The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1885-12-07
THE PUBLIC HEALTH.
WHAT A DoCToE SAYs-THE STREET
CLEANTNG-lloNoLULU Nor so
VERY DIRTY-LoCAL GOVERNMENT
THE PRIME ESSENTIAL.

THE PRIME Essential.
Our reporter was "wending his
way" if an original phrase is allow
able, up Merchant street the other
day, bound for the Government
building, to see that the public SER
wants were all attending to their
duties. Musing, as he wendell,
upon the hard lot that thus CON-
PEELED an alien to look after national
affairs, a buggy bore down upon
him, the occupant of which, by
refining up his spirited steed upon
meeting him, showed that n con-
ference upon affairs of state was
desired.
The news-scooper thought he was
going to get sawbone item on the
quiet, at once cheating the etiquette
of the faculty and getting ahead of
contemporaries. But the event was
otherwise. The disciple of Escu-
lapius spoke in this wise:-
''The BULLETIN had an editorial
on health matters yesterday, and
there are some things 1 would like
to say to you upon the subject, but
have not time to write them for pub
LEGATION. You refer to contract for
cleaning the streets. Who is the
contractor and what does he engage
to do?"
Being informed upon these points,
so far as the reporters knowledge
went, the doctor proceeded, continu-
ing to be the interviewer rather than
the interviewed -
'How long is this arrangement
going to last-will it be permanent
or continue only till after the cleo
| tions?"
AS the President of the Board of
Health had neglected to inform the
BULLETIN upon this point, the re-
porter sadly admitted that the conun-
drum was too hard for him.
"Does the contractor have the use
of prison labor?"
apparently not. 1t seems there
is scarcity of mechanics in town at
present, and the prisoners can be
more advantageously employed in
painting and other work for private
contractors"
Continuing, the doctor said: 81
do not think it wisdom to cut away
the grass on the streets and side
walks, as you say the contract de-
mands. The grass is more benefit
than an injury, provided it is not
allowed to grow long enough to be
an obstruction. Its roots bind the
fine, powdery soil that prevails here,
thus preventing its being washed
away.
"This contract scheme appears to
be very superficial one for the
cleansing of the city. A great deal
has been said about the filthiness of
Honolulu, but do not regard it as
so very filthy, after all. If the
closely-suilt parts were set down in
New York, San Francisco or Boston,
they would soon be pestilential in q
high degree. But here the air is SC
pure, the land and sea breezes are
SO constant, that the natural results
of oveccrowding and disregard Of
cleanliness are very much neutra.
lized.
"However, it is in those districts
mainly comprised in Chinatown
that sanitation is demanded. Nc
mere scraping of the streets will
meet the requirements of the case
there. We want legislation thai
will positively prevent overcrowdins
of buildings or of their occupants
That and other necessary Legislation
could be obtained, I believe, if al
the more intelligent portion of thu
residents would only work togethe
for the common good.
"As matters now stand, there il
no mode of common action avail
able to the members of the commu
nifty, except the privilege of discus
sing public questions in the press
: The people never come together l.
consult upon local affairs, as the.
do under the municipal systems O
the United States and other coun
tries. Honolulu needs somethin
like what Ireland is now demand
ing, and is fairly entitled to-loca
J self-government. Wherever tn
: people have the responsibility fo
their local concerns upon then
selves, with free outlets for the es
preston of opinion, there the dango
of disturbance or revolution is r.
3 duced to the minimum. The oil
town meeting of New England
t really grand institution, and il
: adoption in some form of local sci
r government by Honolulu would PR
5 badly be great forward move.
D "Some people talk as if nun
G cipal government here would be to
expensive a luxury. There is l
s reason why it should be so, at lea
: in proportion to the advantage
!. likely to be derived. If the machir
e was run by expensive people-f'