The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-04-30
ISSUE OF
CITIZENSHIP
Can an Alien Fill a
Public Office
Pro tenn?
BOARD OF HEALTH
STRIKES A SNAG
A General Denial of Requests
Made by Carpins
Lepers.

An interesting question affecting the
citizenship of those entitled to serve in
a public institution was brought up in
the Board of Health meeting yesterday
President Raymond reported that Dr.
Herbert, the superintendent of the In
sane Asylum, had gone to the coast
on a vacation. The question of appoint
ing a temporary successor should have
come up at the meeting of last Wed
neesday, but through pressure Of other
matters, failed to do so. He had taken
the responsibility of appointing DR..
Walters, the medical partner of DR..
Herbert, as superintendent pro tenn,
and he asked the Board to. confirm his
action.
DR.. Raymond stated further that the
pro tenn appointment had been made
for the reason that DR.. Walters was
thoroughly familiar with the situation
in the asylum, and being DR.. Herbert's
partner, was aware of the various men
tai conditions of the people residing
there.
DR.. Cooper then questioned the legal
ity OF appointing man to a position,
even though temporary, if he was not
an American citizen. He thought an
American citizen should have been ap-
pointed. His remarks were not intend
ed to be disrespectful to DR.. Walters,
or to question his ability, but only as
far as his citizenship was concerned. If
DR.. Herbert was to be away on short
vacation of six weeks or so, such an
appointment might be all right. but if
his absence was for six months or
more then an American citizen should
be appointed instead. DR.. Raymond
stated that DR.. Herbert would not he
away more than two months and the
matter was dropped.
The Board received an offer from
See Chew to supply paiai for the leper
settlement, if a contract could be sign
ed for a long time. The applicant point
ed to his record as contractor for paiai
for the settlement in 1894. Superin-
tendent Reynolds said the settlement
could hereafter supply half its taro. He
asked whether the Board intended sup
plying rations of twenty-five pounds
instead of twenty-one pounds as form
erly. The Board said it would look into
| this matter at future date.
| Mr.. Reynolds further stated that
from what he had learned lately from
/ the settlement, Representative Beckley
| had written to certain people there
stating that he would supply the paiai.
/ The members of the Board requested
further information In regard to this
offer Mr. Reynolds said he understood
that Lilikalani, who at one time sup
piled paiai was again in the field, and
that Representative Beckley was adj
Ivancing Lilikalani as a contractor.
! Mr.. Reynolds went on to say that
the joint committee of the Legislature
which visited the leper settlement at
/ the commencement of the session had
given the people to understand that
| their ration of paiai would be increaS-
ed from twenty-one to twenty-five
/ pounds, and he wanted to know If the
I board intended carrying out such a
promise. If it did then the attempt
to supply paiai would be more difficult
! President Raymond said that was a
matter for the board, and not for the
Legislature to decide. Upon motion OF
DR.. Cooper the entire matter was re-
ferred TO Executive officer Pratt and
Superintendent Reynolds.
William Clark, one of the disgruntled
members of the leper settlement, and
whose name has been a familiar one
before the board and in the newspa-
pers of Honolulu, had another kick
against the management Of the settle
ment In a letter read before the
board yesterday he said that he could
substantiate the charges that the
storekeepers at Kalaupapa were selling
goods at more than 5 per cent profit
and in some cases as high as 50 Il
per cent. Coffee was always advanced
Calico that could be bought in Homo
lulu for five cents a yard, was sold al
the exorbitant price of 67z cents pei
yard; tea that was bought by the
Honolulu
sold at 80 cents pound. His com
plant covered several pages OF closely
written kicks about everything in gen.
eral. He intimated that he placed nc
faith in the permission granted by tn'
board to allow lepers to start up II
the store business themselves.
Superintendent Reynolds, in defens'
, of the management of the settlement
said that the coffee supplied the leper'
= was cooked or roasted coffee, and TN
coffee which Clark referred TO as Delnt
bought so cheaply in Honolulu wa
green coffee.
st cannot say that Clark's statemen
is correct said Reynolds diplomat
ically.
This correspondence viii go on for
ever" said President RAYMOND. an
the board heaved sigh. III II is Tn
rule to advance the cost per cent I
cover the expense of freight and con
Quoting the store, we should stop a
that. If the store is going beyon
that then the complaint would be Jus
titled, but not otherwise"
J, Reynolds said that sometimes IN
c price might be a fraction over pc
: cent, but this was due to the fact tina
: the smallest pieces of money in circu
>; lation were five cent pieces, and II
: per cent made the cost to the lepeI
: 10 or IA cents. Is cents would have
d be charged. 1t was suggested by u
2 Cooper that a supply OF pennies Q
l. sent TO tha settlement.