The class of persons Intended to be reached by this proposed legislation is that class of persons who make contracts in oriental or other countries for the services of a party without the consent of the party whose services are to be delivered. and who bring those persons here not always pursuant to a contract before they are brought here. but who bring them here for the purpose of subjecting them to such contracts as may thereafter be made pertaining to them. Whether this service be for manual labor or whether it be for immoral purposes is immaterial. if it is a service enforced upon those parties against their will or without their consent or pursuant to a contract to which they are not a party. all of those conditions would be slavery within the provisions of these five sections. The bringing in of coolies under contract for labor would come under another law. because the cooly comes as a party to that contract. he comes here of his own free will. The bringing in of any other class of people from any section of the world pursuant to an agreement to which they are a party or of which they have knowledge. who have or will come here and be subjected to work or where their services will be sold. is not slavery within the meaning of these sections. That is contract labor. That is regulated by other statutes. but this criminal statute is intended only to enable the law to reach those who come here without being a party to their coming here or without being a party to the disposition of their services or the control of their rights. whether they be children of irresponsible years and conditions or whether they be people who. because of their environment or the condition of their lives. can not protect themselves. In any such event these five sections are intended to protect them primarily against the ships that bring them here. again. against those who obtain possession of them after they are brought here in the ships or at any period of their existence within our borders.
Keywords matched
contract labor coolies