The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1907-04-16
SENATE Is
STRENUOUS
CONTINUED from page One.)
TREATING LEPERS.

treatment of leprosy, was called unde
special order of the day.
Senator Bishop left the chair to speal
on the bill. He remarked that its mali
features are similar to the present law
the object of the bill was, apparently
to modify it. He believed it unwise II
incorporate in the bill any clause which
would permit persons, under treatment
at a leper station, who showed signs
of Improvement, to return to then
homes.
Senator Smith moved indefinite post
ponement. "The changes are so radical,
position. Since 1864 the greatest eff
fort has been made by the Govern
ment to ascertain conditions and find
remedies for the disease. This bill is
against segregation while the wisdom
OF the system under the existing laws
has been proven. Years ago, when the
settlement was started, the idea of
| sending persons there was repulsive but
| that feeling has been eliminated
through the action of the Government
in ameliorating the condition of the
patients. More care, and better care,
is taken of the unfortunates now than
ever before and this will increase" He
said that for thirty years he had been
interested in the subject and had
handled great many afflicted persons;
that he formerly knew all of those
at the settlement and knows most of
them now and he had always felt that,
if he was ever stricken with the dis
ease, he would want to 60 to the set
Element for the preservation of the
health of his family. He opposed the
clause of the bill which provides that
suspect must be taken before mag
istrate for examination by commits
sion. This meant an appeal to higher
courts to the embarrassment of every
member of the suspected person IS fami- |
ly. "Why say this shall be done with |
leprosy and not with smallpox, plague |
or other contagious diseases?'' He en- |
phasized his statement that such a |
course would be wrong to the sus
pect, wrong to the family and wrong |
to the public. Such a procedure would,
in time, make it impossible to secure
a jury to try such case.
Senator Chillingworth spoke in favor
of the bill, citing several eases in which
serious errors had been made by the
under the administration.
As the bill had not been reported
upon Senator Bishop asked that it be
to the Judiciary committee,
Senator Smith withdrawing his motion
to Indefinitely postpone.
Senator Lane was ready with an
amendment which applied to persons in
the incipient stages of the disease and
referred to the case of a Hawaiian,
born with hands deformed, being sent
to the settlement and who had with
tears begged him, during his recent
visit to Molokai to secure his release.
The passage of the bill did not mean
that segregation would cease nor did
it apply to lepers now at the settle
ment
Senator Smith asked postponement
of further consideration of the bill un-
til House Bill No. "a was disposed of.
Senator Bishop wanted the bill Dis
posed of without further delay, saying
No. "a went as much too far one way
as this did the other. If such law
as this passes" he said, 'there is
danger of the Federal authorities step
ping in and taking charge of the set
Element and conducting the treatment
Of persons afflicted. When that time
comes sympathy and sentiment will be
eliminated. by the passage of this bill
you open the door to such takers as
this poor, m SCRABBLE perjured wretch
Wallach to come forward with their
uuack remedies. This bill, and others
that have been introduced, are leading
up to the point where the United
States will step in. when it viii
mean segregation of the sexes
Further consideration of the bill was
deferred.
Senator Chillingworth reported YER
bally on House Bill No. 1873 recon-
its passage.
When Senate Bill No. 81, relating to
perching birds, was read, Senator Dow
sett objected to any legislation that
would result in the slaughter of mynah
birds, He said they are great scaven-
gers and were death TO caterpillars
His motion that this class of birds be
protected by the BIZ had no support
and it passed thigd reading.
Consideration Of House Bill No. II
was indefinitely postponed This re-
lates to holidays.
FIREARMS BILLS.
House Bill 1879, which fixes a license
fee for all islands for hunting with
firearms, passed third reading as did
No. 1872, relating to the possession Of
firearms.