Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1882-11-11
THE p. c. Il. 4ND LEpRoSY

The i. c. H., in admitting that "there is
much complaint about lepcrs in different parts
of the country not being removed to the leper
settlement or branch hospital" makes no at
tempt to deny the fact that the isolation of
lepers, accoyding 10 lac, has been badly neg
lected. The usual attempt 10 excuse the bad
conduct OF government, however, is brought
forward and the 7ouat Of means, pleaded in
behalf of delinquent Board of Health. The
same monotonous tune has been sung by the
apologists of Gibson and his associates in an
swer to every charge which has been uttered
against them, tS the public, in regard to theiI
want of ability to cope with the work before
them. When the roads needed fixing, and the
people began complaining that nothing was
being done, it was discovered that there was
no money in the treasury for the purpose
people would be compelled to wait until the
taxes had been paid in. Afterwards it was dis
covered that the appropriations were not large
enough, the organ modestly suggesting that
the city be incorporated and take care Of the
roads itself And we would not be surprised
some day, to find it recommending that benev
olent societies pay for the care of roads on the
ground that they were dangerous TO life.
The organ tells us In no country ex
cept this does the government provide SC
extensively for hospital accommodation and
treatment" Did the brilliant genius who run.
the editorial pen OF that paper ever thinl
'ohF,e hte mo1cy came from with which the
government has been so wonderfully libera
in providing for the wants OF lepers. We should
like 10 be informed also by the r. c. H., il
what civilized countries OF the globe does i
find the management OF infectious or conta-
gious disease, requiring quarantine, thrus
upon "private benevolence." The people
here ungudgngly contribute in taxes anC
otherwise, an amount amply sufficient to oruI
any other than spend,hrif, government, tha
has allowed without murmur larger appro
priation of funds 10 be devoted to the mante
nance Of lepers, than has ever before beeI
made. Mr.. Gibson, as President OF the Boar,
OF Health, got all that he asked for, an'
enough to efficiently carry out any sanitar,
regulations the country needs and it is shee
impudence for his organ to now commence
talking Of short funds, and suggesting tina
there is now noble opportunity for ihos'
who feel deeply the sad misfortune to tn,
country Of leprosy, to help the government to
provide for the isolation and treatment O
lepers." They have "helped," and liberall,
der the money of the people in useless eStrava
gance, the lepeI As well as Others who nee,
assistance, mus, suffer as a consequence. i
the funds in the hands OF the President, Of tn
Board Of Health are short, as the 4. c. 4. say
they are, it creates natural suspicion tha
they have no, been used ior the purposes 70
which they were intended
But, speaking about hospital provision b
the government, let US see what is actually III
case wirh the only hospital, properly ;
called, tina, they pretend in any way TO sup
pou-the Queens Hospital The expenses Q
that institution during the last biennial perio
were derived, iromPay patients. $1,000; fror
passenger. tax 81 5000; appropriation by legi.
la,ure SiS,ooo. This institution Vas siar,e
and has been mainly supported by pnval
beneyoleaes.
Probably what the Afpofisey is limiting al
IS this that few Of the wealthy people ofth
place should be made to spend their fortune
in heneyolcnee, and leave Gibson and his col
leagues to spend the treasury funds in corona
tions and other measures Of an allied nalure