The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1900-02-23
THE BIG COMMITTEE ACTS
HEART TO HEART TALK WITH
HEALTH BOARD.
Citizen Sanitarians Want Information
and Make Representations in Regard
to Hotel Stables.


The Citizens Sanitary Committee has
now taken a hand in the Hotel stables
matter. At the meeting held from 3
o'clock yesterday afternoon the ques-
ton in all its bearings was discussed.
Finally the following letter was unani-
mously adopted and sent to DR.. Wood:
The Citizens Sanitary Committee
does not assume to dictate to the Board
of Health as to what its course of ac-
ton shall be in individual matters COM
ing before it. 1t is an organization
created by and subordinate to the
Board of Health The committee and
the inspectors and sub-inspectors CO.
operating with it are, however, a vol
unteer body, working without pay, FOR
the sole purpose of assisting in the
stamping out of the plague.
In view of the large amount of time
being devoted by this organization to
this subject, it, and each of it's mem
bers, watches closely and takes a strong
personal interest in the actions of the
Board.
The organization has watched with
intense satisfaction the bold policy of
the Board adopted early in January of
removing all occupants of the plague
infected localities and destroying not
only the buildings from which plague
patient was taken, but the adjoining
buildings, which might have become in
fected. We desire to emphasize the
fact that no proof was required by
the Board that a building was infected
as a foundation for it's destruction.
1t was considered sufficient if, by
reason of it's proximity to a building
in which plague had existed, there was
a reasonable doubt of it's also being in
fected. Such reasonable doubt was
grfN In far NN u
in favor of preservation.
The instances supporting this state
ment are so numerous that they are
common knowledge; but we cite few,
viz:
% There were only three cases Of
plague in and adjacent to the Ahi build
ing in Block 10, on Nuuanu street, but
the Board considered this sufficient
ground for condemning the entire
block, containing sixty buildings, as
being infected with plague" and it
was burned.
(2) l.. Ahlo's store on Nuuanu and
Chaplain Lane, was condemned and
burned. The reason was that it was
across the street from the Ali prem
ises and two doors mauka of a build
ing previously destroyed, in which
there had been a plague case.
(3) One case in the block east Of
Kaumakapili Church, bounded by Be
retania, Nuuanu and Kukui streets,
caused the condemnation and destruc-
ton of every building therein, even
though some of them were upwards of
so feet away.
(D native died of plague in a
building on Liliha, near Kuakini street.
| There was no positive evidence, but II
was believed by the Board that several
days prior thereto, and before he was
sick, he had slept for two or three
nights in a building at the corner of
| Liliha and King streets On the
strength of this, the benefit of the
doubt was given in favor of destruc-
ton, not only of this building, but of
large Chinese stable adjacent thereto
and several other buildings in the same
yard, but some distance (some from
them several hundred feet) removed
| from the supposedly infected building.
This committee, in common with the
community at large, have understood
and believe that rightfuly and proper
ly all buildings so DESTROYED on suspi-
cion should be paid for out of the pub
lie treasury, and they have fully sup
ported the Board in it's action, believ-
ing that the money value of such build
ings was insignificant as compared to
the value to the community of making
certain of stamping out the plague.
But this committee viewed with in
tense dissatisfaction the divergence
from the principle under which the
| above destruction of buildings took
| place when a plague case directly ori-
ginated in the Pantheon stables, and 1t
was with a feeling of relief that the
final action of the Board in ordering
its destruction took place.
The committee have heard of the ac-
ton of the Board in connection with
the Hotel stables with intense dissatis-
faction and solicitude.
1t is admitted that a Japanese work
ing and sleeping at the Hotel stables
was taken sick there with plague, left
on January Goth, and died at midnight
on January 21st.
1t is admitted that a second en-
ploye of the said stables was first OBJ
served to be sick at the said stables or
Thursday, February 18th. 1t is claim
ed that he went away therefrom and
did not return until the 10Th inst Ir
any event, he died of the plague on the
night of the 18th.
The Board of Health has so far failed
and declined to order the destruction
of the building, and did not even order
it into quarantine until yesterday
wednesday, afternoon.
The published account of the meet
ing of the Board in dealing with this
case, states. among other things, tina
1.-THE Board did not CONSIDER it proved
that the stables were a source of in
lection"
We submit that in no case hereto
fore, except in the case of the Pan
theon stables, has the Board required
that a buildine should be conclusivel.
proved" to be infected before it wa
ordered destroyed.
There is far stronger proof that tn
Hotel stables are a source of infection
than existed in any one of the in
stances above cited, as to building
other than those in which plagu
deaths have taken place.
Either the Hotel stables should b.
destroyed or else the buildings abov
referred to were improperly destroyed
Why should the Board establish tn
precedent that a building from whicl
two plague cases have come must b
affirmatively proven to be infected be
fore it is destroyed, and in numerou
other cases destroy buildings concern
ing which there is only suspicion
without any proof" whatsoever?
1t is with intense regret that thi
committee feels obliged to communl
cate upon this subject with the Boar