MAL ME~ ~..'~ ~;~ ~:2. 1~1 "-~ ~ ~~~~~~~~1g t Ai~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~s i, ~~~~~~~ii~ ~ ~ ~~ ~I,~~A i A l. zull~1::~ ~~: r.:~: ~~~. ~ ~~: ~; ltle J.'li;B~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~-l ml 'aI n~i:~~~ "'1E~:' ';~'" 1;1 ~~~"r " ~ ~ ~ ~~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~I~ ~",~~~'~'"~~I~"I;;A Will ll N~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~8 "E ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~:li~~~~~~~~~~~~~ls~~~~~~~~Al,...,~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ml~N l l ''% ^;;;,;^.-'\ *;^ ^; ^:, *) *,, *"'*?,.,;:'11..,,,^;^ ';,;.^;: t liu;~n ' >?/Y.!/ \. i, ^;. ^,^ ' * _.. 1.. ';,,p i.;* * i ' i, *,.^,1- ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~, t"',, r/,, '?' r;, "o ' ), jr"' I ill ~ ~lyii li\ '.r,. lSSt ' ^ i~ *>*^?' ii f^ f \\ \' ~~ 'T i fI f f A A P ^ l'^ 1 ' P 'i, ' if i l~^ l ^ " *A I r^ V.1'1', 1*; ^ 1 -,:, 1Y jA V,, 1',:.: ''~ ' ', / ' ' ' ' /n l,t ~ PO BOX SM116 STA MESA. MANILA PHI LIPPINF.S. THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDSi Resident Labor Commissioner's Office P. 0. Box 214, Honolulu, T. H. October 15, 1924. Hon. Leonard Wood, Governor-General, Manila, P. I. His Excellency:4 -I have the honor to subj Vqk&'~oAA~rio the following report covering imy pl ra'Wi h3,1923 to March 31, 1924) inm the ire~ri~4t oI, u the capacity of Philippine Labor Commrissioner. TERRITORY dF'-', The territory.. of Hawaii, is, 4of~d small islands, of volcanic orgn, sitpated.,99 ii~~rf~mSnFa. cisco, California, U. S&~ ei~s~ilds, namely, Hawaii, Oahu, Kauai and' 1{i;ieIi adjacent Molokai Island are inhabited by 302,800 peoples of more than eleven different races, but the numerous ones are the Japanese and Filipinos. The, capital of the Hawaiian Territory, located in the island of Oahu, is Honolulu. THE FILIPINOS As it is well known, the Filipino people in this territory, except very countable persons, consist of unclassified laborers, introduced by the Hawaiian Sugar Planters' Association, through their Agents in the Philippines since 1906. On March 31, 1924, according to data that I could secure from reliable sources, there were. 37,236 working men 2 FILIPINO LABORERS IN HAWAII and 2,540 women and children, including those who were born in this territory, making a total of 39,776. OCCUPATIONS Even though the Filipinos have been recruited by the Hawaiian Sugar Planters Association, as freedom of individuals has been always existing under the American Flag, many of them left the sugar plantations to the United States for work or education, while others went back to the Philippines with or without the completion of their three-years contract. Those who remained in this territory have been engaged in the following works: In the sugar plantations.................. 21,105 " " pineapple plantations & factories..... 7,002 " " Territorial & Fed. Gov't work........ 4,400 " Homesteads...................... 2,804 "trades, fishing, rice-fields & etc........... 1,648 unstable works......................... 277 Total............................ 37,236 Only few women work in the cane fields, but quite many in the pineapple canneries. DISTRIBUTION & CLASSIFICATION The 21,105 male laborers are distributed to the fortytwo sugar cane plantations in the islands which belong to the Hawaiian Sugar Planters' Association. They are classified as unskilled and skilled. On March 31, 1924, there were 18,815 unskilled laborers and 2,~90 skilled. During my time in Hawaii till March 31, 1924, there have been 865 laborers promoted to handle responsible positions. There is no datum for the comparison of promotion, but it can be seen easily that those who have been granted responsible position last year form more than 60% of all the promotions that have been ever made prior to my coming to these islands. FILIPINO LABORERS IN HAWAII 3 Fifty percent of the mill hands are Filipinos, many of them being classified as semi-skilled. A large number of Lunas (capataz) Police, Camp Bosses, and Contract Bosses are Filipinos. During the year 1923 the number of Filipino semi-skilled employees increased greatly, due partly to my encouraging advices to our people to accept more responsible positions and stick by them with loyalty to plantations and to their work, and partly to a better understanding between them and the officers of the plantations through this office. HOUSES In my first visit to the plantations, most of the complaints I received were about their houses and kitchens. It is true that not all plantations at that time could afford to all laborers good houses and kitchens. And even now, for poor finantial capabilities. I am aware of this fact, because I have been given a full confidence to read their accounting books, to avoid misunderstanding. There were many good ones though. But the envy to have ones as good as the others exalted their desire of complaining. As the result of my requests to the concerning Manegers, 745 new dweling houses with attached kitchens for laborers, as shown of reports, have been completed and are now occupied. During the same period 920 houses were repaired with such major repairs. Of course, construct- ing new more buildings and repairing are continuously going on. There have been some instants when I was very much puzzled. Some laborers did not like to move to new houses for their plants, vegetables and chickens. It is worth to be mentioned here that water pipes are furnished to all kitchens, toilets, bathing and washing houses except in few places where water is not yet found i for the purpose. Rain-water reservoirs are being used. Supply of fuel is also another cause of complaint. This is due partly by the late request of laborers, and partly for the unavoidable circumstances of time. Most of the plan 4 FILIPINO LABORERS IN HAWAII tations use kerosine oil for fuel. In this case, no complaint has ever been heard on this matter. Ninety percent of the plantations provide electrict lights to laborers' houses, at a very low price of 500 per month with 3 bulbs. This is another source of complaint against those plantations which can not extend their lights to all houses. Managers are attending to this effect. It must be understood that light is not a part of the contract as freely given. HOSPITALS Each big plantation has hospital with proper facilities, there being 29 in all for the 42 plantations. In some cases two or three small plantations have combined in order to provide better facilities and treatment. Twenty of these hospitals have been greatly improved during 1923, which places them to be equal with the best. They are fully equipped with X-Ray apparatus and others to handle all cases. Doctors and trained Nurses are in charge with Filipino and Japanese Assitants. Almost all the hospitals have the services of Filipino interpreters and helpers, through the requirement of this office for better understanding of the ailments of the Filipino patients. Plantations having no hospitals have welfare-workers or Camp-Bosses to visit daily the houses and bring the patients to hospitals. However, they have a little dispensary which is visited three times by the Doctor of the hospital. At any time doctors or Nurses can be called by any laborer. All races have the same kind of food, except those who are under dietic measures. In one of the plantation hospitals I found out inadequate food for the patients. Immediately I reported to the Doctor who dismissed him the Japanese in charge of the mess, not after having given a severe recrimination. FILIPINO LABORERS IN HAWAII 5 STORES There are 34 plantation stores, all of which employ Filipinos as sales-men and as interpreter at the same time. This is another improvement during 1923. All store boys are paid according to their experience and responsibility. There is no distinction in regard to pay between various races. Plantations which have no stores are served by those owned by private parties. It is not true the complaint before my coming to these islands, that all laborers were compelled to buy stuffs from the plantations stores. Laborers are free to go to any store to buy anything they like. Of course, many laborers who have no money cannot get stuffs from other stores on credit, except from the plantation stores whenever they are still in active service to the plantation. CLUB HOUSES The Filipinos are provided with Club Houses for their recreations and education. At present there are 126 in number which have been set aside for the use of Filipinos; yet they are welcome to various Community Houses, which are maintained for all the laborers. One-hundred of the Club Houses were in use prior to 1923, and 26 new ones have been constructed during the later part of last year and early this year. There are a number of new Club Houses projected which will be erected during the coming year. Some plantations organized night classes in English for the ambitious laborers. Books and teachers have been provided by the Managers. But none of these night schools could live long but two or three months, for lack of attendance on the part of the laborers. A good many of the laborers are studying by correspondence. Children of school age get education in the nearest school. 