The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-02-23

claims in damages being one of gov
ernment bounty rather than of legal
requirement, the Legislature is not
called upon to impede the progress of
the country In its treatment of the sub
ject but simply to extend reasonable
and approximate relief to the innocent
sufferers in this great disaster.
Although the estimates cover an ag-
gregate amount near TO the limit of
prospective revenues, a large part of
the item for interest on government
indebtedness viii probably not be re-
quired, as the Federal government may
be expected to carry out the provision
Of the Joint resolution of annexation
assuming the payment of interest on
four million dollars of the Indebtedness
of the Republic OF Hawaii. This re-
duction of that item will amount to
$3Sl 1866 For the same reason the
interest paid by the Territorial govern
ment since the 14th day of June, 1900,
on this account, may be expected to
be refunded by the Federal govern
ment. This amounts to Sl06,0 069.44.
There will therefore be a saving i'm the
estimates of S4S7, 79640, which will be
available toward the settlement of fire
claims.
Since the cessation Of the bubonic
plague the health of the community
has with the exception of one or two
localities been generally good.
With regard to the unfortunate class.
confined for the public safety in the
settlement of Kalaupapa and Kalawao
it is a satisfaction to be able to re-
port that their condition as to their
surroundings and the comforts of life
is improving from year to year. It is
probable that more can be done to allie
viate the hardships Of their situation.
Legislation providing for appeals from
the decisions of the District Magis-
trate whose jurisdiction includes the
settlement, would doubtless add TO the
content of that community Such ap-
peals, except upon points of law should
be heard in the settlement. Any other
arrangement would seem to be imprac-
ticable under the circumstances. 1t is
to be hoped that the Legislature will
during this session send a committee
Of its members to visit the settlement
and report on its. condition.
While the sanitary state Of Homo
lulu has been growing worse for sew
eral years, owing mainly to the entire
absence of a system of sewerage, and
the rapid increase of population, and
to some extent to the unhealthy char
acter of that portion of the drinking
water which is supplied from the Nuu-
anu reservoirs, the. prospects for an
immediate Improvement are most en-
couraging. A system of sewerage COW
ell lIlS IL large pOIllOn Oh Ine city mas
been nearly completed at cost of $400,-
900, and is aleardy partly in use Es-
Inmates necessary for it's completion
and extension are before you. | rec
ommend this vital matter to your faith
full consideration.
Estimates are also submitted for the
construction of a filter plant, for the
filtration of all the water supplied to
the mains from Nuuanu valley 1t is
nf all haN
required the filtration of their drinking
water, that a marked decrease of a
certain class of diseases and the death
rate is the immediate result of such
precaution.
one of the valuable lessons of the
bubonic plague, was the Importance of
| the removal of garbage from the Vicin-
ity of human habitations. 1t was de-
cided that the most effective way of
getting rid of this menacing material
| was TO destroy it. The machinery of a
crematory for this purpose has been
purchased and the building begun. The
completion of this important enterprise
requires further appropriation.
l would call your attention to- the
important work accomplished by the
Board of Health through the Food
commissioner. | deem this service to
be most vital to the public health. In
valids and children are especially sus-
ceptible to food adulterations. The re-
cent decision of the Board of Health
to publish the names both of vendors
and manufacturers of adulterated
foods, drinks and drugs, is most essen
| tial to the success of the campaign
against these base attacks upon the
public health.
L fully approve the recommendation
of the President of the Board of Health
that an appropriation be made for the
salary of purchasing agent for the
Board. In all probability a competent
man in such position would save
many times his salary.
In the financial report of the Queen S
Hospital it appears that the reduction
OF income OF that institution, on ac-
count Of the loss of real estate through
an adverse decision in the construction
of the win of Mr.. Rookie, and the cessa-
tion of the passenger tax, amounts to
SAG, 335.3S for the biennial period. In
view of this loss of income and of the
important work the Queens Hospital
is doing, l have recommended an ap-
preparation equal TO double the amount
of the old one, on condition of free
/ treatment of government patients and
the maintenance of a free ward for
the poor of all nationalities.
| The necessity of an hospital for in
curables has long been apparent. Such
/ NtloSo are NtlS plbptIlS not ItGtlN eu
at the Queens Hospital. The matter
became so urgent during last year that
several public spirited ladies and gen.
| tlemen went to work and organized
such a hospital and have conducted it
with the assistance of funds contri-
buted for the purpose This institu-
ton was temporarily located at the
beach near Kakaako and is doing a
splendid work. The Council of State
appropriated $4,000 for it's support and
$4,000 toward it's endowment lat
| ter appropriation being conditioned on
the raising of a fund of s1OO, 900 for the
same purpose by private subscription
A considerable amount OF money has
been raised for the construction of
! hospital buildings for such a hospital
and for its maintenance, but as
yet no beginning of the work has been
made. l strongly recommend the APP
preparation of $1,000 toward the main
tenance of the present hospital.
You will find by the report Of the
| superintendent of Public instruction
that the public schools are in a pros
porous condition. For some years there
has been a rapid increase of pupils be-
| hn anffV % fha