Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1884-03-22

turDance ahT who could have given
lnformationJ about it. The patients
knew by dbily experience that their
overseeT Wy unscrupulous, and it was
eylc8'r enough that he had the back
ing and support of Messrs. Gibson and
Fitch Natives are no more likely to
put their heads into the lions mouth
than white men are
The examination of the Witnesses
without the formality of an oath was
another of those little pieces OF shallow
smartness Characteristic of the premier
president 1t gave the person calling
himself Van Geisen an opportunity TO
misrcprcsent and misstate facts in any
way which suited his interest, without
rendering himself liable to punishment
We arc left quite in the dark as TO
which of the irrcconcilablc stories told
by this individual are true Whether
he lied to the reporters of the Gazette
and Bulletin, or whether he lied to the
premier and the attorney-gcneral, or
whether he lied on both occasions. is a
problem we are at present unable TO
solve. That the different stories which
he told at different times were all true,
is impossible. But why waste words
in exposing so transparent a sham as
this so-called investigation. We trust
the legislature will not be many days in
session before this branch hospital mi
guilty will be taken in hand and an
investigation ordered which will 90 to
the bottom of the whole matter. When
ever this is done, we are confident that
a change in its management will be
inevitable Even Fitch the original
sponsor, and Gibson the later patron OF
the so-called Van Giesen, will find the
load too heavy and too dirty to carry.
"We cannot leave this subject with
out calling attention to the very dis
creditable figure which the police
department has cut in this business.
The superintendent at the branch
hospital wears policeman's badge and
claims to possess a policemans author
lty. We have reason to believe that
he has such authority. Has the mar
shal made any inquiry into the manner
in which that authority is exercised
If not, why not The charges against
this person are of such a nature as to
. imperatively demand an examination
why has it not been made ? Again, the
violent breaking into a house, particu-
larly at night, is very serious offense
What are we to think OF the fact that
the men engaged in such an under
taking are never subjected to any legal
process whatever-are never brought
to trial, never even arraigned before a
magistrate, but by the authority of a
person who, at most, is a kind of
special policeman, are sent to Molokai.
If this is the way. in which justice is
administered in this kingdom, it is
high time there was reform.
The above reflects the opinion and
the knowledge of gentlemen well in
formed on the topic under discussion
The Gazette and the Bulletin have
taken similar ground-the former ex,
pressing regret that the attorney gen
eral should have taken part in the
affair Both the attorney general and
his chief deputy were present during
the investigation, for specific pur-
pose to try and find out if the charges
against the steward were such as
would hold if the matter were brought
into court The charges were not sus-
tanned. There the duty of the attorney
generals department ended. 1t may
as well be made clear also that the
brag and bluster OF Van Giesen about
sending the men TO Molokai ION his
own responsibility was mere idle talk.
For that, the physicians in charge real
and so-called-are responsible, to the
president of the board. While the laws
regulating health matters rule in regard
to leprosy, and Mr.. Gibson rules the
board Of i'll health, no sane man ought
to expect anything better than the
present disgracelul prostitution of place
and power. And-except for the com,
Portable assurance that all lanes have at
last turning-we, who are shouting
ourselves hoarse for reform in health
matters, are shouting against the wind
in vain.
| FOREST PRESCRIPTION.
The report of the committee on
I