The Hawaiian gazette., 1901-12-31
the board who was questioned yester.

who has been more or less Intimately
Iconnected with the care of leprosy for
Twenty years, characterized the bill as
an outrage.
"It's abominable,' he said yesterday.
what does he mean, anyway, by such
a measure. 1t would simply make the
Hawaiian Islands dumping ground
for lepers from everywhere As 1t is
now Hawaii has bad enough name he
cause of the settlement. but this would
make II ten times worse Even in Hon.
olulu the people believe that the whole
island of Molokai is given over 70 the
lepers. when in truth they have but
very small portion. 1t would be the
same way II this bill passes with the
people In the United States: they would
think that the entire island group Is
given over to lepers. Our people now
are as contented over there as 1t is pos
sibe to be under the circumstances, and
to bring a lot of lepers of other nation
alities here would cause lots of trou-
BILE. and disturbance. For that matter
from reports ! have heard l believe
some of the States have just as many
lepers as we have. There are less than
a thousand now, and some of the States
are said to have that many. y tract
SnOulu De SET apart tsiCH -tb't w
their segregation, and Hawaii not made
the dumping ground for all the states
For the past five years, even before
annexation. there was an attempt TO
make this n national leper settlement,
but 1t has always been bitterly orpUs2d
and now that the disease is ecre tsins
1t would be manifestly unfair to make
Hawaii the receiving station cor the
United States"
DR.. w. l.. Moore of the Board of
Health did not believe that Delegate
Wilcox could have been in earnest when
he introduced such BILL or else that
he had been imposed upon in some
way.
/ THE very idea is absurd" said the
doctor yesterday, wilcox surely was
not aware of the probable result when
he introduced such a bill. Making Mo-
llokai a national reservation would give
! the Territory a black eye from which
Ii could never recover. 1t would cer-
tainly keep away all tourists or
wealthy people, who might want to
make their residence in the isla ads.
People in the States have a misconcep-
tion of the islands, as 1t is. but this
would be the very worst thing that
could happen. / believe the physicians
or business men should take some steps
to counteract the influence of Wilcox
bill. The commercial organizations
would be the proper ones to protest 20
Washington. for this is n matter that
vitally affects the Territory as a whole,
and not one class.
I "lf the bill passed and the law went,
! into effect. il would probably place the
settlement under the supervision of the
I - II
ship vessels would have TO be provided
for the transportation of lepers, for the
lTegllar steamers would hardly care to
lendanger their business by doing so.
AT present the unfortunates on Molo-
ikai ste as contented ard happy ns ,s
possible under the circumstances; but If
la foreign element was introduced trou-
BILE would surely result. Leprosy hore Is
now in the hands OF experienced men.
who have studied the disease in the ISL
lands for years, and any change would
likely be unfavorable, as the settlement
might fall into the hands of those who
do not understand the peculiar conditions
surrounding the disease In Hawaii / am
stl ongiy opposed to any such biz. ~ rhc
one introduced by Delegate Wilcox. and
hope that 1T gets no iurtner than the In
PRODUCTION"
, Dr. Cooper of the Board of Health did
not wish to express any opinion. nor did
Executive officer Pratt. though neither
were in favor of the bill.
Il. A. Mott-Smith, member OF the Boara
lof Health, was strenuously opposed to
the United States making u national lep-
er settlement of Molokai.
Until l see a copy of WilcoX's BILL"
said he. Il cannot very well express a
detailed opinion. To any movement that
, looks to sending lepers here from the
: United States am opposed. The settle
ment is n local affair; the care OF lepers
. began with the monarchy, and continu-
. ed through the provisional governmL Mt
and republic. Their conditions and needs
have been carefully studied through all
: these years. and now the care of lepers
I has been developed to Its highest point.
The people of the Territory are willing
! to take care OF their own; the popula-
ton at Molokai now Is almost exclusive
. ly Hawaiian, and the Introduction of a
9 foreign element into the settlement could
2 not but create dissatisfaction and cause
Y endless trouble.
THE exchange of the expense of car
ling for our unfortunates for lepers from
all over the United States and its accom-
J. panylng troubles. will not be a benefit
to the Territory. Hawaii Is willing to
e take care of its own. 1t always has
> been. and there Is no reason why 1t can
u not do so In the future The introduc.
D ton OF foreign element to share the
= privileges of the Hawaiians cannot bu,
c cause discomfort. Communities in the
= United States afflicted with leprosy
: would no doubt be glad 10 foist them up.
q on Hawaii, II a national settlement wer,
- established here, for II is everywher,
. looked upon as a loathsome disease.
a For another thing. there is n limit &c
- tht accommodations at Moloka!. The
: settlement there has many natural ad-
+. 'vantages which makes it not n prison
4 like so many others, but simply n plac,
a OF segregation. Not great many moro
Il iopers could be cared for there, even Il
i, The settlement were placed under nation
d al supervision. The settlement occupie,
8 only the peninsula, which is shut off b,
;e the mountains on one side ana the seG
h on the other, and the space is limited a!
y the present ar9i cannot be extended
Y II shomld mink that lnlnrntn NNIlnn,