6 FILIPINO LABORERS IN HAWAII A good many of the ambitious Filipinos who came to work for supporting their education have gone to the mainland. SPORTS AND RECREATIONS The Filipinos generally enter into all sports and recreations, facilities for which consist principally of the following: BASEBALL: There are 124 organized clubs on plantations. VOLLEYBALL: This game is played on about half of the plantations. INDOOR BASEBALL: It is the most favorite play for the laborers. SIPA: This national play of Filipinos is well loved by them and other nationalities. FIELD SPORTS: In some plantations these sports are held on holidays, and the Filipinos play a leading part. RECREATION: The Club Houses, Community Houses, Pool Halls, and Theatres maintained on plantations offer the major portion of recreation possibilities. Of course, most of the plantations are situated near the ocean where the Filipinos enjoy themselves in bathing and fishing. COCK-FIGHT: It is also played in some places and in few occasions only outside of the plantations, NOW that those who have the habit of amusing themselves with cockfight have gone to strike. GAMBLING: This vice is strictly prohibited within plantations; but yet some laborers can find out some holes where they can perform it secretly. Ordinarily professional gamblers invade the plantations at the pay-days of the laborers. But only in a very few instances can be heard of the performance of this vice inside of the plantations, due to the combined efforts of the plantation officers and government officials. FILIPINO LABORERS IN HAWAII 7 LABORERS' WAGES There are several bases of paying plantation laborers of different races. There is the minimum wage, the short term contract, the long term contract, and the specific job pay. It is true that, according to the contract signed between the individual laborer and the Agent of the Hawaiian Sugar Planters' Association, the Filipinos in the P. I., laborers should be paid $20.00 (P40.00) per month with free housing, fuel, water, medicines, hospital and medical attendance, and free transportation back to the Philippines when they can work 720 days in three years consecutively. But this basic wage is not put into practice in the plantation. The laborers are better remunerated, according to their skill, and amount of time and work. The minimum wage pay of $1.00 (P2.00), excluding bonus, is generally earned by those new workers who have not allocated themselves in other work, or by men who have finished a short term contract and are awaiting an opportunity to take up other such contract. There are also a number of men in this class whose industry is not of the best and whose continuous work record is so poor as to naturally assign them to this sort of work. Undoubtedly there are some forms of work on some plantations which are normally and usually done at the minimum day pay. However, the total amount of work in the plantations, which is performed on the basis of the minimum day pay, is less than 10% and the actual number of men who customarily earn the $1.00 (P2.00) minimum pay, excluding bonuses, is perhaps not over 5%. The second class of work mentioned above, that is, short term contract work, embraces all that kind of work which is done on a sort of piece work basis, such as loading cane, which is paid for by the ton; cutting cane which is paid for by the ton; hoeing cane which is paid for by the acre, row or other such device; fertilizing, irrigating, planting and other work of similar nature which is paid 8 FILIPINO LABORERS IN HAWAII for by various units. The amount of this form of work in the plantations is usually about 40% of the total amount of work done. Under the short term contracts, men are given an opportunity to earn in direct proportion to the amount of work which they perform. No distinction is made in the pay given to various races so that Filipinos have the opportunity to earn and do earn as much as the laborers of any other race. An example of some of the earning under different short term contracts may be taken from the figures for the month of March, 1924, just before the strike, it being remembered that all figures quoted are averages and to that extent are not representative of the maximum nor the minimum earnings which is possible for a laborer to make. For instance, during March, the cut cane men on one plantation were averaged $1.97 (P3.94) per day, exclusive of bonus. In order that this average might have resulted from the earnings of all men on this plantation, it is readily seen that some men earned $2.50 (P5.00) per day, while others earned perhaps no higher that $1.30 (t2.60) or $1.40 (P2.80). Such differences are of course due to the number of tons of cane cut by the individuals which is in turn dependent upon their industry, strength, and skill. The cut cane men on all of the plantations during the month of March earned $1.47 (t2.94) per day as an average to which base earnings must be added the bonuses applicable for that month. The turn-out bonus, which is payable to men who worked 23 days in the month, amounts to 10%; so that assuming a $1.47 (T2.94) base pay on the average, the bonus would be 15/ (30cvos) which when added to $1.47 (t2.94), would make the sum of $1.62 (P:3.24). To this last bonus a sugar bonus, or the so-called "profit sharing bonus," is likewise added; and in the month of March this bonus amounted to 26.5%, or approximately 43f (86cvos), so that the total earnings of the average cane men was $2.04 (P4.08) per day. During March the average earnings of men who loaded cane was $1.95 (P3.90) per day plus the two bonuses, FILIPINO LABORERS IN HAWAII 9 which, when totaled, amounted to 39.15% (one bonus being paid on top of the other). Therefore, the addition of this 39.15% to the average $1.95 (P3.90) per day makes something over $2.70 (P5.40) per day. Similarly, during the month of March, the average of all cultivating men's earning was $1.41 (P2.82) per day; the planting men $1.33 (P2.66) per day; fertilizing men $1.51 (P3.02); and the average for all short term contracts in that month was $1.70 (*3.40) per day. In all these cited per days the two bonuses are excluded. Long term cultivating contractors are those who band themselves together and take a defined extension of land. They contract to cultivate and care for the cane during the period of 12 to 14 months. These contracts are paid for at so much per ton of cane produced, and during the time the work is being performed upon the contract, the plantations advance to the workers sufficient money to cover their living expenses and carry them on, till a settlement being made at the time the cane is being harvested and milled. The usual basis of advance to men working on long term cultivating contracts is $1.00 (P2.00) per day. The men receive bonuses upon the basis of the advances and at the time of the final settlement the bonuses granted are not deducted from the results of the contract, though the amounts advanced to the contractors on the basis of the work put in are a charge against the contract. This form of contract gives an excellent opportunity for laborers who are faithful in their work and are industrious to earn a considerable more than the average pay and to havd quite a substantial sum of money at the end of their contract, which money is practically net to them, as their living expenses have been taken care of by the advances made during the months the work is being performed, and yet, as affirmation of same laborers, most of them can make some savings in this way. The average earnings under these long term cultivation contracts really means something because in this