The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1901-12-31
THE BOARD
WANTS PAY
Planters held for
Care Of Porto
RiCan.
(From Saturdays daily)

at Yesterdays postponed meeting. The
case in question was that of James X.
Cantario, a Porto Rican now n the
Hospital for the Insane, and who had
been taken from one OF the steamers
laden with laborers some six months
ago. The man was committed to the
asylum by Judge Wilcox and the noard
of Health forwarded a bill for $3.50 for
his care since that time to the Hawaii
an Planters Association. w. o. Smith.
as secretary, appeared before the board,
having been invited to come, upon a
receipt of a letter in which the Plant
ers' Association disclaimed responsible
ity for the care Of the unfortunate Por-
to Rican.
Both DR.. Cooper and Dr. Pratt stated
that the laborer had been taken from
one of the Porto Rican ships and was
hopelessly insane at the time. The a.an
was placed in charge Of the Soard of
Health representatives, according to the
statement Of DR.. Cooper, who was
President at the time, at the request OF
Mr.. Gilman, who stated that the Plan
ter's Association would be responsible
for his care.
1.-The facts OF the coming of these Por-
60 Rlcans are different" said Mr.. Smith.
from the immigration under the mon
archy and republic, when contract Ia
borers were brought to Honolulu from
Japan and China. These Porto Rcans
come here only with the assurance that
they will be given work upon their ar
rival ut a given rate of wages. There Is
no contract Of any kind, and they are
free to work for whom they please. Is
it fair do you think to hold the Hawaii
an Sugar Planters Association RESPONSE
BILE for their care, or for their expenses
sr tbax, iy,gp hny 10 mr.
tract to give them work, but they can
work for whom they please. and are free
agents to change their employment
whenever it suits them. 1t is hardly just
to hold the Planters Association re-
sponsble for anyone who may become
insane.
"a great deal OF care was taken in the
selection of these Porto Ricans: physi-
clans made careful examination of
them before they left Porto Rico, and
Out of 5000 men, one becomes insane 1t
cost 100000 to bring them here. an ex-
pcnse borne by the Planters Association
to aid the agricultural welfare Of the
country. They were brought to work
where they pleased. and are not under
the moral control of the planters. and
not under contract to work for any
one person."
DR.. Pratt replied that at the time the
man was found in an insane conu,,ion ba
could have reported the facts to the I'M
migration inspector, and the man would
have been deported on the steamer upon
which he had come. However, Mr.. Gil
man had given assurances that the AS
ISOLATION of which he was then secretary
would care for the man, and upon that
assurance the Board of Health acted He
did not think II right that the Territory
should be compelled to pay for the sup
port Of the laborers brought here to work
upon the plantations
DR.. Cooper expressed the same view,
and is was finally decided to defer action
upon the matter until Mr. Smith had had
tine to confer with Mr.. Gilman. The
Porto Rican Is still in the asylum.
BOYD BEFORE THE BOARD.
James II. Boyd, superintendent of
Public Works, appeared before the board
20 confer upon several matters. He re-
ported that he had information from
Kona, Hawaii, that pigs were being rails
ed In Hookena and Kilauea upon swill
and refuse. He did not think that the
industry was conducive to the health of
the people of those two villages. The
matter was referred to the government
physician at Kona.
Superintendent Boyd also requested
permission for the department to be al
lowed to dump garbage upon the Sheri-
dan street property of the Board of
Health; the request being granted. He
stated also that the garbage service
would be extended as far as Metcalf
street.
Mr. Boyd also stated that he was do
ing everything possible to raise money
for the construction of the Kewalo drain
but Treasurer Wright had reported no
funds available for the purpose. and he
could do nothing. President Sloggett
called his attention to the great need of
the improvement, which Mr.. Boyd read
ily admitted.
I'D like to ask" said Dr. Moore, ''if
there Is an appropriation made for this
purpose?"
YES" replied Mr.. Boyd; "the legisla-
ture can appropriate all it wants. but
as long as 1t fails to provide the money,
what can we do? l appreciate the great
need of this drainage system. and shall
try to get 1t through. 1t will always
be my endeavor to work In harmony
with the Board of Health"
MOLOKAI MATTERS
The committee on petitions reported
unfavorably upon two requests for per-
mission to visit the settlement.
The request of Thomas Fitch that Mrs
Alice Metcalf be allowed to go to Molo-
kai to confer with Mrs. Emma Metcalf
regarding a lawsuit instituted recently,
was granted II was conditioned, how
ever. on Mrs. Alice Metcalf remaining In
the corral during the interview.
CONTRACTS WE'RE LET.
Contracts were awarded yesterday for
furnishing supplies to the asylum and
settlement for the next six months. The
Board of Health set a good example in
letting contracts when bids were nearly
equal. to the firm which specified home
manufactured goods. In one case where
the two lowest bidders We're tied, the
contract was decided by flip of a coin.
The following were the successful bid
ders. and the nature of the supply for
which they were awarded contracts:
Allen & Robinson. lumber. t. & g.. N.
W. Ike doors. 2x6 by 6xS-1k inches; nails,
galvanized Sd. basis, boiled oil. coal.
ii. Hackfeld & Co.. nails. galvanized
ID turpentine baking poXder condens-