The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1901-02-26

and it's appropriation as current funds.
Although this course liz not absolutely
necessary, yet II is very desirable that
II should be followed. for this reason n
very large part OF the revenues are re-
coved from taxes on property during the
latter part OF October and the first TIVE
weeks OF November. With our present
surplus and the monthly revenues from
other sources the Government win BE
out of funds, as shown by the Treasur-
err several months before property taxes
are collected. unless the return TO the
current account of loan advances rs
above suggested. be adopted.
RECOMMENDS LOAN ACT.
| recommend the passage OF n loan act
for larger amount than at present re-
quired, under which the Legislature at
each session may appropriate funds as
may be required. thus obviating the ne
ccssty of passing a new loan bill at
each session Such n course was adopt
cd by the Legislature OF 1896 and has
been satisfactory.
In connection with efforts for the sup
preston of the bubonic plague, which
was epidemic in Honolulu during the
winter of 1899 and 1900, number OF
buildings and other property were de-
stroyed by the Board OF Health, and u
larger number of buildings and "A great
or amount OF other property were de-
stroyed by the great fire OF January
10Th, 1900 which was the accidental re
suit of II fire started by the Board OF
Health as measure for the suppress
SION of the plague. BY this disaster n
large number of people We're rendered
homeless and suffered serious loss OF
property.
/ In response to n suggestion of the Ex-
ecutiNc Council. the following telegram
was received from the Secretary OF
state; The President approves the APP
pointment OF the Court of Claims to con
slider losses caused by the burning OF
Chinatown and to make awards and
judgments on such losses to be paid out
of appropriations made by the Council
OF state in conformity with the Hawaii
an law" Such n court was appointed
on the second day of April, 1900. and
principles and rules established for It's
government The court began operations
at once but the Council of State upon
being called together. refused to appro-
pirate funds for the expenses OF such
court ON account of a disagreement OF
the Council with the principles and
rules for the government OF the court
adopted by the Executive Council The
court thereupon ceased operations.
The matter is now referred to the Leg
Iislature of the Territory.
SANITARY FIRE CLAIMS.
Although. as a rule sovereign States
are not; and the Republic of Hawaii by
Its own laws was not legally bound to
recognize in damage claims arising
from Sutu causes, ana there Is nothing
IN the brief message from the Federal
Government which makes b clear that
the President intended to authorize a de-
parture from the usual rule and Hawaii
an law, my view of policy in this mat
ter is as follows The bubonlc plague
with the resulting deaths, the losses by
fire and the danger which for months
menaced the whole Islands population
was national misfortune, which should
as far as possible be borne approximate
ly by the whole community. Consistent
ly with this view the taxpayers should
assume a reasonable proportion of the
losses of the sufferers in this calamity,
but no logical theory requires them to
assume the whole of such losses. as the
sufferers are equally called upon to bear
their share also What that proportion
should be Is difficult to say: II can only
be decided arbitrarily
The fact. however, that many house
holders and propretors of promises that
became infected. by their own culpable
neglect of cleanliness in their surround
IGgs not only invited infection but gave
plague germs a foothold from which 1t
was most difficult to dislodge them, is n
circumstance that should greatly reduce
awards of damages to such persons IL
not, indeed. cause their claims to be re-
fused altogether.
The matter of awarding damages is
one of such difficulty and delicacy that
provision should be made for the estab-
!!shment of n court or commission COM
posed OF persons of integrity and con-
sentative judgment for this work
REASONABLE RELIEF RIGHT.
The project of recognizing these
claims In damages being one of Govern
mont bounty rather than of legal re-
quiremcnt. the Legislature is not called
uron to impede the progress of the
country In it's treatment of the subject
but simply TO extend reasonable and APP
proxlmate relief to the innocent suffer-
ers in this great disaster.
Although the estimates cover an ag-
gregate amount near to the limit OF
prospective revenues, n large part OF the
Item for interest on Government indebt-
edness Will probably not be required as
the Federal Government may be expect
ed to carry out the provision OF the joint
resolution OF annexation assuming the
payment of interest on four million dol
lars Of the Indebtedness of the Republic
of Hawaii This reduction of that item
viii amount to 1881, 1856. For the same
reason the Interest paid by the Terrific
RAJ Government since the l4th day of
June, 1900, on this account, may be ex-
pccted to be refunded by the Federal
Government. This amounts to $4,000
a. There will therefore be saving in
the estimates of SiS7, 7g6.4O, 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 locali-
ties been generally good.
With regard 10 the unfortunate class,
confined for the public safety in the
settlements Of kalaupapa and Kalawao,
IL Is satisfaction to be able TO report
that their condition as to their sur
Tuundiugs and the comforts OF life Is
improving from year to year. II Is prob
able that more can he done 10 alleviate
the hardships OF their situation Legis-
latiun providing for appeals from the
decisions of the District Magistrate
whose jurisdiction includes the settle
m,nt would doubtless add TO the content
OF that community, Such appeals. eN-
crpt upon points of law, should be heard
I'm I'M anLLemenL. Any nLhar nrrnnga-