form of work, more than in any other form, the individual industry 10 FILIPINO LABORERS IN HAWAII of the various gangs regulates the final out turn. Earnings under the long term cultivating contracts vary all the way from $1.50 (r3.00) to $4.50 (P9.00) per day, the last figure being, of course an exception. But the more near to accurate average earnings are $2.00 (r4.00) per day. The last form of employment mentioned is that of the specific job. These specific jobs are usually classed as skilled or semi-skilled, and include such work as mill men, mule men, carpenters, helpers, mechanics, etc. These jobs are paid for according to various scales which are representative of the value of the different classes of work, and they vary all the way from $30.00 (P60.00) to $33.00 (r66.00) per month to $50.00 (P100.00), $60.00 (P120.00), and $70.00 (P140.00) per month with exceptions reaching figures well above the maximum. In addition to such pay the same bonuses are given as in the cases of other labors. Therefore, it will be seen readily that the system of pay in the plantations of Hawaii is so regulated to give to the laborers who work faithfully and well a substantial and fair consideration for the work performed, and every endeavor was made last year to devise ways and means of encouraging laborers to produce more and thus earn more. It is far better than what it is contained in the contract admitted by the laborers in Manila. BONUSES It seems to me that it is of no less important to explain here how the two bonuses have been made. So far as I know and understand, the system of bonuses is made necessary and desirable for the following reasons: In Hawaii all laborers are given houses, fuel, water, and medical attention with necessary medicines free, as per contract. These perquisites are a substantial addition to the laborers' pay, and in addition to them the plantations here guarantee continuous work throughout the year. This last factor alone of continuous work is an item of a very considerable cost to the plantations and of great value to the laborers. For the reason that such perquisites and the necessity for FILIPINO LABORERS IN HAWAII U. furnishing continuous labor throughout the year add a substantial overhead burden to the expenses of the Hawaiian Sugar Plantations, it is necessary that they exact from our laborers as continuous a work record as is possible. In order to encourage this continuous work a 10% "Turnout Bonus" is paid to those who work 23 days per month or 23/26 of the average work days. As an example of how necessary this continuous work is, and how considerable the overhead burden is, I might mention that a house of the type now being constructed for laborers' quarters costs approximately $800.00 (P1600.00) per individual and where a laborer has a large family it may cost even $1200.00 (r2400.00) to house him. The maintenance, sanitation, overhead cost of fuel, medical attention, add considerable to this burden and to the capital invested in housing laborers. Therefore, unless the sugar plantations receive from each laborer a satisfactory and continuous application to his work, the cost of overhead and capital expense, and the free transportation back to the Philippines besides, eats up a considerable portion of the value of the laborers' work to them. On the other hand, where a man furnishes the plantations daily work, he receives in addition to his earnings at the customary rate paid for the job, a bonus of 10% for his continuous work record. The second form of bonus, which is sometimes called "Profit Sharing Bonus," but it is not a true "profit sharing" insofar as it is paid by even plantations which are making no profit whatever, is dependent upon the price of sugar ruling for the thirty days prior to the 15th of each month in the New York market. This form of bonus is to some degree a reflection of the differences in cost of living, and is a very great convenience in obviating the necessity for frequent changes in the rates of pay which would otherwise be necessary to meet the finantial situation which the plantations have to meet due to the fluctuating value of their commodity. When the price of sugar in the New York market has averaged 54 (10cvos) per 100 pounds, the sugar bonus, or Profit Sharing Bonus, in addi 12 FILIPINO LABORERS IN HAWAII tion to the 10% Turnout Bonus is 5C%. Should the price be 60 (12cvos), the additional sugar bonus would be 15%. Should it be 7~ (14cvos), the additional sugar bonus would be 25%, and for each fraction of a cent average in the price of sugar, the sugar bonus is varied accordingly. In general, I would say, according to my honest belief and way of appreciating matters of labor, that the method of pay in Hawaii is entirely equitable, being largely pay for work performed. It gives to each laborer an opportunity to incrase his earnings in proportion to his value to the employer and it guarantees to him continuous work, so long as he likes to work, adequate and satisfactory housing, medical care, and living conditions. MANAGERS' TREATMENT In the first months of last year there were complaints for cursing, insult, ill-treatment, and dismissal without hearing. They were caused largely by misunderstanding, as great majority of the Filipino workmen, particularly the new ones, could not speak nor understand English. But when interpreters in the offices, stores, hospitals, camps, and Filipino Lunas and Heads of gangs have been appointed, there were no more complaints of these sorts to be heard. Managers, in general, are strict, just and kind. There has been no complaint, based on sound ground, which Managers did not settle down properly and satisfactorily. So to reasonable requests. They have been granted willingly. As a fact, even those who openly disobeyed the regulations of the plantations, and committed disloyalty to Managers, after having given satisfactory explanation, have been readmitted and assigned again to work. In all, I have no words against the Management of the Sugar Plantations, but praise for their proper treatment to the Filipino laborers. They are memorable to me the dismissal of a Field Boss, a Policeman, and four Lunas, who even they belong to the white race, because of their bad FILIPINO LABORERS IN HAWAII / behavior against the Filipinos, they were fired out, by request of this office. Most of the Managers attend immediately to accidented laborers, by giving them what is said in the Compensation Law without recurring to Industrial Accident Board. Only cases of doubtful accidental origen are left to the Board to investigate and decide. PINEAPPLE PLANTATIONS The 7,002 laborers who are working in the pineapple plantations are distributed to Libby McNeill & Libby Co., California Packing Corporation, and Hawaiian Pineapple Company. These companies vary in paying their laborers. Libby McNeill & Libby Co. gives $1.55 (-3.10) per day without bonus; the California Packing Corporation gives $1.50 (P3.00), but laborers are entitled to 10~ (20cvos) more per day if they can work 22 days a month; and the Hawaiian Pineapple Co. gives $2.00 (P4.00) per day. In all these companies bonus is not granted to their laborers, nor free medicines and medical attendance, nor free transportation back to the Philippines. The field work is not continuous to keep up the laborers. During the month of June till the end of October, when the picking up fruits takes place, it is necessary to double the number of laborers. But after that time, gradually these companies dismiss their workmen, who naturally go back to sugar plantations. SAVINGS OF FILIPINOS Can Filipino laborers save money for their future life? This can be easily answered. If we collect informations from Postmasters in the Philippines, the affirmative answer is very easy. If we further our inquiry on this subject by getting information from the Office of the Hawaiian Sugar Planters' Association in Manila, as to how much have been sent by Filipino laborers through that of 14 FILIPINO LABORERS IN HAWAII fice by those Filipinos who went back home, probably they give the answer as from $600,000 (P1,200,000) to $800,000 (P1,600,000) per year, according to data I have in the office. The Hawaiian Sugar Planters' Association have through their methods of handling returning Filipino laborers a plan of transmitting their money safely. Through their office, laborers deposit their earnings for transmittal back to the Philippines sums ranging from $100.00 (r200.00) to $2,500.00 (P5,000.00). And if we complete our investigation, we ask the local Banks in this Territory for the savings of the Filipinos. As an example of which, the Manager of one of the branch banks in Maui at Hana, just a small plantation, informed to this office that there are not less than $40,000.00 (80,000.00) deposited by the Filipinos in their bank. What about the other banks? I will give you more details on this subject. In regard to the earnings and savings of Filipino laborers, there is no possible way in hiding to the knowledge of the Hawaiian Sugar Planters' Association. This Association is entirely aware of this matter. It cannot issue any transportation to any laborer, without getting the total savings of individual for the payment of income tax for the Territorial Government. COST OF LIVING According to data presented by several mermers of the Convention, last November, 1923, to the Committee on Cost of Living, the monthly expenses, excluding washing and clothing, were assessed as follows: For singles........................ $15.00 (P30.00) For married without child........... 20.00 ( 40.00) For married with 2 children......... 25.00 ( 50.00) For married with 5 children......... 30.00 ( 60.00) Most of the laborers are single. Those who are very thrifty can spend only $6.00 (r12.00) because they have their vegetable gardens, and go to fishing almost every Sunday. FILIPINO LABORERS IN HAWAII 15 Majority of the married families have but from 1 to 2 children. These can be living at their ease as they follow the others to have vegetable gardens, besides chickens and pigs. The women become washerwomen or sellers of cakes or they sew underpans for sale to the laborers. Those who have resided in these islands for a long time have four to five children. They are very countable; but they have the privilege of being given better positions with better pay, so far as they deserve such positions. Of course, the above cost of living is not enough for those who have vices and expensive recreations. They are the discontent persons, and ordinarily are the lazy ones. These few are the exceptions. FILIPINO LABORERS' DEFECTS The general defects of the Filipino laborers, which was voiced by plantation Managers and those who have most to do with their work, in my first official visit, can be confined to two classes: Irregularity of work and stability, that is, in sticking to one job on one plantation. Irregularity of Work.-One of the difficulties the Filipinos here to have in bettering themselves on the plantations is their irregularity of work. A quite good number of them is too much inclined to lay off and rest with nq good and sufficient reason, except that they feel like it, particularly during the days after the pay day. Naturally when work is in progress which the management desires to have proceed continuously and to be performed by men who can be trusted to carry it forward with consistent progress and appreciation of the responsibility, it was difficult to give the Filipino first value, as such a laborer when he does not work steadily and faithfully at his job. Irregularity of Stability.-Also, the habit of Filipinos in moving from one plantation to another was a deterrent to their progress and their usefulness. Naturally, if the management knows a Filipino and his working capacity and faithfulness which have been demonstrated over a 16 FILIPINO LABORERS IN HAWAII period of months or years, he would be intrusted with more responsibility favored with better pay and opportunity; but if he moves from one plantation to another, as he did before, his record with the plantation management would not be of the kind which would merit promotion and the assigning of responsible positions to him. These have been corrected timely with a so satisfactory result, that the plantation managers have granted to many of our laborers responsible positions last year and this year. It is the honest pride of this office to say that the general report of managers about Filipinos is that there is much improvement in the last year or so in these ways, and there are more and more Filipinos taking cultivating contracts, short term contracts, being engaged in the mill and all jobs which require regularity of work, acceptance and performance of responsibility and reliability than ever before. The percentage of Filipino laborers entitled for bonus has been increased during last year and specially this year, surpassing the record of the Japanese laborers, except in 4 plantations only. The further habit of our men of being easily subjected to blackmail or abuse by their fellow-countrymen who collect from them or graft from them small sums of money, or frequently large sums, is also a disturbing influence in the laborers' steady work record. It has produced a class of gamblers and collectors who visit the plantations and disturb the working conditions very much, while at the same time imposing upon the Filipino laborers considerable burdens in the way of monetary losses, most of which are pure losses, because even the collections are seldom used for the purpose for which are collected. Furthermore, the most damaging thing to Filipinos here from the standpoint of their own good is their ready acceptance of bad leadership, their unwillingness to trust their best advisers both of our own race and among the plantation personnel and their being easily frightened by threats, appeals to them to act as Filipinos, etc., by bad FILIPINO LABORERS IN HAWAII 17 leaders which result in actions damaging to the Filipinos as a whole and productive of nothing good except momentary gain to the bad leaders. The persons of these habits are the ones who give slight attention and respect to the advices of this office. Fortunately there are not so many that can damage the honor and dignity of the Filipino community in this territory, nor can lower entirely the honor of the Filipino race, but they are the disturving class to the progress of the Filipinos in this territory as a whole. CAMPAIGNS This office has made several campaigns to correct the bad habits of our men. Among the most important subjects which have been spoken of and inculcated to their mind are the following: 1. That the Filipino laborers have three great important duties to comply with in this Territory, namely (a) To work industriously and faithfully and to economize money for their future years of life; (b) To acquire conscientious and practical knowledge along the sugar cane and sug'r making to be applied later to our mother country; (c) To think and act in the most correct and lawful way, as they are unknowingly representing the Filipino 'people that is aspiring for national emancipation, 2. To show in deed their loyalty, cooperation and coordination of work, and be steady in sticking to any job in order to be ready to receive any particular position of responsibility. 3. To organize mutual-help societies for their benefit, but their constitutions should be not contrary to the Regu. lations of the plantations nor to any provision of the Laws in this Territory. 4. For the women to have Woman's Clubs for their social life and improvement of their health, and to protect their children's lives which mostly die before attaining one year of age. They should not be afraid to go to hospitals 18 FILIPINO LABORERS IN HAWAII for the prescription and treatment of doctors and nurses, particularly four months before their child delivery, at their delivery, and some months after, bringing with them their children for examination and prescription. There have been many other subjects treated of, but mostly occasional and according to the prevailing bad circumstances in one plantation. SOCIETIES & CLUBS In the whole territory there have been organized 21 societies of laborers, excluding the "Dimas-Alang" secret organization which is practically dead, due to immoral practices of the high officers against the chastity of women before. In these societies the members are practicing to help each other in their needs, ordinarily in covering expenses for marriage, baptism, serious sickness, accidents, and unreasonable ill-treatment of any plantation officers. It is very hard, not to say impossible, to have a society for all the laborers in one plantation. Their dialects, habits, and modes prevent them from being members of the same society, though they have the same objects. If men are hard to be in their small societies, yet