The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-02-06
A COMPLA|N
Reports of inspectors
Not Ignored.
Position of Citizens Sanitary Com
mittee Stated in Regard to
Emma Street Shacks.
Honolulu. Feb. 4. 1900.

Honolulu, Feb. 4, 1900.
Editor Advertiser: Being a constant |
'eader of your valuable news journal, |
trust you will give me space to ex- |
plain my position. l am sub-inspect- |
1r under Mr.. Clarence Crabbe, Dis |
.rict II, Apana 9, and perform my du-
les faithfully, making no distinction |
IN my inspections between rich and
poor.
During the past two weeks 1 have
reported the shacks on Eva corner of
Beretania and Emma streets and two
wooden two-story buildings situated
on Emma street and Emma lane, occu-
pied as Chinese laundry and Chinese
store, as being insanitary. On three
different occasions 1 have reported
these places to the Citizens Commit
tee and no action, to my knowledge,
has been taken by the Board of Health.
The sanitary conditions of the prem
Uses on Emma and Beretania streets
are worse than in Chinatown a few
weeks since.
The following prominent physicians
and laymen, all property-owners, want
it condemned, viz: Drs. John L. Nc
Grew, NJ. E. Grossman, Iga Mort, L. ].
Alvarez, J. H. Raymond, F. L. Miner,
F. r. Day, c. B. Cooper, G. B. High,
and Messrs. ]. J. Morgan, ]. w. Lun-
ing, J. A. Mehrten and L. ]. Winnie.
1 see by the press reports that the
Board of Health has taken no action
as regards the petition of the above
named gentlemen.
During my inspection last Saturday
and Sunday a week ago l found the
premises in the same foul state. ] can
not see the object of inspectors con-
tinuing to make two daily inspections
of apanas when their reports are ig-
nored. / am not compensated for my
work, nor do 1 wish to be; l am toe
willing to do all I can for the good Of
| the public health. What influence pre-
vents action?
/ R. E. LOCKWOOD,
District II, Apana 9.
| Upon receipt of the above communi'
cation, the Advertiser proceeded to in
vestigate.
1t was ascertained that the first com
plant was made by the inspector t.
the Citizens Committee ON Januar!
9th. On the same day the committee
notified J. A. Magoon, the owner of tn
premises, in writing that the SAM
were in an insanitary condition, ant
gave him forty-eight hours in which
to place them in a proper condition
On the afternoon of the same day MI
Magoon sent a reply, stating that til
premises were leased and that h
therefore had no control over them
that the widening of Beretania stree
would cut off much of the building an,
that there was no room in which t
move it back. He therefore left tn
Board to take such action as it deeme
proper in the premises.
On the morning of the 28th, Pau
Neumann, attorney for the tenant @
the building, called at the committe
rooms and stated that Magoon wa
trying to put up job on his ten
ant; that the present tenant had
lease of the place at a low rental, an
that Magoon was trying to get rid c
him, so that he could let the place t
another tenant at an increased renta
His (Neumann's) client was perfect
willing to place the premises in saT
itary condition Immediately. 1t wa
also intimated to the committee thu
Magoon wanted the place removed b
the Government in order to make
claim against it.
The tenant was thereupOn notifie
to place the premises in a sanitary col
dition, but before the time in whic
the tenant had been obligated to do til
work expired, the petition from pro-
erty-owners in the vicinity, to tt
Board of Health, praying that tt
place be condemned as insanitary ar
the buildings destroyed, was receive
and, having been acted upon by ther
the matter passed out of the jurisdi
ton of the Citizens Committee.
Mr.. Magoon was seen in regard
the charge that he was trying to d
up job on the tenant and also upC
the Government. He denied all Il
charges, but stated that if the Boa
of Health was paying for other bull
ings destroyed by its order, he did n
see but that he could obtain compe
sation in the same manner. Mr.. M
COON stated later on that he was wi
ing to waive any claim for compens
ton, as he knew that the buildin
were insanitary, but said that the tie
~ ant had a years lease and that he b
y no control over it.
Inquiry at the Board of Health d
yelops the fact that for three days Il
matter has been at the top of the c,
umn for immediate action, but that t
pressure on the Boards time in CO
nection with matters relating To t
81 plague during Saturday, Sunday a
yesterday had prevented the matt
being taken up as yet.
This investigation seems to fin
meet the question raised by Mr.. Loo
wood. The Advertiser is assured
the Citizens Committee that no co
plant forwarded by inspectors is
nored. The entire committee me-
once every day at o'clock. The co
mittee is divided into watches, SO II
1Vn. ~ .