The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1884-06-07
the BOARD OF HEALTH REPORT.

public career of Mr.. Gibson for the
last ten or twelve years is aware
that the character in which he has
been most anxious to figure is that
of the Apostle of sanitary reform.
As a speaker and as n writer, in our |
Legislative halls and in the editorial
chair. the resources of his somewhat
picturesque and copious vocabulary
have been exhausted in portraying
and dcnouncing the shortcomings OF
those who have had this branch of
the public administration in charge.
Their stupidity, their inctliciency,
their inhumanity, the absolute lack
of any intelligent plan or system in
their work, as we'll as the narrowing
sufferings of the unfortunate people
under their charge, have furnished q
ncvcr-failing subject for invcctivc
and appeal. The abuses of our san
itary administration have furnished
the occasion and the inspiration for
ceasless stream of eloquence, in
which red-hot Indignation and heart
rending pathos have been ever
mingled in varying proportions. A
large share of Mr.. Gibson's mental
force seems to have been expended
for years past in telling the world
how badly our health affairs were
managed, and how lovely everything
would be, if only he, the great
Apostle aforesaid, were allowed an
opportunity to show just how the
thing ought to be done.
This eminent champion of the ma
tional life and health, this eloquent
protector of the Hawaiian people has
now occupied the position of medi-
cal dictator of this Kingdom. for
nearly two years, and we naturally
| look with considerable interest for
the record of his proceedings during
that period. Sufficient time has
now elapsed for maturing and
carrying into effect of some of
those plans for ameliorating the con-
dition of the people, with which, in
times past, his brain appeared to
teen and his heart to be oppressed.
The time has now come for him to
| give an account of his stewardship,
that we may see for ourselves how
we'll the performance tallies with
that amplitude of promise with which
we have all been so familiar. Oul
curiosity has been especially whetted
by the extraordinary and unprece-
dented delay in the appearance OF
the Board of Health Report. This
document was only presented to the
Legislature, in it's printed form, or
Saturday last--five weeks after that
body was convened and nine weeks
after the close Of the official year
Considering the claims which Mr..
Gibson has always put forth as re.
former of abuses in this department
and this long delay in the appear
ance of his report, we naturally con.
cluded that a document was being
prepared to which he could point
1 with some measure of pride, rs {
record of improvements made and
work accomplished; something or
which he expected to very largely
rest his claims to fame and to which
he would be glad to give the larges
/ possible circulation. Instead of this
we find, as we stated on Thursday
that the report in question can hardly
be obtained for love or money
Newspaper editors apply at head
quarters in vain, and even prominen
Government officials obtain copies
with great difficulty and only as /;
personal favor. The whole attitude
of the Health Department is that o.
men who have done something O.
which they are heartily ashamed
whose operations will not bear tn,
light and who are anxious by every
means in their power to keep from
the public the record of their doings
Considering the notoriety which Mr.
Gibson has always sought in con
nection with sanitary matters, anc