The Hawaiian gazette., 1878-09-25

The REV. Dr. DAMON's LETTERING quite |
agree with the Rev. DT. Damon his letter pub
lished in the Advertiser of Saturday last, when he
says that the constitution of the Queens |
Hospital should be so changed as to allow
foreigners and strangers who to these Islands,
to be admitted into the Hospital when sick and
unable to pay free of charge. One of the best ar
guments offered by the Rev. DR.. Damon in support
of his position is the fact stated by him, that the
income to the Queen's Hospital last year from the
tax on persons arriving these Islands, was nearly
81 600, and from the last quarter of the year,
amounted to 81 200. We have examined the rec
ords ia the Custom House of the Hospital fees
received Tor the year 1875, up to September Sd
and find they foot up S52l4 instead OF s., 900,
stated by DR.. Damon. We have already expressed
our views upon the injustice of the imposition of
81 per head upon all persons coming into this King
dom, for the OF the Queens Hospital, when
those persons cannot derive any benefit from the
| Hospital, matter how needy or how sick they
may be. The fact is, that the whole thing is wrong
aud should be put right without delay. On looking
OF the charter Of the Queens Hospital, We find i'll
the preamble this language:
"Whereas 1t has been made known to me that
number OF persons resident in Honolulu, and other
portions OF the Kingdom, have entered into vol
| uDtary contribution, by SUBSCRIPTION, iOr the
pose Of creating fund for the erection and estab
ishment Of HoSpitd! at Honolulu, for the relief Of
indigeat SICK and disabled people Of the HaOaiian
hh3gdon, ceL as of s'tch foreigners aud Others as
may desire to dDaa Themselves " TIE sdnae.''
The same language as above quoted is to be found
on page of the constitution char.S- of the
Queens Hospital. Now what is tbs literal utter
| pretation and meaning of the words 'of Hospital
al Honolulu, for the relief OF INDECENT sick and dis
-. n. II
such foreigners and others may ayaa Themselves Of
the SdneF' Is there anything in the Sbove language
that justify the Trustees of the Hospital in
strung the charter to mean. that the Queens Hos
pita has been established for the exclusive and
benefit of Hawaans alone? Ifthere is, We confess
We cannot it, The fact is, that the language
totally ignores such interpretation and in oui
humble opinion, the Trustees in interpreting
the constitution or charter have done SO in viola
ton of the letter and spirit of that instrument and
that the words, "as well such foreigners and
others as may desire avail themselves of tht
same" simply meaus that the Hospital is for tht
OF the people OF the Hawaiian Kingdom, and for
eigners and all others who may desire to avail them
selves of the same, makes the Hospital free to all
but especially to the INDECENT We way To-
the Trustees TO get out of their present awkward
position, other than TO take a common sense view
OF the language Of the charter and act accordingly
becauee it is evident, that they wrong in thei
construction of the organic law o: the Institution
The foregoing are our views We read the charter
aud believing thus We tree to confess, that th
Rev. Mr.. Damon is correct in his view of the ques
tion If the Trustees have any doubt upon thi
subject, let them submit the question to the Chic
Justice of the Kingdom, whose opinion will b
freely given aud thus settle the question to wha
are the duties of the Trustees under the charter.