The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1890-09-02
Afternoon Session.

! Rep kanealii read by title an Act tC
license the manufacture and sale o
opium.
The bill was read a second time by
title and referred to the Opium Commit
| tee.
Rep. Baker gave notice OF an Act tc
amend section chapter q Session Laws
of 1874.
Noble Phillips read by title an Act
regulating the drawing and fees OF juries
Rep. Nawahi read by title an Act to
encourage a steam line between HilC
and San Diego. The bill was read a
second time by title and referred.
Rep. Kalua moved the report OF the
committee on the Board OF Health mat
ters be taken from the table and consid-
cred. am opposed to medical man
as President OF the Board. The first ap-
pointed was the most unpopular man in
the whole Kingdom and the present in
cumbent is just the same.
Noble Widemann said the first medical
President DIR. Trousseaul was very
popular man and did the work without
pay.
Rep. Kalua said the action of the
President OF the Board in regard to his
own son in law is enough to condemn
him. That alone ought to be enough to
justify the adoption of the report.
Minister Peterson-It seems to me
that it would be great mistake to adopt
the report. 1t would cost more and
would greatly diminish the efficiency of
the Board. He could no longer work
without pay if he travelled around. Then
you would have to have a medical in
spector to do what he now does. am
not here to defend the President but it is
proper should say a word. The Presi-
dent though he were sent from heaven
and had wings, would still be the most
unpopular man in the Kingdom. The
hon member from Wailuku says he has
been unpopular since 1887. 1t is true but
everyone knows why. 1t Is because they
have endeavored to carry out the segre-
cation act which would make any man
unpopular with a population like ours.
The President gets great many kicks
for acts with which he has nothing to do.
He has very little power. He cannot
appoint nor discharge a single physician
and has no vote at all in the Board eX-
cept the casting vote in case of tie. As
an instance of this is the very one men,
toned by the member from Wailuku, the
passage of DR.. Thompson here. DIR.
Thompson is the son-in-law OF the Presi-
dent. He was Government physician
on Maui during Mr.. Gibson's time and
an active worker for Mr.. Gibson. The
new Board requested his resignation.
He left the country and short time ago
wrote to his father-in-law to see if there
x1-oc oh far hin, Tho
of the Board said ne thought not but he
laid the matter before theex Ministers of
Finance and the Interior, and it is they
who brought DIR. Thompson here and not
the President of the Board of Health.
Rep. Kalua-Did they constitute a
majority?
Minister Peterson-They constituted
the working majority. the other two
members doing as they did every time.
The facts which | have stated can easily
be verified. If we adopt this report some
one besides minister must be selected,
and whoever it is must be paid. The
matter should be left as now, to the dis
cretion of the King and Cabinet.
Noble NJ Horner was very sorry that
the House could not discuss principles
without dragging peoples character into
the case. Whether the present incum-
bent has always done right or wrong has
nothing to do with it, The principle of |
the thing is what we are considering. |
Whether We shall appoint a man to |
a business who knows no. |
thing about it. The Superintendent of |
Public Schools, for instance, goes around |
to all the schools and conducts examina- !
tons. Suppose if he knew nothing of |
schools, was not gifted in letters, what |
kind of figure would he make? If the |
owners of the foundry here were looking |
for manager, would they take tailor? |
They would naturally choose man who |
all the details of that busi- |
ness. The president of the board is |
to travel around the islands |
and find out what kind of work the Gov
physicians are doing. He can
not judge of it if he does not under
stand the business.
Rep. Kahui agreed with the member
rom Hamakua in part only. The first
came here in 1920, and
preached there was a God in Heaven,
hough they had never seen him, and we
Ill believe it. So the president of the
BOARD may make good report though
le doesn't understand the business. "a
neTber-Th That's a knock-down argu-
nent.) We have a President of the
3oard of Education, but he does not
make the tour of the Kingdom.
Noble Baldwin stated that he agreed
With the report as whole, although it
vas not expressed precisely as he would
lave chosen. His idea was that the
PRESIDENT of the board should not neces-
arily be professional man. That was
lot his first qualification. He should be
Ibove all a man of good executive prac-
ical ability. 1t needs practical man.
lie is like a manager. 1t these qualif-
ations can be obtained in connection
With professional knowledge, we'll and
,ood. But that is not the first consider
.tion. l do not for a moment question
he desirability of getting professional
nan If he has that and the qualifications.
f the present incumbent has these QUAIL
ties, as | am told he has, SO much
he better. The president is paid
4 900 a year. Now the best medi-
al men cannot be obtained for that sum.
The best physicians here make SIS, 900 to
10000. So that physicians called in as
rule will exceed him in ability. As a
ule you cannot generally obtain medical
ttalnments and these other qualifica-
ions in one man.