WESTERN HEMISPHERE IMMIGRATION

45

much, and they are on the road about half the time. Now, do you
not think that if you could bring these people up to a situation where
they would stay at home and try to own a little property, or take a
little interest in the community, that their efficiency will advance to
such an extent that you will have more work out of them with the
same number of people?
Mr. Yates. We are educating them just like we do our own children,
 with schools and teachers of the same efficiency, and I think if
we were to undertake a philanthropic experiment like that that our
community would die, commercially. You understand we have
enormous taxes to pay in order to irrigate our lands. It takes $10
or $12 an acre to water the land alone and perhaps more, and that is
the reason I say cotton can not be profitable permanently. I.do not
think that we can go on developing. We can not, either, maintain
our present standard with that condition.
The CuairmMan. What do you pay teachers in the primary schools
for white children?
Mr. Yates. The pay is the same for both, and as I recall it, in my
own city, 10 years of service counts for a great deal; but I do not
think any teacher is getting less than $125 per month in my city. I
may be misinformed.
The Cuairman. That is all we expect from you.
Mr. Ramey. What per cent of these workers that come over there
allow the women to work?
Mr. Yares. Those that come over?
Mr. Ramey. What per cent of this labor is women that actually
work?
Mr. Yates. Actually do work?
Mr. Ramey. Yes.
Mr. Yarss. I could not say how great, but it is considerable—in
certain classes of the work.
Mr. Ramey. You have cases where the husband and wife both
work all day, full hours? .
Mr, Yates. I do not believe the women work the full hours the
men do, but they help out in the raising of vegetables, and so forth.
Mr. Ramey. They are not at home?
Mr. Yates. Well, no——
yr, Ramey. They do not stay at home?
Mr. Yares, Well, now, I would not say that. If they have a
‘amily, the mother does a good job of taking care of them.
Mr. Ramey. You say the death rate among the children is great?
Mr. Yates. Yes, sir; they will not follow modern hygenic methods
recommended by the doctors, readily. I believe I can point out
American communities that T used to be familiar with in Texas that
have not gbtten away from that either. oo
The CrarMaN. Nevertheless, the Public Health Service is extendng
 its activities, and where it does, the death rate among children
is lessened? ) .
Mr. Yares. Yes, sir. I think you will find in my city the death
rate, even among the Mexicans, is not particularly high.
The Cumairman. That augurs well for a desirable American born
population of Mexican ancestry, as these conditions arrive?
Mr. Yates. Yes, sir; and we would like to get American born
Mexicans if thev are available, but they are not.

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