The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-03-21

opinions of the members of the board
were freely given on many questions
which were put to them. The mem
bers from the upper house were Sena-
tors Russell Baldwin, Kalauokalani,
Kaiue. Kaohi, Kanuha, Nakapaahu.
The Representatives were Messrs
Beckley, Wilcox and Gilfillan. Both
committees were accompanied by
clerks
| ting down to business.
The petition from the residents of the
Leper Settlement, presented to the
Legislature through Chairman r. NJ
kaaoao, adopted at a meeting held in
the Beretania Hall, at Kalaupapa, on
! February 20, We're presented 10 the
board, and the first request therein
was put squarely to the board, as fol-
lows:
That the local management Of the
Settlement be given by law enacted
therefor to the persons segregated
there"
Mr.. Lowrey, who occupied the chair
in the absence of President Raymond
on Maui, stated that he did not believe
that the BOARD as body was prepared
to answer the question off hand, but
he believed that the members as in
dividuals, would be glad to express
| themselves upon the subject.
President Russell of the Senate, suS-
gested that the desire of the people
was TO be set apart as township Mr..
Baldwin stated in reply that the Pc
| titioners did not SO state their request
! for elf-governmept.
| What is the boards yiew?' asked
Senator Baldwin.
The opinion of each member Of the
board follows:
F. j. Lowrey-"For myself, after
| reading the reports of the statements
that were made at Molokai during the
| visit of the Legislature, IL would seem
| undesirable to have local elf-govern-
ment there, on account of the objec-
tions of many of the people segregated
and from what / have seen of condi-
| tions there personally
| Or. Emerson-''Wh hen the Settlement
! was first established 1t was to large
| extent, self-governed, and there was
very little government exercised over
| it from Honolulu. The result was a
great deal of confusion. 1 notice in
| the testimony given by many of the
lepers, and especially by one named
! Way. self-government is not desired,
as with the changes of health among
| the lepers they were liable to fall ill
and that untitled them from carrying
on work OF a governing character.
They are all virtually sick men, and I
agree with his view, and believe that
local seif-government would not be an
advantage.
| Again, the question of finances is
one of great moment How are the
expenses to be met by these people?
How would any such officer who pre-
sides over them be paid? How would
the uiviSion of funds and food which
are now effected by men who have su-
perior abilities in that line, be made?
The people have always been regarded
as wards OF the country. 1t Is a per-
manent quarantine. and to give local
government to the inmates, the same
as to inmates of any other quarantine
station, would have to be thought of
most seriously before it was granted. -
Attorney General Dole-''It seems to
me that it would be the same as self
government in hospital-not practica-
BILE"
E. c. Winston-"In some ways they
might be competent to govern them
selves, but in finances ii requires train
ed persons to disburse. 1t is possible
there might be such person there, but
l believe it would be a very unwise
thing to grant self government"
DR.. Charles B. Cooper-"I don't be-
lieve that local self government could
! be successfully carried on, but 1 be
lieve in their having representation,
say, having two representatives on the
commission 1 believe in their having
representation, but not in the major
ity."
President Raymond's views on the
subject were told by Executive Officer
Pratt as follows: He believed in a
commission of from three to five of the
residents of the Settlement. He
thought that three would be the best
number-one to be selected by the lep-
ers, one to be appointed by the board,
and the third to be selected by these
two. AS for financial matters President
Raymond thought superintendent
should be appointed to work with this
commission, and he should make BIZ
monthly or monthly trips to the Set
tlement. and all complaints made by
lepers in regard to the management OF
affairs, insufficiency of the water and
food supplies, or any difficulty be re
ferred to the commission for arbitra-
| ton, with a final submission of the
matters to the Board Of Health in case
the commission were unable to agree
Mr.. Dole-'It strikes me that DR.
Raymond's idea would be good one.
| Senator Kalauokalani asked for DR.
Cooper's opinion on President Ray
mond's suggestion.
Dr. Cooper-'My ideas are practicall,
along the same lines
Thus, briefly, the Board Of Health
Individually, has expressed It's disfavol