The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-08-14

Hawaiian Matters At
The National
Capital.
CaIan Special to the Advertiser,

NMalI special to the Adyertiser)
| WASHINGTON. D. C., Aug. 1.-Dr
Walter wyman. Surgeon General of the
Public Health and Marine Hospital
Service. said today that he was giving
very, serious consideration to the sug-
gestion. of DR.. Cooper, made several
weeks ago that the Federal Government
investigate in Hawaii the cure of lep-
rocy. His language implied that some
thing of that kind was probable, al
though nothing is yet definite He has
been going over the exhaustive report
on leprosy, which DIR. Cooper filed with
him, that report including numerous
photographs of those afflicted with the
disease in its various stages.
: 1t is learned that DIR. cooper's sug.
gestion is the first from Hawaii on the
subject of leprosy, which the Public
Health and Marine Hospital authorities
could look upon with much approval
Some two years ago, it viii be remem-
bered, the late Delegate Wilcox propos-
ed a bill to putsfhe settlement at Mo-
lokai under Federal control. The gov.
ernment, according to that plan, was to
bear the expense of maintenance and
thither all Iepers from the States would
be carried. The bill, although it had
almost no prospects of passing, was
followed by tremendous protest from
Hawaii, supported by the California
and other delegations in Congress. The
idea was never favorably considered by
the Public Health and Marine Hospital
Service. At that very time, however,
Surgeon General wyman had been con-
templating some investigations regard
ing leprosy. but in view of the infiamed
state of public opinion on the subject,
he abstained, lest the activity should
be misinterpreted.
However, propositions for the scien-
tifc investigation of the cause of lep-
rosy, under the auspices of the govern
ment, have not been entertained at all
by Dr. Wyman. AS he said today, men
all over the world are studying that
and the bacillus has already been dis
covered. 1t has seemed to- him there |
vas little reason for the government to
embark upon Investigations of such a
character. At first he supposed that |
voc x,,t,a1 ~, CSor.xe,. rrt,t esy1,,Io+ad b,,f
lfter talking with DIR. Cooper and look
ng into his comprehensive report, DR.. |
Eyman understands that the aim is to
eek cures for the disease. He regards
hat, he says, as quite a different prop
'sition and one probably worthy of the
governments attention.
HAwAIPS FORTIFICATIONS.
Gen. Alexander Mckenzie, chief of
ngineers of the Army. states this after
Ioon that no further steps have been
aiken here in Washington towards ex-
,ending the appropriation for fortifica-
ions in Hawaii, provided in the last
law.
re have to move slowly and quietly. 1t
ests with Col. Heuer. in San Fran
isco, to whom the matter was referred
Or inquiry about the purchase of land,
nd by him referred to Lieut.. Slattery {
l Honolulu. 1t may be several weeks
ct before we get a report. There
GEMS to be an impression here that
md is cheap in Hawaii. Some have 6
ven suggested that the land ought to {
: donated to the government have I
Id them" he added with a smile, that S
ley sell land by the square inch in Y
avail 5
Continued on page 10) In
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