The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1907-01-05
CAN STOP
GAMBLING
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dent of Honolulu have been charged
extortionate rates of interest for sums
borrowed by them. While the grano
Jury feels justified in making the above
statement yet the evidence necessary
to convict the parties loanlng money
at such extortionate rates seems to pe
impossible of procurement, and, owing
to the Federal bankruptcy act and re-
cent legislation passed by the Terrific
rial Legislature, vigorously enforced by
the proper officials, this evil, We may
say, has practically disappeared.
The grand jury begs leave to report
further that, under the guise of pawn
broking licenses, persons holding sucn
licenses, instead of carrying on and OPP
Grating a pawnbroking business, are, as
a matter of fact, conducting the bust
ness of buying and selling secondhand
articles, whereby they are able to de-
feat the restrictions of the law regard
ing usurious rates of interest. Inc
method is that a person desiring a
loan. instead Of pawning the article,
sells the same outright, with an option
to repurchase within short period OF
time, at a sum greatly in excess of tho
amount loaned. This represents in
many cases the actual payment Of in
terest bv the person selling the article
of $50 per cent. and over annually.
This grand jury believes that under
existing conditions a business carried
on strictly within the provisions of the
pawnbroking act would not be profit
able in Honolulu.
n II co,
OPERATIVE INVESTMENT COM
PANIES.
Complaint having come to this grand
jury of the condition and methods of
the Hawaiian Realty and Maturity
Company and the Cooperative Home
Purchasing Society, it made thor
ough investigation and obtained full
reports on their present condition, with
the result that a most unsatisfactory
state of affairs was found to exist.
These two companies have been re-
ferred to the Attorney Generals De-
partment for such action as may be
deemed proper
FIRE ESCAPES.
The grand jury recommends the
passage of an act by the Territorial
Legislature providing for proper fire
escapes to be installed in or upon
buildings where the same may be nee
essary for the protection of life.
INSANE ASYLUM.
The inmates of this institution are
cared for as far as possible
with the means at the command of the
superintendent. We find that mental
ly-deranged patients on transports en-
route from the Philippines are being
and sent to this asylum,
thus unGuly taxing it's resources. 1t
seems TO the grand jury that the Fed
eral government should bear the ex-
pense of caring for these patients.
We recommend that the dormitories
and sleeping rooms be made mosquito
proof, considering this to be absolutely
necessary for the comfort and good
health of the inmates. We recommend
that a committee of the Legislature
thoroughly investigate this asylum,
in regard to the wages
paid, the method of commitment of the
patients, and generally for the further
of the institution itself. |
This jury advises the enactment of a |
aw providing for the appointment OF
L
shall be to meet at the asylum twice |
| month, or Oftener if necessary, for /
consultation with the superintendent /
'egarding the care and treatment of
he patients.
OAHU PRISON.
The Territorial prison was thorough
y inspected and found in good order.
The food good. well cooked and sufH'
lent. The premises clean and sani-
airy. We recommend legislation pro-
'iding for suitable work for prisoners
ommitted for misdemeanor. There is
iced Of new roof on the old prison
building. There should be concrete
ioors to replace the old wooden floor
We recommend the establishment of a
ospital for criminals afflicted with in
ectious or contagious diseases. Al
resent there are four cases Of pull
nonary tuberculosis in the prison and
here is great danger of this disease
ontaminating healthy prisoners