The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-04-11

his cabinet find themselves today con
fronted by an absolute legal inability
to use a dollar OF the public money for
the public service after the end of this
month. This is because there is no
Legislature to make the necessary APP
preparations. Mr.. Dole had issued or
ders for the election OF a new Legis-
iature in September last, in accordance
with the laws of the Republic of Ha-
wall, under which we are still living.
For some doubtless good reason, Pres
ident Mckinley ordered such election
not to be held. We are, therefore,
without any Legislature capable Of
making the necessary appropriations to
carry on public affairs, and no money
can lawfully be used after the end of
+ ebruary. President Mckinley has
been asked to authorize the summoning
OF the old Legislature in order to make
the indispensable appropriations. No
reply seems yet to have been received.
This most embarrassing situation is
now aggravated by urgent necessities
growing out OF the presence in our city
OF bubonic plague. IL is now nine weeks
since the first case was discovered.
There have been sixty-three cases and
fifty-four deaths, despite the most
strenuous efforts to stamp out the pest.
Besides a systematic twice a day in
spection OF every room in the city in or
der to prevent cOncealment Of the sick,
these efforts have embraced the re-
moval to quarantine camps Of over
5000 persons; where they have been
sheltered, fed and partly clothed at
public expense. These people were
from the infected sections. and chiefly
Asiatics. They have also involved the
burning of Of nearly sixty acres of old
and many new tenements crowded by
Asiatics with some of the lower class
of Hawaiians. The insanitary cOndi-
ton of these blocks was beyond rene
dy. Many OF the blocks and buildings
burned were isolated ones, where
plague had appeared. In the progress
of burning off the infected blocks on
successive days, the fire on January
10th escaped from the control of the
firemen. Some thirty acres of China
town" were rapidly swept off, including
the handsome native church of Kauma-
kapili, which had cost over $50 1000, be-
sides a few valuable brick buildings.
BY this disaster-nOt altogether an
evil-some $500 people were suddenly
driven out OF their abodes, with the
loss of most of their effects. 1t was es-
sential to prevent their scattering and
carrying the infection over the city.
Instantly was exhibited the admirable
vigor and organization of our large
white element, who rushed to guard
and control the half-frantic crowd
They were Immediately gathered into
temporary quarters. Large wooden
structures were hastily erected for
their accommodation. All were speedi-
ly fed, and in day or so made entirely
comfortable. One already large deten-
ton camp, one mile apart from the
solid portion of the town, was enlarged
to receive in comfort 5000 persons, who
are now there under guard until their
period of quarantine is complete.
To meet all the heavy expenses di-
rectly growing out of our war with
plague, our constitution provides that
in the absence of the Legislature the
needed money may be appropriated by
the Council Of State. That Council hds
met, and has appropriated several hun
dred thousand dollars, much of which
has been already expended IL has
however, been decided by the proper
legal authority that such appropria-
lions cannot cover public provision for
persons rendered destitute by the fires
after they have been dismissed from
quarantine There are already hun
dreds of such persons in need of public
relief, notwithstanding every effort 70
procure for them employment. Were
public works authorized they might be
employed on those, but the appropria-
tiOns for those have expired. Here
then is one immediate need OF legisla-
ton from which we are precluded. OF
course, there are other urgent needs
growing out of the plague and its re-
suits. One, for instance, is the extern
sion by law of the fire limit, to prevent
the erection of inferior structures in
Chinatown, which is very liable to be
done.
This is a most anomalous condition
of affairs. probably unprecedented in
history. Here is a strong, highly civil
lied and wealthy community, with an
overlooking treasury. and the highest
capacity for conducting its public af-
fairs, but suddenly paralyZed by the
loss of its legal power to act. We have
a most capable Government, but it has
been made subject TO Washington, and
Washington has cut off our legislative
arm. and with 1t our power to draw
upon our treasury in these utmost
needs. In fact, we shall in n few days
became incapable of paying our teach
ers, our police, our postoffice, and our
custom house. Probably something
will speedily be done at Washington
to avert disaster. The immense growth
of our population calls for a CORE
spending increase Of public expendi-
lures in all directions. This Is more
than justified by the great increase OF
income from taxes and customs. But
we are absolutely paralyZed until au-
thority comes from Washington.
Since this letter was begun II Is
learned that the plague has broken out
upon the important island OF Maui
There have been seven deaths OF Asia
tics at the chief port OF Kahulul. Their
small Chinatown of $50 denizens has
been burned. and rigid guarantees es-
tablished OF Chinatown against Kahu-
lui, and Of Kahului against the rest OF