Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-02-16
IMMEDIATE ACTION URGED
Letter From VIM O. Smith of the Hawaii
Chamber of Commerce.
Great Damage Done by the BubOnic
PIague-Thousands With
out Homes.

Mr. William o. Smith, representative Of
the chamber of commerce of Hawaii. has
addressed the following letter concerning
the situation in the islands to a member of
the House of Representatives:
THE following is a brief statement in re-
gard to the bubonic plague in Hawaii. and
reasons why early action should be taken
by Congress. The plague appeared in Hon
olulu in December last A strict quaran-
tine was soon established, but the pestilence
got beyond control of the board of health
and broke out in different parts of the city
A considerable area in the central part of
the city was thckly populated with native
Hawaiians, Chinese and Japanese. This
part was without any system of sewerage,
and could not be kept, under the circum-
stances. in desirable sanitary condition.
But 1t was believed that in this part the
disease could not be eradicated unless rad
ical measures were taken.
Accordingly, buildings close together and
covering about forty acres of ground have
been burned by the board of health. The
value of these buildings and their contents
has not been carefully estimated. but the
total loss cannot be much less than 500. 1000
Driven From Their Homes.
THE number of people driven from their
homes and who are now living in tempo
rary barracks and in make-shift places is
about S.GO The population of the entire
group of islands. by the census of 1896, Is
10000. Therefore about per cent of the
people are homeless and without household
goods. If a similar calamity visited the
United States today, with similar results,
there would be suddenly thrown out of
their homes. and largely out of employ
ment. nearly five millions of persons These
would have to be sheltered fed clothed and
provided with work by the government
nf ha lilo ha1 NV
its supreme power. caused this destruction
of property.
Article 81. section g. of the constitution
of Hawaii provides that during the time
intervening between the sessions of the
legislature the council of state may appro-
pirate public money in great emergencies.
This has been done. But aside from the
question of great emergencies there are
many serious and most embarrassing cues
tions which should at once be met by legis-
lative measures. Shall the old and narrow
streets of the burned district be retained?
Ought not laws to be passed opening wider
streets. defining the methods of building
and establishing sanitary system? II
land for new streets should be taken 1t
must be condemned by law and there is no
existing law for that purpose.
Compensation for Destroyed Property.
The thousands of persons living in the
burned district are largely of the poorer
classes. and must have compensation at
once for their destroyed property. or they
will continue to suffer. Whenever the
plague is stamped out questions will arise
at once regarding the extent of the right
TO use public moneys. Nothing will be done
toward rebuilding this comparatively large
tract Of forty acres until a law ia pa ssed
directing the way in which it must be done
Estimates made of the entire loss of
property. owing to the necessary burnings
of buildings, and of the legal claims upon
the government by reason of this action,
place the amount at about 81 100000 or
about so per capita of the entire popula-
ton. The same claim. for losses in like
proportion, made upon the government of
the United States involving a charge Of $40
per capita would reach s70O,1UOOO.
"A loss of even $50 0OOOOO for which the
United States was responsible would I'M
douhtedly justify the calling of an imme-
date session of Congress. and the immedi-
ate enactment of legislation to meet the
emergency.
ITO delay the passage of the bill creating
the territory of Hawaii simply intensifies
and casts upon the local government and
community an intolerable burden and en-
barrassment.
No loans can be lawfully made to lidui-
date the many claims arising after the pes
thence Is stamped. because there is no
legislative power to authorize it. The coun-
ell of state has no power to do It, Private
more than 1t can in the United States, IL
the loss was S1OOOO0,O0, or even one-tenth
of that amount.
The territory of Hawaii, small as Il is
must stagger under this heavy load of OBJ
legations even with Legislative aid But to
aict upon 1t injustice and incalcuIabls SUI
ferings"