The Hawaiian gazette., 1911-04-04
SHARP MEASURES
TO HOLD LABOR
TWO RADICAL BILLS AIMED Al
EMIGRATION AGENTS co
10 SENATE.
CFrOm sund4g's Advertiser

With a feeling as though playing
with legal ere, members of the house
OF representatives yesterday took ac-
tion on the bills introduced under
full head of steam to stall of any fur
ther stealing Of labOrers from the plan
tations Of Hawaii for the canneries of
Alaska. Opposition was shown to both
of the emigration bills, which passed
third reading, but they passed by
substantial majority.
The bill making it misdemeanor for
anyone to "induce, entice or persuade
servants or laborers to leave their en-
ployment, or to aid or abet such leav-
ing, and providing punishment
therefore," passed by vote Of nine
teen to nine, after some discussion in
which the opposition took the stand
that the bill might work two ways.
The punishment provided for anyone
who, by himself or an agent, shall
"entice'' servant or laborer away
from his employment, without the con-
sent of the employer, Is a fine Of not
more than $500, or imprisonment for
not more than SIX months, or both.
The bill in full is as follows:
To the Point.
f'Section l. Any person who, by
| himself or agent, shall induce, entice OF
persuade or attempt to induce, entice
or persuade, any servant or laboreI
4 who shall have contracted either orally
or in writing to serve his employer for
a specific length of time, to leave the
service of said employer during the
term thereof, without the consent of
said employer, or who shall aid or abet
any such servant or laborer in leaving
said service during the term thereof
without the consent of said employer
shall be guilty of misdemeanor and
upon conviction thereof shall be pun
ished by fine Of not more than five
hundred dollars or by Imprisonment moi
more than six months, or both.
t'Section 2. This act shall take
effect upon the date of its approval.
Damages or Injunction.
Over H. B. 2l2 there was also 6
fight and the discussion became rather
warm at times. This bill enables any
employer to recover damages from any
one inducing, enticing or persuadine
any servant or laborer from leaving
his employer.
Section two Of this bill also pro
vides that "any person or corporation
shall be entitled to an injunction in
equity against any other person, per
J sons or corporation who shall endeavol
} or threaten to induce, entice or per
, suade servants or laborers to leave
! their employment when such an in
discreet enticer does not have property
in the Territory subject TO execution
The opponents of the bill stated tina
it was like going back to the old ship
ping days and was one-sided meas
ure. Castle explained that it was nee
essary to protect the poor laborer from
unscrupuloas emigration agents.
Hale thought that if the bill becomes
a law there will be ffwailing ant
gnashing of teeth" among the laborers
Array Of Figures.
Tavares fought for the bill, present
} ing an imposing array of facts show
t ing that the Territory had expended
/ nearly 100000 to bring about 400
I immigrants here and that now it wa
: proposed to entice them away, and thi
r should be stopped.
Yates wanted Tavares to explain
2 how much it costs the Territory to keel
. these people in jail.
: On rollcall the vote stood twenty
t three to five in favor of the bill and i
g was sent to the senate.
Earlier in the session two senat
t bills dealing with emigration and in
!, migration were passed at second read
q ing. S. B. los provides for a licens
s for any emigration agents who shal
t seek to work in the Territory. S. F
90 provides for the creation of de
a partment of immigration and define
!, it's proportion Of taxes