The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-01-23
CLAIMS COURT
President Mckinley
Addressed.
Committee Reports on the 100000
ApprOpriation--GOyernment De-
sires a Special Board.

Mr.. A. G.. NJ. Robertson read report
OF the committee appointed to enquire
into the matter of an appropriation OF
5000. 900 for the purpose of indemnify
ing persons whose property the Board
of Health proposed to destroy. Fol-
lowing is a copy of the report:
Honolulu, Jan. 20, 1901.
To Mr.. S. b. Dole, President, and
Members of the Council of State: Your
committee, to whom was referred the
matter of the appropriation of $780,
900 for payment for merchandise and
other personal property proposed to be
DESTROYED within the quarantine limits
in Honolulu, beg to report as follows.
/. AS to the right of the Council to
make the appropriation:
We believe that the object for which
this appropriation is wanted is clearly
and directly in the line of combating
the plague epidemic.
The Board of Health believes, ana
with much reason, that a large portion
of the merchandise and personal eff
fects remaining in the quarantine dis
trict is infected with plague.
For some time past a committee of
merchants, assisting the Board, has
been engaged in removing the goods
from the condemned blocks and fumi-
eating and storing the same. This has
entailed an immense amount of work
and has subjected the members Of the
committee, teamsters and all others
who take part in packing, hauling and
flmigating the goods to the risk or
infection. The risk does not end here,
for with the inadequate appliances now
at the disposal of the committee, no
one can say positively that with such
fumigation all possibility of infection
has been removed, so that lnere is still
danger attached TO the handling and
use of the goods even after fumigatiOn.
The burning of such goods would do
away with all handling of them and
thus relieve from exposure many per-
sons now running daily risk of con-
tracing the disease. Thus it appears
that the Appropriation is assigned to
play an important part in the work of
bringing the epidemic to an end.
In this connection we may say that
before the epidemic had assumed such
serious proportions as it now. has. it
did not seem to be a hopeless task to
the merchandise as might have been
exposed, but as the Board of Health Is
convinced that almost the whole of the
quarantined district is infected, and
that as to the greater part the infec-
ton cannot be removed except by de-
structiOn by fire, the proper fumigation
OF so large a quantity of property is,
under the circumstances, impracti-
cable and dangerous.
2. AS to necessity and ACCESSIBILITY
Of the appropriation:
A question has been raised as to the
necessity of compromising the owners
of the goods proposed to be destroyed,
as the Board of Health has authority
to summarily destroy all infected prop
erty without making compensation
therefor.
On this point we have to say that as
to the buildings which the Board has
caused to be destroyed and intends TO
destroy in the near future, the Board
expects to have little difficulty. from
a legal standpoint, in justifying its ac-
ton. But to establish with legal proof
that any particular lot of goods is ac-
tually infected with plague is 4 very
difficult matter.
To institute a micrOscopical eNdmi-
nation Of all the merchandise which il
/ is proposed to destroy in order to OBJ
tain positive evidence of infection,
would entail delay that would inevi-
tably result in great loss Of life, I'M
! told expenditure of money, and might
/ seriously JeopardiZe the final outcome.
| The two classes of property stand
on a different footing in this respect,
and the making of the proposed COM
promise would not set a precedent fer
compensating the owners of infected
and insanitary buildings which the
public safety demands should be de-
stroyed.
The proper fUmigatiOn AM .emoval
OF these gods being impracticabIa,
their destruction is necessary.
Shall, then, the Board proceed with
the work OF destruction and take
chances OF being held liable for their
full value, or shall it arrange in adj
vance compromise with the owners
on the basis Of S. 2-3 per cent Of the
cost price?
After a careful consideration OF all
the circumstances, We believe it would
be to the best interests of the Govern
ment to make the settlement.
By such a settlement the expense OF
hauling, fumigating and storing would
be saved, and much loss OF valuable
time and waste Of energy would be OBJ
Waited.
3. AS to the amount Of the appro-
priation:
The Merchants Committee have
made an estimate, necessarily rough
but based on their past experience in
connection with the apTraising OF the
goods taken from the blocks already
condemned, OF the value Of the goods
remaining in buildings likely TO be de-
stroyed. and in their opinion the sun
OF 5000, 900 will probably cover the cos
price of these goods.
This is the best information obtain.
able al this time on this point. but We
believe it is sufficiently definite 10 ac
on.
We therefore recommend that the
appropriation asked for be sanctioned
by the Council.
Respectfully submitted.