The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-02-04
THE FOOD COMMISSIONERS.

The last Legislature made an attempt
at making law against adulteration
of food, drink or medicine. 1t was a
very honest effort, and those who were
interested in getting it passed were
thoroughly inbued with a desire to do
good. The law has not worked well. 1t
has many blemishes in it and there are
corrections to be made. The officer
appointed in the first instance proved
unsatisfactory, and his successor Mr..
Shorey found out that his hands were
considerably tied. Moreover Mr.. Shorey
has had work put upon him by the
various departments, which he might
very well object to and refuse.
As a fact the Food Commissioner has
been considerably and unjustly put up
on. He has been called upon to do
duties which the Act of 1898 certainly
never contemplated The Act might
be published in full for the benefit Of
the large majority who do not know
of it's existence, but the section Great
ing the Office may be sufficient.
Section 6. To carry out the provis-
ions of this Act, the Board of Health
shall appoint a duly qualified Food
Commissioner and analyst who shall
receive such a salary as the Legislature
shall from time to time appropriate and
who shall furnish good and sufficient
bonds of not less than Two Thousand
boilers, ($2,00000) for the proper and
unprejudiCed performance of his duties
and who shall be provided by the Board
of Health with the necessary chemical
and micro chemical apparatus, together
with a proper Office and laboratory for
work.
Section 7. 1t shall be the duty of the
Food Commissioner to carefully in
quire into the quality of the several
articles which are foods or the neCes-
sary constituents of foods, manufac-
tured or for sale, or sold or exposed
for sale within the Republic of Hawaii,
and he may in a lawful manner pro-
cure samples thereof, subject the same
10 careful examination and report the
result Of such analysis of all or any of
Nsuch food and drink products, or dairy
products as are adulterated, impure
or unwholesome, in contrayention OF
the laws of the Republic Of Hawaii, to
tla Board of Health, and 1t shall be the
duty OF the Food Commissioner with
the consent Of said Board of Health, to
make complaint, with the necessary
evidence, through the proper authori-
ties against such manufacturer or
vendor
1t is evident that the Legislature
when it created this office, had no idea
of putting upon the officer occupying
the position the duties which he has
been asked 20 do, and which, like the
unself-seeking scientist that he is, he
has cheerfully performed. 1t is not the
duty of the Food Commissioner and
anaylsit to examine and test the
stomachs and intestines of people who
have been supposed to die Of poison, yet
such things have been added to his du-
ties, and he has received no extra re-
enumeration for such work,
Again the Board of Health has not
provided sufficient office room, nor
sufficient instruments for the work re-
CURED 1t would be well for the coming
Legislature to look into this matter
carefully and to see what mistakes
have been made. The fact that drugs
have not been looked into by the Com
missioner is being commented upon es-
pecially as a member of the Board is
also a contractor under the Board.