The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-10-31
WHO HAS THE POWER 2

On Thursday last. General King
transferred the supreme military COM
mand here to Colonel Barber General
King had, several days previously re-
guessed, in writing, the cooperation
OF the Board of Health in sanitary
work and he placed the resources Of
the command at its service. This re-
quest especially referred TO the camp
over which Colonel Barber had charge.
But General King did not put at rest
the question OF the right of the Board
10 regulate sanitary matters. He sim
ply asked for assistance, and cooper
alton
Colonel Barber. on the goth, had re-
fused to see the agent of the Board.
and shortly afterwards meeting him
by accident, told him he would not
tolerate any interference by the Board
or the civil authorities. Subsequently
and after the ranking commander here
mad requested, as we have already said
the cooperation of the Board, and the
President of the Board upon that re-
quest visited the camp, Colonel Barber
treated the President and the order of
his military superior in the manner
detailed in the columns of this paper
ON the 28th.
Colonel Barber is now the military
commandant here. He has distinctly
taken the ground that he will permit
no Interference by the Board of Health
in the sanitary regulations of his
camp. He absolutely denies the right
of the Board to attack filth and disease
in his camp even if his men are sick
and dying. That is, he denies their
legal right under either local or ma
tional laws. He claims the legal right
10 be the sole judge of the sanitary re-
quirements of his camp, although the
health and lives of the people of the
city also are involved. He has, there
fore, defied the Board.
If Colonel Barber is not correct in
his position, he is liable to fine and
Imprisonment for violating cur local
laws. If he is correct, the sooner it is
plainly understood he'better it will be
for us all.
We are excluding any sentiment or
men in the military hospital. That
takes another aspect of the case.
we raise simply the plain, colorless
question of legal right. Here is an
issue and, of course, it cannot be com
promised.
The question should be submitted to
the Government at Washington at
once. The supreme power of Boards
of Health over military camps is adj
mitted in the States, and a conspicu-
Ous example of it is seen in the author
ity exercised by such a Board in jack
sonyille Florida, over 10000 troops.
But as it is disputed here, the matter
should be referred to the supreme
authority. Let us concede that Colonel
Barber has convinced himself that he
is right in his position. Instead of
letting the matter float in the air, let
it be promptly settled by the War De-
partment. What may be good law IL
the States, may not, for some special
reason, be good law here. Let us find
it out
The measles and smallpox are di-
seases which affect the natives. Can
any military commandment allow his
camps to become infected with these
diseases, and then snap his fingers at
the Board of Health? If the command
ant differs from the health authorities
is his or their opinion to prevail?
These questions must be treated
without sentiment The issue has been
clearly raised and must be settled.
The Special Agent here of the Wash
inpton Government has not, for some
adequate reason we presume, passed
upon the legal rights of either party.
If he has not authority in the premises
there is every reason why he should
obtain instructions from Washington
at once. 1t should have been done
weeks ago when anyone who TOOK
uracticaI interest in the American SOL
der. might have known by casual in
spection of the camps and the signih-
cant odors carried from them to resi-
dences at a distance, that mischief was
in the air, and trouble was at hand.
What should have been done, sever
al months ago, should now be done
promptly. Let us find out what the
War department has to say about 1t.
We venture to hold the opinion that
it will not think long before it makes
I'D its mind Let us see.
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