The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1897-04-19

| the thread will catch and the whole
business be consumed. l feel that we
| had better leave we'll enough alone. so
| far as the treaty is concerned.
During Minister Smiths visit in
Washington he met Surgeon General
Wyman several times. and discussed
with him the advisability of having a
medical inspector at Asiatic ports. the
same as the Hawaiian Government
has.
4 explained 10 him. said Mr. Smith,
that it was hardly right for emigrants
booked to Hawaii, after being in quar-
antine for Il days and being fumigat-
ed to have to be thrown in contact
with passengers destined to the United
States, who had not even been in
spected. He seemed to grasp the idea.
and assured me that he would detail
one of his staff to make visit to Hong
Kong and the Japanese ports and
make an inspection of our methods.
This may result in the Hawaiian in
spectors being appointed, and I be-
lieve the dangers of bringing disease
here will be reduced.
Il had hoped to stop in New Orleans
on my way home and look into the
matter of sewerage and quarantine. but
the floods in the Mississippi Valley
prevented it, and | came direct to San
Francisco. l am glad to see that small
pox did not extend beyond the limits
OF the quarantine station. I should
say that our strict enforcement of the
immigration laws was what saved us
This is a remarkable case. and one
that may never be explained. Of
course, there are several theories ad-
vanced as to the way the disease may
have been carried so long before MAX
ing its appearance. From all that I
have heard, l am inclined to the opin-
ion that it may have been among the
dunnage of one of the crew-some-
thing which evidently had not passed
through the fumigating room before
the vessel left Japan
Questioned as to the best means of
keeping disease out Of the country. Mr..
Smith said:
Il do not see how we can issue an
edlct closing this port to passengers
from infected ports. | remember that
this was spoken of and almost put into
operation few months ago, but it was
found impracticable Just now the in
tected ports happen to be in Japan.
but we do not know how soon it may
be San Francisco We cannot close the
commerce of the Atlantic, and yet if
such a law was put into effect we
might have to. If passengers and .neir
seS2cts are uuarantined and fumigared
at the port of departure, l think the
danger will be reduced to a minimum
THE action of this Government in
returning japanese to their home re-
ceived the support of the people in
Washington without raising any par
ticular excitement. Of course, due al
lowance was made for the exaggerated
reports of the Honolulu correspond
ents. so that no serious thought was
given to the rumor that Japan would
use force in landing her people,"
Referring again to the probable
prompt action of the United States in
the matter of annexation, Mr.. Smith
advanced the theory that the difference
of opinion as to status of the territory
might delay matters. "They don't seem
to know what form of Government we
should have. Those whose friendship
for us is lukewarm are afraid we will
want to be admitted as a State. and
then there will be a clamor for two
more Senators. The form of admis-
sion is one of the nice details that must
be arranged, with due consideration
for the conditions which exist shere."