The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1905-06-09
JACK At
WASHINGTON
Busy there and in the
WiIds OF Wall
Street.


WASHINGTON, d. c., May 22-Sec-
retary Atkinson has been here for three
where he spent some time on matters
pertaining to the refunding of the Ha-
waiian bonds. He is stopping at the
New Willard Hotel, and has had sew
eral interviews with important govern
ment officials. This morning. he was at
the White House offices and had a long
talk with President Roosevelt.
His mission to the mainland is meet
ing with encouraging success but mat
ters have not reached a definite head
in any important particular thus far.
The territorial secretary has been
spending considerable time with the
acting Secretary of State, Mr.. Loomis;
the Secretary of Commerce, Mr.. Met
calf and the Commissioner General of
Immigration. Mr.. F. P. Sargent, on
matters that he does not disclose. His
coming was especially opportune at
ments are not crowded with work and
the officials have time to give to the
considera ton of Hawaiian affairs. He
has seen Surgeon General Wyman, with
whom he has reached a good under
standing about the plans for the lep-
rosy study. This project is regarded
here with great favor, as medical men
believe it will furnish an unusual op-
portunity to establish the confidence
of the Hawaiian people in the efficacy
of efforts to cure the disease of leprosy.
Leprosy was the subject discussed at
the first session of the third annual
conference of state and territorial
health authorities with the officials OF
the United States public health and
marine hospital service, held In the
New Willard Hotel a few days ago,
Surgeon General Wyman presided, and
Assistant Surgeon General GeddingS OF
the same service acted as secretary.
Each state and territory is by law en-
titled to one representative. General
Wyman opened the discussion of Iep-
rosy by explaining that two bills had
been introduced at the last session of
Congress, one for the study of leprosy
on the Island of Molokai, Hawaii by
the United States public health service,
and the other providing for the estab-
lishment of a national leper home in
this country, where the states might
send their lepers for segregation, care
and treatment.
The former passed and is now law,
to col hl1t "a "a
in the House. after receiving the ap-
proval of both House and Senate COM
mittees and passing the Senate, by
reason of fear on the part of certain
sections that the proposed home would
be located near them.
All delegates present then Joined in
a general discussion of leprosy. during
which it was brought~out that all state
boards of health represented are unani-
mously and strongly in favor of a ma
tional leper home, and regret the defeat
of the bill introduced for that purpose.
All expressed their strong belief that
no danger would come to any part of
the country by location of such home.
and DR.. Edmond Souchon of Louisiana
cited the case of a Louisiana leper
colony, which has been existing ten
years, with absolutely no sign of any
infection of surrounding territory.
Most states reported no lepers present.
DR. Geddings read from the report
of the leprosy commission appointed by
General Wyman in 1899, in accordance
with an act of Congress. This report
was published in 1902. as Senate docu
ment No 269, Fifty-seventh Congress,
first session. and gives 27S lepers in the
whole United States al that time-116
males and 102 females; 145 American
born 120 foreign born; 1S6 having con-
tracted the disease in the United
States. 6S having contracted it abroad.
Seventy-two We're isolated and 205 at
large at that time
The general opinion of the conference
is that danger from leprosy increases
each year. but that the establishment
of national leper home. which would
be made comfortable and attractive to
lepers, would result in the reporting of
all cases and their segregation. When
this is accomplished the danger it is
said. will be reduced TO a minimum.
General Wyman stated that his idea
is to have a colony of cottages. and
perhaps tents. in fine climate. where
lepers would be made comforta Bile and
every means used to better their condi-
ton. and if possible cure the disease.
BONDING MATTERS.
Il spent three or four days in New
York" said Mr. Atkinson this after
noon, with Messrs. Dillon and Hub
bard. going over the new funding act
for the refunding of the old Republic
of Hawaii debt. A great many intri-
cate questions have arisen, from the
fact that this was a debt authorized