I wish to ask the Senator from Illinois a question. While in the islands investigating the question of labor. did the commission hear any testimony as to the abuse of contract laborers. the manner in which labor was performed. and the penalties imposed for violations of their contracts? I should also like to inquire if they ascertained whether there were any large contracts for the construction of canals or railroads or aqueducts on the islands. We made every effort in the last session to extend to the islands our laws relating to contract labor and immigration. and it failed by reason of an objection upon this floor near the closing hours of the session. It is a notorious fact that since Congress adjourned many thousands of laborers have been brought into the islands of the Hawaiian group under contract for labor. I certainly think this amendment should be so framed that there can be no ambiguity whatever in its language and so that it will not require a judicial body to construe its meaning.
Keywords matched
immigration contract labor contract laborers