The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1901-02-06
INDEPENDENT MEMBERS
1t HEALTH OFFICE
The PRESIDENT AND EXECUTIVE
OFFICER ANSWER
QUESTIONS.
Dr. Raymond Declines 20 Furnish
Ammunition to Fire at His Pre-
decessors-Poi for nolokai !,
Assured

ne independent legislators OF bot y
houses who have been soioIrning in
the city for several weeks psst have
not been idle. Each day they may be
found studiously at work inyestigat-
ing the many intricate qualifications
of the government machinery. As the
time for the convening of the Iegis-
lature draws nigh, those who are TO
enact laws for the Territory of Ha-
waii find that they have great
amount OF work before them. Com
mittees from among the lawmakers
have been making Investigations
among various territorial depart
ments. The Independents manifest
much interest in delYing into sta
tistics and acquiring informant n.
which has readily been granted by the
heads of departments. IL is contend
ed that the preliminary work now
being accomplished will liz a large
measure promote despatch of bust
ness when the Legislators meet IN reg
ular session. Investigation comm it
tees consume much time and. in the
opinion OF many, time Will be a very
needful commodity during the ses-
sion of the lawmakers.
When the Board of Health was call
ed upon as reported yesterday, D. IA
lauokalani voiced the sentiments OF
the delegation in stating the object
of their visit. President Raymond
and Health Officer Pratt represented
the Board of Health. and with Clerk
Chas. Wilcox, who acted as iuterpre
ter. the visitors were enabled TO gain
much information regarding the sani-
tary arrangements in vogue within
the confines of the Territory.
During the conference, which lasted
for over an hour, many queries were
fired at the health officials. Much in
tereSt was manifested in the plague
fires. To these inquiries, DR.. Ray
mond stated that, regarding the time
prior to his presidency of the Board
of Health, he would be unable to give
out any information He suggested
that the legislators gain access to the
records and reports Of the old plague
board. The desired knowledge might !
also be gained from a careful perusal
of the secretary's books. The present
incumbent did not feel that in his
position it would be advisable to fur
n1sh light upon matter that did not
come under his jurisdiction; believing
that it might offer an opportunity
for criticism which it would be unwar-
ranted upon his part to furnish.
A delegate requested light upon the
distribution of medical supplies to in
digents from the public dispensary.
The case of man receiving a month
ly salary of s45 and endeavoring to |
support a large family, attendant with
the usual amount of sickness, was cit !
ed DR.. Raymond stated that in his
opinion such a person would be term /
ed deserving of territorial medical re-
lief, and would be issued permit to
draw from the public stores.
An inquiry as TO the number of pa I
tients Mt the Oahu Insane Asylum (
elected the response that at the pres /
ent time 126 were enrolled. PERMITS T
sion was granted and arrangements I
made for a visit to the asylum by all
who care to study the /
conditions to be found there.
The leper settlement on Molokai
and the supplies furnished thereto
furnished a topic of considerable dis
cussion among the legislators. The
shortage of poi and taro was one of
the first matters taken up. In speak
ing in behalf OF the Board, DR.. Ray
mond stated that it had not been pos
/, IL loot 70 a
complaint which came from the set
tlement some time ago, owing TO the
limited time he had been in the ser
vice of the Board of Health.
However, the Board is now at work
upon a plan to alleviate the shortage
in the staple food of the settlement
He assured the delegation that the
trouble would not recur in the future. |
In explanation it was claimed that
some time ago a contract was let to a
native who agreed TO furnish taro for
three cents less hundred than that
supplied by the Hawaiian Taro Com
pany The native kept the letter OF
his agreement for short time only.
when the supply fell on and he drop
ped the contract The Board was
wholly unprotected in the matter. as
no bond was given by the contractor.
Poi and taro since that time have
been purchased in small lots as fast
as they could be secured DR.. Raw
mand signifed his intention Of giving
the matter close attention, and poi
and taro would be forthcoming even
il the Board paid top notch prices for