felt sure that if it should be proved that the Hawaiian Government
had acted unfairly to the emigrants, or had broken the treaty between
the two countries, there would be no trouble in arranging that a
reasonable money claim for damages should be paid to Japan.

Mr. Akiyama was most anxious to begin the inquiry as soon after landing
as possible, and so no time was lost in getting to work.

He wanted to know on what grounds the emigrants had been refused, and so
he was told the Hawaiian side of the trouble.

According to this, it began nearly two years ago, when the Hawaiian
Government made a regulation that a certain number of the laborers
employed on the plantations must be brought from other countries than
Japan.

Japan immediately asked why this regulation was made, and Hawaii replied
that she had a right to import laborers from what country she pleased.

This was the commencement of the bad feeling between the two countries
on the emigrant question. Japan, however, still continued to send over
her laboring class in vast numbers.

Under the immigration laws of Hawaii, every immigrant seeking admission
to the country is bound to have not less than fifty dollars in cash in
his pocket and a contract in his possession that will guarantee him
employment for two years.

It was brought to the attention of the Hawaiian Government by the agents
of the two steamship companies that a fraud was being practised upon the
country by these same steamship companies; each agent accusing the other
company of the misdeed.

The fraud was this:

To enable the emigrants to pass the customs officials safely, the
steamship companies agreed to carry the passengers over to Hawaii for so
much money per head, in return for which they also loaned them the
necessary fifty dollars to show the officials, and they also furnished
the required contract for their employment when they landed.

[**Transcriber's Note: funished changed to furnished]

It is hardly necessary to say that the fifty dollars was taken from them
after they were safely landed, and that the promised employment was not
given. The laborers were turned adrift to look out for themselves, as
soon as the formalities of the Immigration Bureau had been complied
with.

After the Hawaiian Government had received this information,
arrangements were made to inspect the next Japanese emigrant ship very
closely.

It was found that the agents had stated the matter correctly. Nearl