The morning call., 1893-06-01
CUTE Ii YUNG YE.
China Will Not Take Back
Her Lepers.
THEY MAY Go TO MOLOKAI.
SpreckeIs Writes That the Provi-
sionai Government Is Consider
ing the Mayors Proposition.

Some time ago Mayor Eliert conceived
the idea of getting rid of the lepers at the
Pesthouse by having them sent to the
Hawaiian Islands and China. Consulta-
tons were had with the members of the
Board OF Supervisors and the Board of
| Health, and the proposition was looked
upon with great favor.
| The Board of Supervisors thought we'll
of the matter. because after abolishing the
Twenty-sixth-stree Hospital the question
of selecting new site for PesthouSe be-
rame a very knotty and ucklish one.
Every site determined on met with the
greatest opposition from property owners,
and the numerous protests made the life
of q Supervisor anything but happy. As
the principal reason for the existence of
Pesthouse was the colony of lepers on
hand it was thought that by getting rid OK
the lepers there would be no need of locat-
ing Pesihonse anywhere.
Mayor Ebert, who is a man OF very
prompt action, when he obtained the sup
port OF the nun cipal officers, at once
wrote to the Hawaiian Consul General and
to Claus Spreckels at Honolulu on the sub
| ject. He sent for King Owyang, the Chi
nese Vice-Consul. and had personal
interview on the subject. The Chinese
| Vice Consul appeared to look upon the
proposition favorably, and said he would
| investigate the matter and do what he
| could. Mayor Ebert told him it was no
more than right that China should receive
back her lepsr5, as they came from there,
| for the disease was not contracted in this
| country.
Yesterday Mayor Ebert received the
| following reply from the Chinese Consul
| General, which shows that the Chinese
| diplomats have no intention of returning
to their country the lepers who managed
| to get into the United States. The letter
is dated May 90 at the Imperial Chinese
| Consulate-Genera's Office and reads:
1 have the honor to acknowledge the receipt
| questing me o do what l can in any way to help
| to remove the Chinese Ieper patients now In the
| Pesthouse, and also the inelosed statements OF
| the leper patients. In reply beg 10 say have
| given the matter due attention, but find that
| the law OF my country is against landing of any
| person affected with loathsOme and contagious
! diseases, aud therefore, am unable TO render
you any assistance remain. sir, very re-
| specially yours,
Ii YUNG YE, Consul-General (per h. o..
| When MAYOR Elert made his PROPOSE
| ton to the Hawaiian officials, he stated
that the Supervisors would see that a GER
! tain reasonable amount would be provided
| for the maintenance of the lepers sent
| from San Francisco. provided they were
admitted into the colony at MOlnkai
| A reply to the Mayors letter was re-
| shows that the Provisional Government of
! Hawaii has not yet reached any conclusion
in the matter, but has the subject still un-
der consideration. Mayor Ebert said yes
| terday he hoped for favorable considera-
ton of his proposal. The following was
the communication received. dated May
| IS. ct Honolulu:
| am in receipt Of your letter of May 4, re-
| lating TO sending the lepers now In the pest
| house OF your city TO The asylum at these
Islands. In reply. | beg to state that have
| brought the matter 10 The attention or the
! Hawaiian Government, and have received the
! inclosed reply, which will ex PLAN itself Upon
receipt of further communications from In III,
| Will wiite you again upon the subject. Yours,
! truly, CLAUS SPRECKELs.
The inclosed note from the Board of
! Health Of Honolulu reads rs FLOWS:
l am instructed by the Board of Health 10
! acknowledge receipt of the measures here
| with. and 10 state that rs the snbjeci- matter
| thereof is stil under c0nsid ration Of the Tx
! ecuiive Council of he Provisional Government
of the Hawaiian Islands the Bolrd of HraIth
c mot properly take any action IN the premises.
1 have the honor be Your obedient servant,
CHARLES WILCOX, Sec. Board Health.