The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-02-13
vEXED ISSUES KILLING RATS
What the Plague Will
Leave us.
The Question of Financial Settle
ments for Damage Done--HeIp
Needed From Congress.

The well-known local correspond
ent, "Kamehameha," who writes for
the Washington Star, has an interest
ing account of the plague, which closes
as follows:
Another very serious difficulty in
which the Government is placed is a
financial one. The expenses created
by the determined and severe action of
the Board of Health threaten to roll
up to an enormous amount Who are
to pay for the buildings burned? The
owners will undoubtedly claim dam
ages. The rentals probably amount to
S15O,OOO or 100000 annually on the
property quarantined or destroyed No
doubt, after the old shacks are cleared
away, the ground alone will be worth
much more than the whole property
was before; only it is probable that it
will be unsafe to build upon it for a
year or two. Then, several thousand
people are suddenly deprived of their
livelihood, and must receive more or
less aid. Large numbers of guards
have to be employed and other work
ers. How are these various OUTLAWS to
be met?
There is, happily, surplus in the
treasury OF perhaps one million dollars
or more. Also the Constitution of the
Republic of Hawaii permits the Coun-
Gil OF State, in the absence of the Leg
islature, to vote necessary supplies in
case of war. pestilence or other public
disaster. On the outbreak of the
plague the council at once placed s25,-
600 in the hands of the Board of
Health. The other day they voted
100000 more, against the serious pro
tests of some that they were exceeding
their powers, which is probably the
case. Ordinarily, in such a strait, the
Legislature would be summoned to
take action.
But now, apparently, we have no
Legislature, and no means of getting
one. Between the non-action of Con-
gress and certain action of President
Mckinley this Government of Hawaii
is rendered powerleSs to employ the
ample funds in it's overlooking treas
ury, however urgent its necessities 1t
had been expected that Congress
would, at it's last session, have estab-
lished an adequate government for the
Territory of Hawaii, in accordance
with the provisions of the "Newlands
resolution" That was not done. and
we have no assurance when it will be
done by a Congress overburdened with
other business. So poor Hawaii is left
to stew its own juice" usually very
fair condition of things, but just now
poisoned by bubonic microbes. What
are we to do?
We were not permitted to provide
ourselves with a Legislature last Sen
| TENDER, when the term of the last Leg
islature expired President Mckinley.
doubtless for some apparently good
reason, forbade it. Our President
Dole, proceeding in regular course, or
dered the September election, and the
regular registration of voters to pre-
cede it, at the same time notifying
President Mckinley of his action. Mr..
Mckinley promptly forbade the in
tended registration and election to
proceed. We are, therefore, without
any Legislature or anybody empower
ed to authorize the use of the growing
surplus in the treasury.
1t is true that many of us think that
IN the circumstances of the case the
last Legislature may be considered to
De holding over, and would advise con-
venlng that body. I believe that Mr..
/ OOAN AAGo NAiIICA W Tie 1TGSlQont IOr
authority to do SO. 1t will take a
month to get an answer. and mean
time we have to keep on "stewing."
President and Congress Should Helm.
One can hardly doubt that the Pres
ident will make every possible exertion
to relieve our strait, if solely out of
kind regard to us, nor that Congress
viii be disposed to cooperate with
MIN. But even if our local desire and
need were to be overlooked, is it not
eminently unsafe for the Washington
Government to leave Hawaii to- strug-
| gle against such a terror as buhonic
plague when hampered by such legal
handicap? Will it not be considered
that Honolulu occupies the crossroads
Of the Pacific? All the commerce.
across the Pacific from the Orient TO
the Pacific Coast tends to call here. In
lection at this central point means al
most inevitable infection of vour Pa
c1tic ports. You cannot cut us off. Yop
cannot exclude us. You cannot dis
pense with our services as your great
port of call in the central Pacific. You
nave got to make the best of rs and
the most of us.
II you had opened Pearl Harbor bar
you might perhaps use that grand
harbor, and shut off Honolulu, few
miles away, although the infection
would be apt to creep through any re-
strlctions. But Pearl Harbor is clos
ed, and Honolulu you are compelled to
use FOR your naval and army trans
ports as we'll as for your commerce.
fhen do by us, for your own sakes. the
most you can, and the best you can.
Else the black plague will plague you,
too. KANEuAMEut