it is harder for the women. I am sorry to say that only one Woman's Ciub, and that is the Papaikou Woman's Club, 1 could organize in the Territory. It is also due to dialects, habit, and lack of knowledge on society affairs. But I am not losing my hope to organize more woman's clubs in the plantations where there are enough women to become members, particularly whenever there is a Filipina nurse or a Filipino Preacher to help me in keeping up the life and activities of such organizations. Truely it is a shame to have a very large percentage of infantil mortality for the ignorance of the mothers to take care of their children, and the unsanitary hands;, instruments, and other things which Filipina old women, acting as mid-wives without education on this matter, are using, and consequently infection of the umbilical cord and.other serious diseases occur. FILIPINO LABORERS IN HAWAII 19 FILIPINO COMMERCIAL INTERPRISES There have been many endeavors to have Philippine Commercial interprises before 1923; but all failed for maladministration of the officers. These failures cause now the Filipinos difficulties to organize themselves into business. I have been requested by many laborers inclined to have commercial business, and always I told them that I am forbidden to act on such things except in helping them to form their stable basis. So at present there is only one commercial business corporation alive and active. It is the "The Manila Trading Store, Limited" organized by competent Filipinos, formerly plantation laborers, and capitalized by laborers with $25,000 (r50,000) at $5.00 (P10.00) per share. There are, however, other stores owned and maintained by individual persons, such as "Araulio Store" in Waimaralo, Oahu; Bangoy-Suan Store, in 'Waialua, Oahu; "F. Dellatan Store" in Waipahu, Oahu; "Venturanza Photo Studio" in Honolulu, Oahu; "F. Amboy Tailor Shop" in Honolulu, Oahu; "Emil Tailor Shop" in Koloa, Kauai; "Angko Tailor Shop & Merchandise" in Kapaa, Kauai; and "Hintolan Barber Shop" in Iwelei, Honolulu, Oahu. Many Filipinos have small businesses that they are carrying out in different plantations, such as taking orders, selling jewelries, and making pictures. Most of them are representing some of the Mainland firms. In auto business, Filipinos who came from plantations and even those who are still working on, are running good business in all the islands. I l HEALTH The Filipinos, in general, enjoy a good health. They are not so much affected with diseases in comparison with some other nationalities. The diseases which grown workingmen are liable to have are the tuberculosis and lungs diseases, because cf 20 FILIPINO LABORERS IN HAWAII their habit of closing all windows and cover their faces with blankets. I have 'given them good lessons on this matter, so I expect the disminution of lungs diseases in the future. Stomach troubles, beriberi and influenza pre- vail in certain period of the year. But the great majority of children from 1 to 5 years of age die for meningitis, infantil convulsions, congenital debility, "atrophy," "marasmus," bronchitis, bronchopneumonia, diarrhea and enteritis, and umbilical infections. CONVENTION For the purpose of satisfying the desire of the laborers and to gather more opinions and observations in regard to the then present conditions, and to device a sound program to promote their general welfare and interests, this office, with the cooperation of the Hawaiian Sugar Planters' Association, called a convention of the best and reliable leaders of each plantation. The convention was held in three consecutive days, from November 15 to 17, 1923, inclusive, at the Nuuanu Young Men Christian Association, Honolulu, Oahu, wherein 91 leaders attended. Before the election of the presiding officers to manage the convention was made, the Philippine Labor Commissioner gave his fatherly advice to the effect that in their dealing with all matters to be presented to them for discussion and approval, they should not forget that they, being in active service to the sugar plantations, were representing the Filipino laborers' interest and the sugar plantations' as well. Their interest is intimately connected with that of the sugar plantations. Therefore, any resolution to be approved should be made under impartial and reasonable grounds. The elected presiding officers were Pedro Victoria of Honolulu Plantation Co., President, and Teodorico Samonte of Oahu Sugar Co., Secretary. They approved three resolutions: (1) That only Tagalo dialect or English language should be used in all deliverations; (2) That necessary Committees should be FILIPINO LABORERS IN HAWAII 21 created to accept and study all resolutions to be presented and to deliver to the assembly their reccommendations; and (3) That no outsiders could be admitted in the convention room during the first day or till they had acquired the rudimentary principles of moving seconding, amending, discussing, and voting. The last resolution was commented by Pablo Manlapit and his followers as the conventionin'ts and the Labor Commissioner were exclusivists. But they found out themselves later that they were wrong, because the next day any visitor could be admitted in the assembly room. The table was very busy in the first day in receiving resolutions and their distribution to the concerning Committees. The Committees of the convention were as follow: 1. Committee of Travelling Expenses & Equipment for Laborers from P. I. to their destination in the sugar plantations. 2. Committee on Daily Wages and Bonusses. To study the basic wage. 3. Committee on Daily Time Work and Rest, for the health of the laborers without damaging the productive power of the plantations. 4. Committee on Positions & Works, to see if labor. ers were hindered in being promoted to higher and responsible positions. 5. Committee on Housing laborers, if the laborers were given as good houses and supplies as those of other races., 6. Committee on Plantation Officers' Dealing with the laborers to ascertain certain ill-treatments. 7. Committee on Hospitals and Stores, if laborers were not granted privileges as well as those of other nations. 8. Committee on Education and Recreation, to devise some means to cultivate willingness on education and to improve the moral and physical poNwers of the laborers. 22 FILIPINO LABORERS IN HAWAII 9. Committee on Societies and Clubs, for the protection of the laborers' interests and for improving their civic characters. 10 Committee on Publication, to issue a weekly paper for the interest of the Filipino laborers. 11. Committee on Plantations' Finantial Capacity, to study carefully as to what extent the petitions should be valued. Before touching any resolution which dealt with increase of wage or any monetary proposition, the Conventionists heard first the result of the work of the last Committee. The Committee on Plantations' Finantial Capacity was very much pressed in obtaining data for their work. The only source of information was the "Manual of Hawaiian Securities" published in 1923, wherein the capitals, net profit, and dividends of 22 plantations only were clearly stated. PERCENTAGE OF DIVIDENDS PAID FROM 1913 to 1922 SUGAR PLANTATIONS 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 Ewa Plantation Co... 8.. 12 18% 26% Hawaiian Agric. Co.. 13% 16% 30% 40% Haw'n Corn. & Sugar Co. 9% 12% 20% 30% Hawaiian Sugar Co... 15% 21% 28% 35% Honokaa Sugar Co. (Gained only $108.60 Honomu Sugar Co. 6. 10% 24% 30% Hutchinson Sugar Plant. 