The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1902-05-12
THE REPLY TO
BISHOP GULSTAN
BOARD OF HEALTH STANDS FIRM
IN THE wENDELIN
MATTER.
THE PRIEST ONLY PERMITTED
AT THE SETTLEMENT.
Fine or Imprisonment at Hard Labor
For Anyone There Without a Permit
Law is Quoted.


-he Board of Health this morning
at a special meeting approved the min
ut-s of previous secret meeting at
which the draft Of reply to Bishop
Gulstan's letter regarding Father
Wendelin was adopted. The reply to
the Bishop emphatically afirms the
position of the Board as absolutely in
control of all affairs at the Settlement.
The bishop is informed that the
Boards power is paramount over ev-
cry person there, and for his benefit
the Board quotes in it's letter the Ha-
waiian statute providing that any per-
son found at the Settlement without q
permit from the Board of Health is
subject to a fine of from $40 to 500.
or to imprisonment at hard labor for
sufficient time to pay the fine. Attor-
ney General Dole dissented from the
proceedings of the Board.
In the first part of it's letter the
Board states that it having concluded
that Wendelin should go, it was decid-
ed to appeal to the bishop to remove
him, and that this was done. There are
some things in the reply received from
the bishop, says the Board, which call
for an answer. The first is the asser-
ton of the bishop that Father Wende-
lin is there by any right, other than the
permission of the Board of Health
The Board of Health is the sole judge
Of hot to Co., 7
ment, it is stated in the letter. and is
answerable only to the Governor and
Legislature of Hawaii. The Board has
power over every person at the Settle
ment and is the sole judge of whether
the presence of any person at the Set
tlement is desirable or not.
After making these remarks the
Board of Health quotes the Hawaiian
statute, applicable to the case of Faith
er Wendelin IL he does not leave the
Settlement as the Board has ordered.
The section quoted is as follows:
mo person not being leper, shall
be allowed to visit or remain upon any
land, place or enclosure set apart for
the isolation and confinement of lepers,
without the written permission of the
President of the Board, or some officer
authorized thereto by the Board of
llOellslls ulluNl any Nll Nulllo lttlCtS Nlldl-
ever, and any person found upon such
land, place or enclosure without such
written permission, shall, upon con-
Viction thereof before a district magis-
trate, be fined in a sum of not less than
$40 and not more than 500, for such Of
fense, and in default of payment, to be
imprisoned at hard labor until the fine
and costs of Court are discharged in
due course of law"
The permit to remain at the Settle
ment, held by Father Wendelin, has
been revoked, the revocation to take
effect on June 10.
The letter went on to ask whether
Bishop Gulstan considered that he was
competent of constituting himself
judge of the matter and submitted that
the Board did not think so, and that il
was sufficient cause for removal that
the Board did not deem him a desirable
person to longer remain at the Settle
ment That the Board having stated
their decision it was a matter of choice
whether. he, the bishop, acceded to the
request or not.
That Wendelin was neither an EN-
ploye of the Board nor a kOkua, but a
person allowed to visit as long as aC-
Ceptable to the Board and conducive
to the welfare of the Settlement.
That Father Wendelin was not to
be judged by self denial, restraint or
nobility of purpose, but to be judged
solely by the effect of his work and
presence. No reflections were intend
ed by the Board on the personal attri-
butes of Father Wendelin and the work
of the Catholic mission in building
schools, churches and otherwise help
ing the settlement was highly respect
aJ nv ha nd nd still pnr1iD l.
ly encouraged by them. The legality
and official standing Of the Board must
never be questioned however, nor the
fact that the mission was there only
by the Boards permission"
1t was duly moved and seconded that
the letter as drafted be sent to Bishop
Gulstan in reply to his letter of last
month.
The motion was carried by the Board
E. +. Dole dissenting and stating that
he thought Bishop Gulstan's letter was
not an actual denial but rather pro-
mise TO comply on reason shown.
The motion was then carried to re-
yoke the permission of Father Wende'
lin to stay at the Settlement, the mo-
ton to take effeCc on June 10.
Attorney General T.. p. Dole agaiI
dIssented from the motion stating tha
should be allowed a full hearing will
| opportunity to bring witness and OBJ
tain a full hearing in his own defense
This evening another meeting will b'
held ~ the Catholic mission, at whi"I
further stems win be taken to oppos
the action OF the Board of Health
Bishop Gustan may produce the lette
To him in wrIoh the Board ot healt
stated why tn" removal of Father Wen
delin was desired and the commltte
of nine to prepare and circulate the pc
tition against the removal of Fathe
Wendelin will be announced.
1t is reported that there are furthe
developments in prospect that will b
| interesting to the board, and that IN
present controversy may have as
| final result some further changes thai
those which have just been made a
| the Settlement.