Chinese Labor Convention

CHINESE LABOR CONVENTION

Second Day’s Proceedings—Reports of Committees.

The Convention reassembled at 11 o’clock. The reading of the minutes was dispensed with and the regular order of business was taken up.

Mr. Clapp, from the Committee on Permanent Organization, reported the list of Vice-Presidents and Secretaries, which was adopted.

Judge Sutton, of Louisiana, from the Committee on Order of Business, reported a programme for the day’s work, which was adopted.

Gen. Pillow, from the Finance Committee, submitted a report recommending the organization of a stock company with a capital of one million dollars—subject to be increased to two millions if required—for the purpose of supplying labor; stock-books to be opened at once and to remain open until the 15th of August; shares to be one hundred dollars each; a President and Board of Directors to be chosen. The report was adopted.

Maj. H. D. Bulkley, Chairman of the Committee on Transportation, submitted a report giving the routes and rates from San Francisco and Sacramento via the Central, Omaha and St. Louis Railroads, and the Memphis and St. Louis Packet Company to Memphis, Tenn., at fifty-five dollars per head in lots of one hundred to five hundred, and fifty dollars per head in lots above five hundred; from Memphis to interior points in Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina, upon the lines of the various railroads, the rates to be one cent per mile. Adopted.

Gen. N. B. Forrest presented a communication from W. M. Gibson, of the Sandwich Islands, urging that laborers be selected in China with reference to the work required, cautioning against ordering through mercantile houses at San Francisco or Hong Kong, and recommending Japanese laborers as docile and steady colonists. Ordered to be spread upon the minutes.

Captain Speers, of Mississippi, entered a protest against Chinese immigration on religious and political grounds. Laid on the table.

Mr. Clapp moved that the report of the Committee on Immigration Generally be taken up as the special order. Carried.

Maj. Giles N. Hillyer, of Mississippi, from the Committee on Immigration Generally, submitted an elaborate report inviting labor and capital to the South and Southwest, pledging equal protection under the law, and recommending auxiliary associations in each State. Adopted.

The Chair announced that under the order of business the subject of contracts, wages, housing and police regulations would be taken up, and invited brief remarks.

Tye Kim Orr addressed the Convention. He said contracts usually ran five years; that the best districts from which to obtain labor were Canton and Amoy; that ordinary field hands received about fifteen dollars per month, while Chinese overseers received twenty to twenty-five dollars; that the people were docile, imitative and industrious; that they should be brought under proper discipline and not indiscriminately; and that they rarely used intoxicants.

Col. Koopmanschaap, of San Francisco, being introduced, stated that fifty to sixty thousand Chinese had been brought to California; that a very large number had been employed on the Pacific Railroad at one dollar to one dollar and ten cents per day in gold; that for Southern contracts laborers could probably be obtained at about twelve dollars per month; that the cost of transportation from China would be from eighty to one hundred dollars per head; and that contracts should run from two to five years.

On motion of Gen. Pillow, it was ordered that a committee be appointed to confer with Mr. Koopmanschaap and Mr. Orr and report; one member from each State to compose said committee. The Chair named J. W. Clapp, Tennessee; John Williams, Louisiana; Jno. Martin, Kentucky; T. C. Flournoy, Arkansas; B. T. Blewitt, Mississippi; Gus A. Henry, Alabama; W. Green, South Carolina; and F. F. Taber, Georgia.

Reports were received from delegations as to local subscription-books and auxiliary organizations; the names of State committees were read and confirmed.

The Chair recognized several gentlemen who made brief remarks touching the details of discipline, health, quarters and the necessity of conserving good order. On motion, the rules were suspended to allow additional entries upon the subscription-books.

The Convention adjourned to meet at ten o’clock to-morrow.

[Remainder of the page contains miscellaneous proceedings and local notices not pertinent to the Convention—omitted here as not part of the article text; portions of small-type side matter [illegible].]