The San Francisco call., 1910-05-30
RANCHERS NEED
PANESE, SAYS
]. D. MACKENZIE
State Labor Commissioner Re-
ports ON Oriental Problem
in California
White Men of Good Character
Are Preferred, but Supply
Is Inadequate

tiic odpdHeSe is essential for the con-
tinuance and development of the spe-
| cialized agricultural industry of Cali
fornla. This Is the broad conclusion
OF the report of the investigation of
the Japanese. In California made by
}. D. Mackenzie, state labor commits
sloher, under special act of the legis-
lature following the anti-Japanese aGi-
latlon In the state in 19OS-9.
Inc report goes thoroughly into all
phases of the so called oriental prob
lem as affecting the economic and So
cial conditions of this state and finds
,nat the japanese, or some form of
iapor or similar character capable
| or independent subsistence. quick mo-
pllZatlon, submissive of instant dis
| mlssal and entailing no responsibility
| upon the employer for continuous en-
ployment, is absolutely necessary in the
California orchard. vineyard and field
IL these vast industries are to be per-
petuated and developed. Next to the
Chlnese, the report says, the Japanese
nave nlled these requirements more
/ fully than any other class of labor
| available
| The consensus of opinion in all parts
! OF the state. as disclosed by the investf-
cation, was that the white man of good
character was preferable to any of the
allen races, but there is not within the
| state sufficient number of white
laborers to perform the work that is
done by Japanese.
FARM LABOR AND WAGES
| The investigation of Japanese in ag-
| flcuiture covered visits to 4,102 farms
scattered over 36 counties and growing
/ almost every crop common to the state
| of California. OF this total number of
| farms visited 1,733 were operated by
Japanese farmers as owners, cash les
| sees and share lessees The remaining
1858 farms were operated by white
| farmers, being equally distributed be-
tween those employing white help, ex-
! clusively, and those employing mixed
races, including Japanese.
The average wage paid by white
! farmers to white help was S1.3S per
day, with board, and $50 per day.
without board, and to the Japanese
sl.49 per day, with board. and $1.54 per
day, without board.
| The average wages paid to Japanese
! farm labor by Japanese farmers were
| $1.57 per day, with board, and $1.65
| per day. without board.
/ JAPANESE LAND OWNERSHIP
| The records of the county assessors
| show 199 farms, containing 1871
acres, owned by Japanese in the state
of California. Those farms were as
sessed at $33o.401 on land and S46.927
! $397,29S, and were mortgaged to the
| extent of s1735S4. The records show
185 holdings of town property assessed
at s174,694, of which $4,000 was on
| land and s85,394 on improvements.
These holdings were mortgaged to the
extent of $5O,359.
The actual lease holdings of the
Japanese in the state of California
amounted to $4,000 acres on cash
leases and $4,000 on share leases.
There were also recorded 113 leases on
town property.
The farms held under cash lease by
Japanese average 40 acres. The leases
were principally for short terms, sos
per cent being for three years or less.
The total rental paid on these leases
was. approximately, 100000 per an
mum, the prevailing price being from
| $50 to $50 per acre per annum.
JAPANESE IN BUSINESS
That part of the investigation relat-
| ing to the Japanese in business and
| activities other than agriculture is
| practically complete. Two thousand
five hundred and forty eight estab-
lishments were visited throughout the
| state. One thousand nine hundred and
| thirtyfour were owned by individuals,
| $50 by partnerships and 81 by corpora
| tions
The capital involved in most in
| stances was very small 68.7 per cent of
the total having a capital of less than
$1,000. The total aggregate capital
| invested amounted to over S400O,000
The total annual transactions of these
Japanese establishments amounted to
$16,114, ,407, of which S5,93S,D12, or 36.S
per cent, was with the white people
The total annual rent paid by these
firms was over 100000.
OF the total number of establish
|
Gated in the seven principal cities of
the state as follows:
Los Angeles ..... 900 Fresno .............101
San Francisco. .497ISan Jose. 10
Oakland IFS Stockton ............ 54
sacramento ..154l
Although San Francisco did not con-
tain the largest number of establish
ments, "a per cent of the entire in
vestment was represented there, and
1912 per cent of the total amount of
business transacted therein.
The ruling number of hours worked
per day was 10 and over, and the pre-
| vailing wages paid from SIS to s35
with board and $40 to $50 per month
without board.
JAPANESE POPULATION
The japanese population of the state
of California, based upon the records
of the United States immigration bu-
reau, the records of the steamship COM
pantes entering the port of San Fran
| cisco and the records of this office, was
estimated at 41,62S on January 1, 1910
! About 10 per cent of this total were
fema les
This investigation shows the distri-
button of the adult male Japanese pop
ulation to be as follows:
Agricultural pursuits, 65 per cent
Domestic or personal service, 15 per
! cent.
Supplying the wants of the Japanese
population, Is per cent.
Professionals, students. ETC.. per
cent.
JAPANESE SCHOOL CHILDREN
There were SIT Japanese children at
| tending the public schools in California
in the year 1908. These were distrib-
uted as follows:
Male. Female.
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