
! store debt cancelled. He would have
! something to show for his first hall
month s work, his family would have
received new clothing, and the homes
furnished with the semblance of habit
able quarters.
The suggestion involves the state
ment that the money which is bring
ing the Russians here has been con
tributed mainly by the plantations a
an income tax, and that it is bein,
spent without much restriction. Vas
sums have been paid out from thi
fund, and yet when the plantation
store indebtedness faces the RUSSIAN
immigrant the first month, the frs
break in the relations between planta
ton and laborer is at hand. 1t j
stated, for example, that if there ar
forty Russian men working on plan
tation, their store indebtedness a hal
month would not amount to more tina
$40 each, or a total of $500 for all,
mere bagatelle to dividend-payin
plantation, which could just as well b
considered a part of the fund used t
bring the Russians here. Mr.. Light
, foot says that no doubt this would
one means of satisfying the Russians
|, for at the end of the month they woul
have some money to jingle in thei
pockets and their larder would be pre-
: vided with eatables and their star
would be somewhat satisfying.
!, Rubles and Dollars.
The question of the difference bt
tween rubles and dollars and the pul
!. chasing power of money here as con
, pared TO that power in Manchuria
, still uppermost in the minds of tn
: Russians. They have not been mad
to believe yet that dollar here wi
purchase as much as ruble in Rul
! STA. That is one of the principal bone
j.. of contention.
About noon today about $50 moi
| Russians will arrive from Manchuri
I. aboard the Pacific Mail liner Kore
= adding TO the complexity of the situi
; tion. just what steps the probab
: employers have taken TO meet the lis
. of questions that are certain to aris
and give satisfactory answers theret
is not known. The interpreters so fl
have not been drilled or instructed
any way to meet the situation, and
many cases all that is known conceri
ing interpreters is that they can tai
= Russian.
The suggestion has been made TO IL
planters that Col. Sam Johnson, who
now resident of Pahoa, Hawaii,
| Wirelessed for, 10 come here on II
Mauna Loa. As far as known he hi
not been sent for, but he is believ,
by many TO be the one man who ca
most satisfactorily act between Il
planters and the immigrants.