Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-12-13
Tenement Evils Become Acute

i Deplorable conditions of orercrowding in the
tenements due to the sudden influx of laborers and
their families from the plantation, temporarily
affluent with bonus money, have been brought to
the attention Of the Bulletin in the hope that
official and private agencies will unite to prevent
grave social evils arising from the indscrimnate
smassing of men, women and children. =
It appears that the situation is acute for double
reason first, the payment of the large bonus has
caused many laborers to quit work. either for few
weeks of "good time" here in the city,or to take
passage TO the Pacific coast. The stories of for
tunes to be made in California still lure ignorant
Spanish, Portuguese and others In spite OF the cruel
disillusionment so many have suffered. .r@ +
4 Coming to the city either to spend their suddenly
acquired money or in sfhe expectation of securing
steamerpassage, the laberers and their families
rake up quarters in the tenements Those who
hoped to 60 to the states have found it virtually i'm
possible to get accommodations owing to the short
age Of steamers 1t is estimated that not more
than tenth of the expectant passengers are able
to secure tickets The remaining nine.tenths add
to the already large crowds who have quit their
regular occupations and. are little better than
Hhoaters" .:..-.- ~
w. z. Pietsch, social worker, who goes into the
tenement districts almost every day, tells appalling
stories of what is happening Families with young
boys and girls fresh from the plantations and quite
innocent of the pitfalls that may await them, are
herded together with single men Of all races, and
with women and other girls who ply their ilegiti
mate trade brazenly. .:
AS the money vanishes, the laborers grow desper.
ATE for money. Surrounded BY evils which they
scarcely suspect the daughters, the young sisters
are likely to be forced by family necessity to adopt
the most opportune method of earning few dollars
Mr.. Pietsch has taken the problem to various SO.
cial relief agencies and found them all willing t
cooperate in plan Of persuading the laborers to
return to the plantation where steady and lucrative
employment is assured them. He maintains that
if outright charity il given them here in Honolulu,
there is no hope that they viii return until the last
penny is gone and by that time the worst evils OF
herding the sexes together may have been wrought
BE also feels that nothing would be more helpful in
checking this indiscrimnate herding than prompt
and vigorous action by the board Of health T. pre-.
vent orercrowding in tenement rooms.
DIR. Pratt president of the board Of health, in a
talk TO the Ad Club recently, pointed out the diff
culty of prevent such overcrowding. The board of
healths powers in this direction are comparatively
small But if such agencies as the Salvation Army,
the Associated Charities and private philanthropiss
will refuse to pay out money to these families I'M
less they will return to the plantations sheer neces.
atty and the sure road to prosperity again will
speedily set their faces away from the tenements
and toward the comfortable quarters on the plan.
tations.
Each year is repeated the old story Of laborers
uniting their work In Hawaii because of fantastic
and exaggerated stories Of what they can earn in
California Each year, after this excursion far
aAeld they return to Hawaii exhausted in purse
and often broken in health. This year few can get
"a the coast at ALL and cooperation on the part Of
those who must deal with the needy poor will in.
sured in the majority of cases. their return to for
mer employ ment at good wages and under first
class living conditions.