The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1900-07-28
HOSPITAL IS THREATENED
MAY LOSE THE GOVERNMENT
APPROPRIATION.
Some of the Trustees Fear Appropria-
tion Cannot Be Continued, Because
Hospital is Private Institution.

Another attempt to hold the quarterly
meeting of the board of trustees of the
Queens Hospital proved unsuccessful
this morning. After waiting nearly an
hour the half dozen trustees who did
attend dispersed with no business
transacted. This made the third un-
successful attempt to hold the meeting.
More than usual interest is attached to
the meeting of this season, however,
for the affairs of the hospital are in
volved in a most vital way by recent
developments, and steps of great i'm
portance will have to be taken by the
trustees.
1t is feared by officers of the institu-
ton that the hospital will soon be de-
prived of the annual appropriation of
$4,000 which the Government has al
ways given it and, in consequence, be
forced to raise by private means all of
the funds for it's maintenance. Such
an occurrence would be a severe blow
to the hospital, and the trustees realize
that some step must be taken imme-
diately, for it may even be necessary
to make an entire change in the policy
of the institution. The threatened loss
of the annual Government appropria-
tion of $4,000 would come at a very bad
| time for the hospital Under the old
| laws of the kingdom and the republic
special hospital tax of 81 was levied
against every person landing here, the
entire amount going to the maintenance
of the hospital For the year 1899, the
revenue from this source was $34 O07
With the annexation of the Islands and
the change of government the hospital
lost this tax and should the Legislature
fail to make the usual appropriation the
affairs of the institution will be in
very trying condition from such an un-
expected shortage of revenue. The pc
lsNg -
pital is conducted make 1t very difficult
for the trustees to set forth a claim
for continuance of this appropriation
unless some special legislation be en-
acted covering the point at issue.
When the hospital was founded in 1859
by the Queen and her generous dona-
tion was made, it was with the explicit
understanding that native Hawaiians
were to be attended free at the instItu-
ton. Since then this rule has been adj
hered to strictly. Subsequently, how
ever, as the hospital was enlarged,
wards We're added for foreign patients,
who were required to pay for attend
anCe. The pay from these patients has
! been 3ut a small part of the revenue
| by which the institution has been main
| tained. In addition to the annual ap-
preparation of $4,000 the hospital re-
| ceiVed the fund from special tax of 81
! for each person landing, and a portion
of the seaman's special hospital tax for
| which every vessel reaching port was
held responsible. The governmental aid
! was therefore the largest source of rev
enue, and when the special hospital tax
was lost the finances of the institution
were considerably reduced.
/ In addition to this the hospital be-
came involved in expensive litigation,
and by the recent decision in the Rookie
case it was deprived of considerable
/ money.
1t is from the change of government
of the Islands that certain of the trus-
/ tees have expressed the fear that they
| Will be no longer able to secure the very
necessary appropriation from the Gov
eminent BY practically every State
! constitution of the Mainland, no public
/ money is appropriated to either sectar-
ian or private institutions. While the
| Government has a certain hand in the
| management of the Queens Hospital it
/ is. nevertheless, semi private hospital,
/ and moreover, its principal object is
class legislation of the most positive
character. In the States every county
maintains a public hospital which is
free. The Queens Hospital is free only
to natives, while people of extraction
foreign to Hawaii, must pay before be-
ing admitted. The local institution is,
in consequence, not free hospital in
the full Interpretation of the term, and
under the laws there is much doubt
whether the Legislature could or should
appropriate money until the necessary
change be made.
The most practical and effective way
by which this could be accomplished
would be to make the charitable fea-
ture of the hospital universal In order
that every resident of the Islands be
eligible to be admitted on the same
terms with the natives. If, on the con-
trary, the trustees do not consider such
a course advisable and the legislature
cuts off the appropriation, the hospi-
tai will have to be conducted as a pure
ly private institution, and maintained
/ by means of private contributions and
regular paid patients. The natives can
not, of course be charged i'm any event,
for it was under this consideration that
the hospital was first started.
Some of the directors are not aware
of the danger which threatens the In
stitution, and have not, in consequence
given il as much consideration as IL
demands. The matter will be carefully
discussed however, and consultations
will no doubt be held with the Territor-
al authorities for the purpose of seeing
If the appropriation cannot be contin-
ued without any material change in the
present management of the hospital.
Considerable annoyance is felt by the
few trustees who always respond tC
calls for meetings, over the failure of
the balance of the twenty officers Ia
attend. IF the wishes of the regular
attenders are carried out the trustees
win drop the tardy ones and elect more
energetic members at the election neXt
July. In addition to this il may be
necessary for the bylaws and constitu-
tion 10 be amended i'm order to change
the future management of the nstitu-
tion so as to make it a purely public
institution. The meeting is subject tC
the call of the chair, and special efforts
viii be made to secure a quorum in or
der that the present serious matter car
! be carefully discussed.
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