5% 1% 8% 20% Kahuku Plantation Co... 5% 6% 12% 16% Kekaha Sugar Co...... 9% 12% 24' 40% Koloa Sugar Co........ 00% 00% 6% 36% Maui Agricultural Co.. 5 7% 22% 32% McBryde Sugar Co.... 00% 14% 6% 8% Oahu Sugar Co........ 2% 1% 9% 17% Olaa Sugar Co....... 00 00 00 0 0% 0 Onomea Sugar Co...... 12% 18% 30% 55% Paauhau Sugar Plant. Co. 1% 2% 13% 20% Pacific Sugar Mill..... 00% 00% 00% 6% Pepeekeo Sugar Co..... 12% 17% 36% 50% Pioneer Mill Co....... 8% 12% 20% 30% Waialua Agricultural Co. 3% 8% 12% 22% Wailuku Sugar Co...... 6% 10% 20% 23% Waimanalo Sugar Co... 24% 28% 55% 75% 15% 12% 24 14% 18% 16% 21% 18% in 5 years 30% 11% 14% 8% 9% 6% 36% 29% 23% 18% 17% 12% 5% 3% 12% 15% 6% 00% ' 36% 21% 18% 00% 10% 00% 38% 17% 24% 12% 26% 16% 12% 6% 80g 42% 18% 30% 12% 16% 67% 5% 16% 40% 8% 15% 24% 12% but lost over 1 12% 40% 9% 10% 30% 7% 6% 6% 2% 24% 49% 60% 16% 24% 7% 12% 24% 6% 6% 6% 00% 15 30% 9% 00% 2 os00% 30% 50% 15% 00% 4% 3% oo0% 4 2% 00% 50% 18% 12% 15% 3% 16% 22% 10% 15% 37% 9% 40% 67% 36% 18% 00% 2% 12% ril) 15X 00% 00% 24% 00% 00% 00% 7% 00% 12% 00% 00% 20% 00% 2% 2% 00% It was written on the big blackboard the above percentage of paid dividends for the information of the convention FILIPINO LABORERS IN HAWAII 23 ists. The president of the Committee erplained that not all plantations have been gaining as some laborers and leaders supposed. There are some which since the beginning of 1913 suffered always big losses, like the Honokaa Sugar Co.; and some could get paid dividends in some years but they met big losses in other years, like Olaa Sugar Co., Pacific Sugar Mill, for unfavorable weather conditions. Yet many of the plantations suffered great losses in 1921 and 1922 for the 1920 strike and unfavorable weather condition. It was then recommended by said Committee to request an increase of salary on the basic wage which must be within the finantial capacity of all the plantations, in order to be sure in obtaining such increase. A good many resolutions were approved. The most important ones are the following: 1. That the basic wage of $1.00 (P2.00) should be increased to $1.25 (P2.50). 2. That for 20 days work the laborers should be entitled for bonus instead of 23 days. 3. That the advanced expenses for laborers from the Philippines should be P15.00 for single instead of P10.00; for married without child P20.00 instead of P15.00; and P25.00 for married with children, and that more clothings made of flannel or wool be given to the children and women. 4. That the laborers should be allowed to have one hour rest during the day work instead of half of an hour only. 5. That more responsible positions, such as Lunas, Contractors; Camp Bosses, Policemen, etc., be granted to Filipino laborers. 6. That Filipino interpreters in the offices, hospitals, stores, and camps should be appinted to avoid misunderstandings. 7. That Filipina Nurses should be secured for all plantation hospitals for they know better the conditions of Filipino patients. 24 FILIPINO LABORERS IN HAWAII 8. That the number of Club houses should be increased for the Filipinos. 9. That more houses should be built for the Filipinos to avoid overcrowding rooms or houses; and that a general repair should be made the soonest possible. 10. That a weekly publication on native dialect should be maintained for the interests of the laborers. In the deliberation and discussion and approval of the above resolutions the Labor Commissioner who was always present did not take any part, except when he is called to clear away doubts and avoid complicts of opinions. A committee of Four headed by the Labor Commissioner was created with the mission of handing the resolutions to the Annual Meeting of the Hawaiian Sugar Planters' Association which took place on the 19th, 20th and 21st of November, 1923. The Labor Commissioner, complying with the mission, handed the resolutions to the Board of Trustees and Members of the Hawaiian Sugar Planters' Association on the 20th of November, after his explanation and request. The assembly was gratified, and in its behalf the President extended his thanks and assured emphatically that they would give favorable consideration on those resolutions. A special Committee dedicated a careful study about the resolutions. The answer of those resolutions was received by this office about the middle of the month of March, when Secretary J. K. Butler, had arrived from the United States. The reply stated that all the resolutions of the Laborers' Convention, except the first three ones, that is, in regard to increase of wage, disminution of days for getting bonuses, and the increase of advanced travelling expenses of laborers from the Philippines, which were still under study. This delay of reply of the Hawaiian Sugar Planters' Association to the petition of the laborers, contained in their resolutions, was used by Pablo Manlapit and others FILIPINO LABORERS IN HAWAII 25 as means to instigate the laborers, to think bad agains the plantations and thee Labor Commissioner. Meetings in many places of the island of Oahu were held by Manlapit, beginning last November. The delegates of the Convention and the Labor Commissioner, as they said, were but tools of the plantations; and that all resolutions were already prepared by the Hawaiian Sugar Planters' Association, and the requested increase of basic wage to $1.25 (P2.50) is only good for the shameless and senseless Ilokanos who are living only upon rice and "bagoong". It must be well understood that not even one eight of the delegates were Ilokanos; they were mostly Visayans and Tagalos. Severe criticisms and unbearable epitets were uttered in all meetings by Pablo Manlapit and his followers against the plantation Managers and the Hawaiian Sugar Planters' Association. However, all such expressions were paid no attention by those who are concerned, knowing that said persons are ignorant on the subjects that they were talking about. OFFICE, PERSONNEL, AND ACTIVITIES The Philippine Labor Commissioner to Hawaii, no matter what difficulties he met, exercised its full power and accomplished his duties honestly and faithfully, in accordance with the Law which created his position, and in coordination with.the existing Laws in the Territory of Hawaii. The office is managed by the Commissioner with the help of his private Secretary, Lieut. Pedro Esqueras (Hawaii National Guard); a Clerk to the Secretary, Mr. Nicanor Aquino, and a Janitor, Mr. Gervasio Talactac. There have been no clerk and Janitor that stayed in their jobs permanently because of the exiguous payments that can be given by this office. The Labor Commissioner attended all matters brought to his attention, so far as his official duty and personal help concern. He answered all correspondences in English and Ilokano, and his Secretary the Tagalo and Visayan, 2C FILIPINO LABORERS IN HAWAII under the instructions of the former. The number of persons who came to office every day for help varries from 6 to 9. They are the persons whose needs or troubles could not be helped out by the plantation Filipino leaders and preachers. 2104 letters have been answered and complied according to the request of the laborers. The office hours begin from 7:30 a. m. to 12:00 noon, and from 1:30 p. m. to 5:30 p. m., including Saturday afternoons. In Sundays sometimes more people come to visit me and to depose their need than in ordinary days. The following works have been accomplished from April 1, 1923, to April 1, 1924, as per request of those who are concerned: 1. Laborers helped to get free transportation to P. I... 302 2. " " to buy tickets to P. I............ 192 3. " " to buy tickets to U. S............. 81 4. " " to get their pay from plantations.. 15 5. " " to get their pay from private concerns......................... 39 6. " " to be reinstated............... 199 7. " " to secure jobs in the plantations 207 8. " " to secure jobs in private concerns. 173 9. " " to obtain compensation through the Accident Industrial Board....... 4 10. " " to continue receiving compensations from the Compensation Bureau, Washington, D. C.............. 2 11. " " to obtain lump-sum settlement for going back to the Philippines.... 2 12. " " (women with children to be given relief from the welfare worker Bureau, through the Governor of the Territory................... 5 13. " " to obtain commutation of death sentence from the Governor of the Territory...................... 2 14. " to obtain 'beds from the Hospital of the Government......... 5 15. " to deposit savings in the Banks... 93 16. " "to withdraw deposits from the Banks 17 17. " " to withdraw deposits in Japanese and Chinese stores............ 48 18. " " to cash checks and money orders.* 72 FILIPINO LABORERS IN HAWAII 27 19. " " to obtain duplicates of Money Orders 12 20. " " to be insured in the Insurance Companies....................... 413 21. " " to locate their wives who were kinnapped...................... 10 22. " " (women) to locate their husbands who ran away................. 13 23. " " to settle down familiar troubls... 39 24. " " to get the freedom of their children from the Reformatory Schools.. 