The Hawaiian gazette., 1900-01-02
IMPORTANT MEETING.
Board Resolves to Condemn Infected
Section at Once.

Section at Once.
\ meeting of the Board of Health
was held on Saturday evening at the
Health Office to discuss the question of
condemning infected parts of China
town and removing sections by fire.
Besides President Cooper. who was in
the chair, there were present as mem
bers of the Board Drs. Wood, Day and
Emerson. George w. Smith and Exec
utive Officer Reynolds. Hon. l.. A e.
Thurston, by special request of Presi-
dent Cooper, was also present to make
some suggestions relative to more Wig
orous action on the part of the Board
in Kidding Chinatown of its dread Wis
itor-the plague. President Cooper, in
opening the meeting, said:
I'm company with Mr. George W.
Smith, member of the Board and a
few members of the Government sur
vey staff and Drs. Pratt and Grossman,
| made a thorough inspection of Block
No. 10, bounded by Nuuanu, Pauahi,
Smith and Beretania The result of
our observation was that we were pre-
pared for the condemnation of the en-
or five buildings, which have been
marked on the map. The surveyors
have located the buildings and the
grounds and will be ready for a final
report on Monday. / have asked Mr..
Thurston here tonight. He has sug-
gested that we take more vigorous
measures in regard to the buildings
which have been infected There are
two policies to pursue-one with direct
authority of the Board to destroy all
buildings, and another to proceed in
the manner which the law gives us.
Damages will, of course, be assessed
against the Government. 1t is well
enough to say that the infected prem
ises should be destroyed Immediately
There is every reason to believe that
the whole block is infected surround
ing Ahi's place. 1t is different prob
lem from that which we faced in the
cholera time. To discuss this matter
is a question of policy. Mr.. Thurston
says it is time for action. AS / UNI
derstand it from outside criticism, the
Board has been negligent on that line
in not destroying all buildings where
infection has occurred
DR.. Emerson: What is your opin-
ion in regard to the legal aspect for
the Board of Health to go ahead and
destroy what needs to be destroyed?'
President Cooper: THE law on its
face apparently gives the Board full
control. The Board and the Govern
ment may, however, be open to pro-
ceedings in court by injunction. But
the law, as it stands, gives the Board
the right to condemn. We have right
to declare any building or any enclos-
ure, or any place, on account of case
of sickness, and remove it at the own
er's expense. / say it then becomes a
question of policy-will the Board go
ahead in these matters in a deliberate
way?"
Dr. Emerson Il should go right
ahead and take all the responsibility
and burn anything and do anything
that Is necessary. | think that Is the
proper policy of this Board"
President Cooper you think, then,
we should go ahead and burn this
block right away If we want to-"
DR.. Emerson: Eyes, sir"
Mr.. Smith; Take one block and
follow out the course of the law and
give them notice. think 1t is ridicu-
lous TO burn all these people out, Con-
denim these buildings according to
law"
Considerable discussion was in
dulged in regarding the conditions