Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1902-02-19
A STITCH IN TINE.

For some months past business in
terests Of Hawaii have realized that
the sanitary conditions Of this city are
not of the best and to certain extent
are menace to the commerce be-
tween the islands and possibly with
the Mainland ports. Our close rela-
tions with the plague infected coun-
tries OF the Orient make IL absolute
ly necessary that we keep our house in
oder that there shall be no cause for
interference with commerce or serious
danger of epidemics.
The fact remains that this city ought
to have a general housekeeping and
the longer such move is delayed the
greater are the difficulties with which
the community has to struggle. 1t is
a business proposition as well as a
sanitary safeguard.
The mixed population and indiffer-
ence of portion Of 1t to filth is an
ever present problem, necessarily more
serious as the department having an
oversight Of the general sanitary con-
ditions of the city is handicapped for
want of funds to employ the requisite
number Of men to carry on necessary
work. The health department is han
dicapped on every hand. 1t is on a
pro rata basis like every other depart
ment and the thought of branching out
beyond the present range of activity
is out OF the question. Some time ago
merchants advanced the money for the
construction OF rat proof wharves, but
there is no reason why they should be
called upon for any further expendi-
ture of funds when every taxpayer OF
the country is a direct beneficiary and
there is every reason why the work
should be carried on by the authorities
OF the Territory.
This town and the outside districts
continually face possibilities which are
| by no means reassuring and the only
cause for II Is the lack OF funds in the
treasury to carry out more complete
sanitary inspection. Departments can
not work without money. They are
tied hand and foot while the work
which would be done II II were finan-
cial possibility remains untouched. A
solution OF the Kewalo problem is Of
fered but that after all is only a be-
ginning Of what should be done. The
summer months are coming on and hot
weather does not solve sanitary prob
lens.
The people OF the Territory natural
~ look to the Territorial administra-
ton for financial relief. II such relief
is not within the power OF the excel
tive to grant there is no other way out
Of 1t than an appeal to the Legislature
Thia m6Rey ought to be Forthcoming
from some source as Insurance against
possible loss which might reach higher
figures than a Legislature could spent
In its most garrulous moments. Tall
, of appealing to the Federal authoritie
is not to be thought of when the peo
pie are so well able to take care o
themselves II little progressive spiri
is shown. Federal authorities coul
do the work and there is no doubtlnl
Il would be done thoroughly, but tn
mere fact of Hawaii's appealing to tn
Federal Government to take charge o
its sanitary affairs for the time bein
would in and OF itself create a fnrore q
exaggeration and wild romancin
about conditions here from which tn
business OF the city would be yer
slow in recovering. And goodnes
knows the business interests of tn
= Territory have enough unpleasant
a burdens OF depression to carry no
4 without adding any fakir's products I
I the lists.
e The proverbial stitch in time can
y no harm.