5 There is no difficulty to obtain free transportation back to the Philippines, so far as the laborers are entitled to, according to contract. They can apply for it directly to the Hawaiian Sugar Planters' Association, or through this office or the office of the Manager of the plantation where they have been working. The result of their applications must be delayed from five days to four weeks, according to the number and distance of plantations where work record must be obtained. When found out that they are entitled to, then notification for them to come to Honolulu on such a date for departure to the Philippines. Securing jobs or reinstatements in sugar plantations for honest and diligent laborers have been always favored by the Hawaiian Sugar Planters' Association. Even those with bad records, but promised to be loyal and honest can be readmitted and empolyed. Very few cases of unpardonable insubordination and misgross conduct occurred; and these are the causes for the discontented laborers to critizise the Labor Commissioner as being negligent and incapable to comply with his duties. Another discontentment of some laborers is their being refused to be given positions as Camp Bosses, there being no vacant for them. Most of the compensations for accidented laborers have been awarded by the plantation Managers, in accordance with the Compensation Laws in vigor in this Territory, without the intervention of the Board of Industrial Accident Board; except doubtful cases that must be decided by said Board. 28 FILIPINO LABORERS IN HAWAII When persons who need relief are not working in the sugar plantations, they can obtains it from the Welfare Bureau of the government through this office and the Governor's. But plantation men or women who deserve to be assisted are cared of by the plantation Managers. Almost all the works stated above were handled by Pablo Manlapit when there was not yet any Labor Commissioner residing in this Territory. The laborers were charged from $5.00 (P10.00) to $50.00 (P100.00) and $100.00 (1200.00) each, according to the importance of the work. But when the Labor Commissioner was well known by the laborers, and just very few persons needed the help of Manlapit, a very bitter ill-feeling of this arouse secretly. This office can not refuse to render help to any Filipino laborer so far as it is within the limit of Law and reasonableness without charge nor gift. There was a time before the coming of the Labor Commissioner to Hawaii that the Filipino laborers deposited their savings in the Japanese or Chinese stores. Due to their ignorance and great confidence informal or no receipts were issued. The amount deposited in this way is estimated over $30,000.00 (P60,000.00). It has been a hard task for this office to be after thosc deposited amounts, the stores were burned or ran unto bankruptcy, and some of the owners are dead and the others disappeared. LETTERS During the time comprehended in this report there have been 2104 received and timely answered letters. Most of them were to be referred to or transmitted to those concerned. It has been necessary to work sometimes at nights till 9:00 o'clock for these letters. Almost all the requests contained in the letters resulted to the satisfaction of the senders, except in locating or knowing the whereabouts of certain persons, because this office as well as that of the Hawaiian Sugar Planters' Association can not keep record of those who moved to other plantations or to any other places or countries, for the FILIPINO LABORERS IN HAWAII 29 laborers used before to leave their jobs or their plantations without the knowledge of the Managers (quite corrected these days). Some of them changed their names into another while yet in the Philippines or when they were already here. Letters from the island of Oahu................. 624 Letters from the island of Maui......:............. 230 Letters from the island of Kauai................... 405 Letters from the island of Hawaii.................. 677 Letters from the Philippine Islands................. 142 Letters from the United States..................... 26 Total........................... 2104 OFFICE EXPENSES The office of the Labor Commissioner and all necessary things to carry out his mission has been maintained with his yearly salary of $3,000.00 or $250.00 per month till March 6, 1924, when the Philippine Legislature approved the Act 3148 which amended the article 4 of the Act 2486, containing among other provisions the increase of salary to $4,000.00 or $333.33 per month. For the information of His Excellency and the Philippine Government, it is advisable to depose the following monthly expenses: Salary for Secretary.................... $60.00 Salary for a clerk............................. 45.00 Salary for a janitor.......................... 35.00 Office rent..................................... 33.00 Office supplies................................. 12.00 Partial payment of 1 typewriter............... 10.00 Telephone rent................................. 6.00 For newspapers subscription................... 4.00 Travelling expenses........................ 50.00 Light...................................... 3.00 Meals....................................... 40.00 Laundry..................... 10.00 Societies.................................... 15.00 Miscellaneous.................................. 10l33 Total........................... $333.33 "I:~ 30 FILIPINO LABORERS IN HAWAII The salaries of the clerk and the janitor are too exiguous if compared with those of other clerks and janitors in the plantations or in any office of the government. This is the reason why no one could work permanently in this office. The travelling expenses can not answer satisfactorily the demands of the laborers without cutting out part of my meals and for laundry. It must be understood that whenever the Labor Commissioner and his Secretary go to other islands for official visits, the expenses sometimes amounted to more than $50.00, so forcibly both of us have bear the other expenses. Ordinarily we make the most economy in some months for covering the expenses when travelling to other islands. For boat only in going to and from the island of Hawaii it is $50.00. It has been the custom of the Commissioner not to eat nor to sleep with the plantation Managers, nor to use their autos to avoid evil supositions. He ate and slept with the laborers' autos in order to get their complete confidence in telling all facts and truth. From the above data of necessary expenses, Your Honor, can easily imagine how the Labor Commissioner has been sacrificing himself and his family, particularly in those days when the appropriation for his salary was not yet increased to $333.33 per month. It is my humble request that you should see to it that the travelling expenses and the salaries for clerk and janitor be increased in the near future, if the Philippine Government can afford to do it, so that there would not be any cause of hindrance in the performance of duties. RECOMMENDATIONS The Bureau of Labor should exmine carefully the real and true object of laborers' marriages to avoid easy and irreasonable separation. The Philippine Government should establish a Branch of the Philippine National Bank in Honolulu for the benefit of the Filipino people, particularly the laborers. But if it FILIPINO LABORERS IN HAWAII 81 can not be done for the finantial condition of the Government, it is my earnest desire to recommend the approval of my following plans: PLANS COMMUNITY HOUSE. It has been observed that when the Filipino laborers come to Honolulu to wait for boat to the Philippines or to the United States they have to accomodate themselves in the Korean Hotels or in any private houses by paying front $0.50 to $1.00 per day for staying only. While they are waiting for boat, many of them lose their money for being stolen or for gambling. In order to avoid these evils and to do something for the benefit of the Filipinos in this Territory and for the good name of the Philippine 9Government it is an urgent necessary to build a concrete community house that would cost at least $40,000.00 by voluntary contribution of at least $1.00 each, under proper receipt, by individual Filipino laborer, on condition that they will be free of charge when they will come to Honolulu to wait for boat going to the Philippines or to the United States; but for the next time a very low charge will be recrired for the maintenance of the building and salary of housekeepers. The building will be of two stories high. The upper story shall be divided into several rooms for accomodating laborers who are entitled to stay in it, or for resting house for those newly arrived Filipinos who shall