The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-06-07
LEGISLATORS FAVOR A POI
INSPECTOR.
Monsarrat Introduces a Resolution
Asking the Members to Bear the Ex-
pense of the Legislature.

making, was the subject of the discus
sion. Among other things, 1t was sug-
gester that a poiologist be appointed,
whose duties are to consist of critical
examinations of such poi as may be
considered unfit for food and because
of adulterations or improper care in
it's manufacture.
Akina said as soon as the business of
the day was resumed, that the tendency
of certain members to stay outside the
house until the last moment, should BE-
discouraged.
Dickey said that before the business
of the House should resume the heads
of all departments should. be the same.
The three departments are the Irea-
sury Department, the Department Of
the Attorny- General, and the Superin-
tendent of Public Works. Mahoe moved
that the salary of the three officers lie
made $4,000, Pale said $4,000 was
enough for the Attorney General. The
position was worth no more than ibis
Keliikoa came to the defense Of Dole.
He said that this officer did more work
than any other in the territory. He
seconded Makainai's motion.
Kaniho spoke Immediately after this
at some length. 1t is all most inpos-
sible to comprehend the kind of work
the Legislature is doing. To-Day tnay
want one thing, tomorrow something
else. 1t is outrageous to raise aalari'
with the treasury in the condition II is
at present Let the salaries be made
no more than $4,000.
Aylett made an amendment u the
motion of Mahoe. He moved that the
department of Education be pl1Ce1 IN
a par with the three departments Just
mentioned. Makekau suggested that
the motion of putting the motion 10 a
vote be deferred until the last day of
the consideration of the bill rs the
matter had been the cause of so murh
talk that it was causing a loss of time.
At this juncture the proceedings
turned towards the salaries of the
Board of Health. A suggestion was
made that the salary of the city Sani-
tary officer be made $4,000, as recon-
mended in the bill. Mossman said that
the officer should be done away with.
The present occupant comes down to
his office in the morning cocks his legs
up on the table. and after a few hours
of idleness, takes a ride on horseback.
Kumulae made an amendment that the
position be changed to that of POI In
spector. A haole is paid for being food
inspector and he does not know the diff
ference between poi maikai" and bin
stickers paste. A native should be
placed in the position to protect the ma
tives AGAINST impure and adulterated
poi, such as is said to come from the
Chinese poi factories.
Dickey said that a native could not
tell the difference between a micrope
and a pig. He said further that a ma
tive could not fill the place properly.
Beckley said that while something
should be done towards protecting the
Hawaiians against impure poi, at the
same time, it was not a matter which
| should be settled along racial lines
| There are few Hawaiians who can tell
what is put in poi by the Chinese to
make it rise quicker and make it weigh
more. A man should be appointed poi
inspector according to his fitness for
the place, and not according to his race
| color, or associations.
Kumulae said that he knew how to
| scale fish and also knew good poi from
bad. Any native who had been trained
in poi, could tell what had been mixed
| with the Hawaiian dish. A man did
not have to be graduate physician to
| possess a competent training in poi,
and poi making. The matter of doing
away with the salary of the city
| sanitary officer was put to a vote, and
carried. Mossman had won the day.
| The salary of the food commissioner,
analyst and poi inspector came next.
| Makekau said one poi inspector would
not be enough. If there were one in
| Honolulu it would be we'll to have one
! on each of the islands. Makekau said
| that he wanted to be the poi inspector
on his own island
Emmeluth said that although haole,
he had an aloha nui for poi. Time and
| time again, he had taken poi, which
seemed suspicious, and had it eXamin-
ed. In every case, the chemist had de-
termined the nature of the foreign in
| gredient. A poi inspector was as great
| a necessity as milk inspector, but
like the milk inspector, he should not
| be expected to make a house to house
inspection. The suspicious food should
| be brought to him for examination.
| Emmeluth then reviewed the condition
of the poi shops, and said that some
thing should also be done to keep them
in a more hygienic condition. The
salary of the food commissioner and
analyst was placed at $4,000. The mat
ter of poi inspector was set for a later
date.
The pay of the government physicians
came next. The salary of the city ply
sicians of Honolulu were reduced from
$4,000 to $4,000. The salary Of the ply
sician at Waianae, Oahu, was reduced
from $1,000 to $960
Monsarrat said that he was in favor
of cutting out all the government ply
sicians except in isolated districts The
physicians derived pay from the gov
ernment, from the plantations and from
private individuals. Emmeluth spoke
i'm favor of Monsarrats SUGGESTION. He
| Cdlieu the pdyiOll OF the government
physicians "the feeding of pap to q
chosen few" Hoogs wanted to know
how about the poor Hawaiians" who
needed medical aid, Emmeluth said
that the Hawaiians could be built up
if the proper methods We're taken.
Just before u o'clock Monsarrat ask
ed that the rules of the House be sus
pended i'm order that the following reso
luton might be introduced. The doc
ument reads:
Whereas, The $780, 900 appropriated
for this extra session of the Leglsla
ture is exhausted and
Whereas There is a disposition OF
the part of a majority the members o
this House. to prolong this session 70
the full sixty days, allowed by th'
Organic Act, when it is a well known
fact that all the business of this ses
Continued to page five.)