Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1901-05-15
LEGISLATORS SEE
PORTO R|(ANS
Joint Legislative Com.
mittee Visits Quar-.
antine Island.
EMMELUTH WOULD FIRE
THE BOARD Or HEALTH
Committee Fails to Agree With Him
in Regard TO the Power Vested in
the Committee DR.. Russell Talks
on the Health Of Immigrants. ~

The joint committee from the House
and Senate which was appointed to in
vestigate the conditions on Quarantine
Island. made their inquiries into the
matter yesterday afternoon and re-
turned safe and sound.
The committee consisted of Repre-
sentatlves Emmeluth, Dickey, Keliikoa,
kumalae, Gilfillan and Puuki and Sen.
ators Baldwin. Russell and Kalauoka-
LAM.
Besides the committee, DR.. Bahren-
berg, the United States Quarantine OFF,
Ger. several Senators and the usual
coterie Of newspaper men were in at
attendance. The Marine Hospital Ser
vice launch took the party to the ISL
and.
Once on the wharf, 4 was found that
the Porto Ricans were departing for
various steamers with. all their bag
gage. Emmeluth FASTENED to stop one
Of the boats so that the Porto Ricans
might be examined.
Sizing up one of the men, who was
almost too thin to cast a shadow. he
began asking him questions through
an Interpreter. After short time. the
committee managed to find out from
the man that he had had fever before
he left Porto Rico, that the doctor had
examined him, that he was better now,
and that he and his companions had
been well fed and well cared for on
their way down.
When asked II he had had any food
since he left the Colon. he replied in
the negative, placing one hand on the
gion where his stomach ought to be.
81 think" said Emmeluth, with some
emphasis, that these people should
all be quarantlned for two weeks so
that they will be in flt condition to
travel or work. l move that the COM
mittee order the Porto Ricans all back
to the island"
I'VE have no authority to do that"
said Senator Baldwin. I'VE are here
only to investigate the island. and re.
port to the Legislature"
1--WE certainly have the power" re-
piled Emmeluth.. ~ wrote the reso-
luton myself and nobody knows bet
ter than I do, what power was granted
by It."
81 don't believe we have the power
either" said Gilfllan. John. you
can't restrict American citizens from
travelling any place they please over
the United States. These people have
tnot mans, riuhtc nc ,.pv
well. we will order the Board Of
Health to stop this Immediately" re-
trrned the irate Emmeluth, as another
boat load of Porto Ricans started for
the Kinau.
I'VE have not the power" came
from Dickey.
We'll, II the Board OF Health is
higher than the Legislature, said En-
meluth, now Is the time to find 1t out.
Well fire the whole Board tomorrow II
they fail to do what we tell them. Look
at these children" he continued, turn
Ing to Kumalae. Look at what a
crowd OF illiterates we are raising.
What we want is people who can read
and write English or Hawaiian as the
law provides. These people can do
neither"
"These people will make good labor
ers for your plantation, John" return
ed Baldwin.
plantation! ! have no plantation, "
returned Emmeluth. 81 have had Just
enough experience in sugar to know
enough to keep well out Of It,"
perhaps that is why he is SO sore, +"
said Mr.. Baldwin In an aside. These
men are all right. All they need is a
little food, and they will make very
good laborers. We have had good sue
cess SO far with our Porto Ricans.
Some OF them are very strong men,"
There goes Emmeluth," cried out
some one from the crowd Turning
the committee saw the statesman In a
small boat starting for the shore.
Going to fire the Board Of Health
and stop the Kinau." said Gilfllan In
explanation.
Half an hour was spent In lettering
around on the wharf and then the com,
mittee returned to the shore nothing
the worse for wear.
DR.. Russell, when interviewed by |
Bulletin reporter. said:
"The Porto Ricans were not In al
bad a state as ! expected from Mr.
Emmeluth's description. notice tina
about ten per cent of them are trouble'
with what is known AS tropical worms
q disease which is quite, prevalen
among the Japanese. When this dis
ease. combines with typhoid fever
there is but little hope of surviving tn
disease. noticed only one case O
this extreme stage and | doubt wheth
err the child has many more hours I
live. A feed will do these Porto RI
cans more good than ANYTHING else tina