not yet have found any definite place to live in. The lower part shall be divided into several apartments for office of the Labor Commissioner and for displaying and selling out Filipino articles manufactorated in the Philippines, such as hats, embroideries, pinia clothes, blankets, towels, and other nice and saleable articles for commercial propaganda; thus the increase of the industrial progress of the Philippines can be pushed on. 32 FILIPINO LABORERS IN HAWAII Of course, the necessary employees in this business shall be paid firstly by commission, till the finantial capacity of said business can answer a fixed salary. It must not be forgotten that the city of Honolulu is considered as the most appropriate place for commercial propaganda, because it is well visited not only by the peoples along the Pacific coast but also by Tourists and business men from the United States and other countries. I have explained fully to the Filipino laborers about this plan, and all approved unanimously. But I have not yet started collecting their contributions, for I have not yet referred to Your Excellency for your approval. To my honest belief this plan is a very good one and very realizable. THE FILIPINO LABORERS' BANK It has been proven by facts that the Filipino laborers in this Territory of Hawaii can save certain sums every month, but they can not keep their money in their homes for fear of robbery or fire. Most of the laborers are ashamed or afraid, by habit, to go to any reliable bank legally constituted; so they deposit their savings in the stores of Japanese or Chinese, which usually run into bankruptcy or are burned when considerable amount had been deposited. The worse of it is that these Japanese or'Chinese stores do not issue any receipt for the money they receive as deposit for fear of being caught by the authorities for illegal transaction of money. It has been my personal observation when I was still the Governor of the province of Ilocos Norte, P. I., that when the laborers in Hawaii send money orders to their relatives in the Philippines, and these cash them in the Post Offices, appreciable amounts are to be expended as follows: 1. The owners of the money orders have to use automobiles to go to the nearest Post Office for exchange, if their is none in their respective towns. Car fares, then, are the first losses. FILIPINO LABORERS IN HAWAII 33 2. The money orders can not be ex changed by the Postmaster if there are no two persons well known to act as guarantors. These in payment of their services charge the owners of the money orders from t5.00 each for every one of the money orders. This is the second loss. 3. Sometimes the Postmaster can not cash in that day the money orders for exhaustion of cash in his hand. Forcibly the owners of the money orders have to return home and come back another day. This is the third loss. 4. Sometimes the money orders can not be cashed in the morning for there many persons who went to the Postoffice earlier for the same purpose. They have to take their lunch and go back in the afternoon to the post-office. This is the fourth loss. 5. Then in going back homes they use again automobiles. This is the fifth loss. Of course, those who are living in the towns where there are Postmasters do not use automobiles, but they always need guarantors, because the Postmasters are not,acquainted with the people of the towns as well as the Municipal Treasurers. It is, therefore, the plan of this office to establish in the Territory of Hawaii a bank which shall be known as The Filipino Laborers' Bank, with a capital of $100,000.00 divided into 10,000 shares at $10.00 each. In the meantime that the bank is not yet running its business all paid up capital shall be deposited in a well known bank to draw 4% interest a year. Any shareholder must pay an entrance fee of $0.50 for buying books, receipts, certificates and other necessary materials for keeping up the business of the Bank. The object of this Bank is to receive deposits with 4% annual interest, and issue drafts at the rate of money order charges. But most of the capital is not to be kept in the bank. It shall be distributed to the Provincial Treasurers of the Philippines with the instruction of using it for exchanging money orders and drafts issued to Filipino laborers, with a little discount of 2% commission which will be 84 \ FILIPINO LABORERS IN HAWAII in favor of the Bank. The Provincial Treasurers, through the Municipal Treasurers as Deputies, can make the exchanges without delay nor loss on the part of the owners of the money orders or drafts. This money transaction can be made gratiously by the Provinvial Treasurer by an Executive Order of the Insular Treasurer or any authority concern. The Bank, in this way, can help the government, and avoid unnecessary losses of the owners of money orders or drafts, and we can improve the character of the laborers in savings money. We must find out first how much money orders are usually exchanged in the Postmasters' offices in a province, in order to ascertain the amount to be intrusted to the Provincial Treasurers. In order to be able to calculate the benefit that can be derived from this exchanging proposition, I should say that if, for example, the province of Ilocos Norte, P. I., needs r5,000.00 per week for exchange, and the discount is 2% only, then the profit amounts to ^5,200.00 a year, which is more than the capital invested. This plan has also been fully explained to the Filipino laborers, and it was unanimously approved. Many laborers urged me to organize already the Bank, so that they would deposit their savings ranging from $200.00 to $500.00, but I can not dare to contradict the instruction of His Excellency, when I appeared before you and say you Good-bye, that whatever I want to do for the welfare of the Filipino people in this Territory, I have to write it to you. Of course, the Management of the Bank requires a man of practical knowledge in banking. It will be fixed when all shares will be sold out, and the Bank is about to be constituted. FILIPINO STORES It has been signified by most of the Filipino laborers that the Labor Commissioner should lead them to put up Filipino stores, as there have been enterprising laborers FILIPINO LA BORERS IN' HAWAII who started some business, but all failed for maladministration, but I did not accept it for I understand that it is against ray official capacity. I mentioned, however, that the profit of their paid up capital in the Filipino Laborers' Bank, should be well used for establishing stores in the places which the laborers need most, and they all approved. These kinds of stores are the only ones that shall be able to compete the Japanese and Chinese stores which are continuously increasing in number and in quantity every yearout of the needs of tho Filipinos. If all the Filipino laborers in the plantations, let us take for example 20,000 in number only, buy their food stuffs and other things at 25, each at least, there will be a sale amounting to $5,000.00 a day, or the considerable sum of $150,000.00 per month. With these kinds of stores, the Filipino laborers can have more improvement in their living condition than if without them. It is really a shame to the Filipinos in this Territory to have nothing upon which can be depended the progressive development of any Filipino commercial and industrial enterprises. The Filipino people comes next to the Japanese in number. The Japanese, according to the estimation of the Government at present, are 122,979, and the Filipinos are 37,903, but this number should be 39,776. The above three plans for beneficial enterprises of the Filipinos in this Territory will not be made at once. They must be accomplished successively according to time and circumstances. If Your Excellency approve these plans to be carried out by the Labor Commissioner, he will then be exceedingly glad to put them into realization with honesty, faithfulness, and diligency, in behalf of the Philippine Government which sent him to Hawaii to be after the welfare and interest of the Filipino laborers. Very respeefully, (signed) CAYETANO LIGOT Resident Labor Commissioner. UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN 3 9015 02472 9595 ; i, 'l, i"" r- ' *. *&;'' ^., ''l '. '^ '"')' 1~ I, 11,,.. 1 %8t^ 1, ' +.lu^ rg 1 |,!^ I I H 4 I *! Vll. * I *,'' i"f ' 1JWbyr J~i;ji*' i 1, ' '4; 1 ' I '.. 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