The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1900-03-26
DIR. CARMICHAEL OBJECTS THE PEACE SITUATION
WANTS FREIGHT RESTRICTION
CONTINUED.
If Any Let Up Now, Sugar Shipments
VIII BE Endangered-Com and
Board Heed Warning.

At the meeting of the Board of
Health Saturday afternoon the COM
mittee on shipping filed a report against
Island traffic, and the report was
unanimously adopted.
The report speaks for itself. There
was a greater than ordinary reason for
ii, however, and that was an objection
to reopening traffic by DR.. Carmichael
head of the Marine Hospital service.
When informed of the proposed action
of Board, DR.. Carmichael replied that
if there was any slackening of freight
regulations he would report to his de-
partment that he considered any cargo
from the Hawaiian Islands a source
of danger. This would embarras if not
check the landing of sugar at San
Francisco or New York.
Following is the report of the COM
mittee as finally submitted and adopt
ed:
Your committee to which was refer
red the resolution withdrawing all res
trictions on shipment of freight other
than that from Oriental ports, beg to
report that they are unable to recon-
mend the adoption Of the resolution.
When the matter was first brought
to our attention (befOre the introduc-
ton of the resolution, we were inclin-
tO 10 ldNOI H. Dul luIlltI tOllSluGl dllOll
leads us to the belief that the time has
not yet arrived when we should take so
important a step.
As members of business houses di-
reCtly interested in shipping goods to
the other islands we are anxious to see
the present restrictions removed, but as
representatives of the Board of Health
which is supposed to be working for
the safety of all parts of the islands, we
think that the proposed action should
be deferred for what it is hoped Will be
only a short time longer
We are all agreed, no doubt, that the
only absolute safety is in the prohibit
ton of all communication between
ports, but that has never been consid-
cred practicable. The Board has taken
such steps in it's quarantine regulations
as was believed would reduce the dan
ger of infection being carried to the
minimum.
The action taken a short time ago
which permitted the shipping of goods
of American and European production
and manufacture after as slight disn-
lection as was considered safe, has re-
lieved the wants of the other islands
to a great extent, but instead of salts
flying the shippers here it has only made
them more insistent that all restrictions
should be removed. Those of us who
llelu any lllll5 " w Will llllS llldllGl
of shipping freight, have noted with re-
gret that attempts have been made to
evade the regulations adopted by the
Board. However, in the belief to quote,
that quarantine is sieve, not a dam, ="
we think that a degree of safety has
been attained even under the circum-
stances named.
In taking the action which it has,
the Board has assumed that there was
pf I'M
fected; such infection in the case of
goods in original tight cases, being on
the outside.
This condition was to be met by
spraying the outside of such cases with
a proper disinfectant. Without such
disinfection the time will come when
any reasonable danger of infection has
passed: just what that time is we do
not know, but if quarantine is to be en-
tirely lifted after thirty days from date
of last case, it is supposed to be with
in that time. The time then which
elapses between the time of possible in
lection and the safety point tends to
decrease any danger there might be.
Your committee has been particular
ly impressed with, and their action in
this case modified by, a statement OBJ
tanned from DR.. Carmichael, the United
States Marine Hospital surgeon at this
port; that if the restrictions were re-
moved he would be compelled to note
such facts on Bills of Health of YES
sells carrying cargoes from this port
and although cargoes are, by regu-
lation of the United States authorities
fumigated at port of entry, yet the
fact that no restrictions, excepting on
Oriental freights were observed here,
would undoubtedly have a detrimental
effect on shipment from this port.
Further the shipment OF freights
without treatment of any kind would,
of necessity until quarantine is raised,
place the boats of the Island fleet in
the position of being uncleau. The car
rying of sugar cargoes by these vessels
would therefore place the cargoes N
the same condition.
While it is true that no cases have
occurred for some time in any locality
near the business portion of town, yet
the springing up of cases in points re-
mote from supposed infected premises
shows that we do not know just where
the danger lies.
The other islands look to us for pro-
lection against the disease being car
ried from this city to them, and the i'm
mense expense incurred thus far in at
tempting to eradicate the plague should
make us very careful how we take any
chances now of letting it get on to the
other islands.
We know that letters are coming
here from other places almost demand
ing that certain goods must be sent,
but we see the same names on cum
munications in the papers saying that
regulations must be enforced. People
from outside districts who are most
radical in wanting goods shipped Will,
we believe, be the first to denounce the
Board if plague should appear among
them.
The quarantine wharf which was es-
tablished at large expense on the other
side of the harbor is now ready for
use, and with the facility for shipping
goods which will be provided by that
and the present arrangements on the
wharves on this side of the harbor, we
think that the proposed resolution
should be deferred for at least two
weeks and recommend that such aclion
be taken.
a