The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1909-12-18

The principal feature in immigra-
ton and labor matters during the last
year was the provision by the Legisla-
tuer for special fund to be raised by
an additional tax OF per cent. upon
incomes over $4,000, three-fourths of
which is to be used for immigration
purposes and the other one-fourth for
conservation purposes. The entire
proceeds are expected to amount to
100000 to 100000 year With
funds thus provided the Territorial
Board of immigration has dispatched
special agent, lately Treasurer of
the Territory, to arrange for the
transportation of such Portuguese and
other European immigrants of desir-
able classes as desire to come to Ha-
wall. The agent, before proceeding to
Europe, spent some time in Washing
ton, going over the entire matter with
the authorities there, and received
their cooperation after careful inves-
| tigation
The Hawaiian Sugar Planters Asso-
citation has during the year establish
ed a labor and statistical bureau,
which it is hoped will result not only
in the collection of much valuable in
formation bearing upon this subject
and assistance in furthering the intro
duction of superior casses of laborers,
but also accelerate the improvement
of social, sanitary, and other condi-
lions among the laborers, in which
great progress has already been made.
THE COURTS.
The Territorial courts have practi-
caly kept up to date in their work.
The Legislature at its last session
passed a number of minor bills relat-
ing to the courts; also an important
bill relating to juvenile courts and one
providing for indeterminate sentences,
but failed to pass several other i'm
portant ones that were introduced.
The need of increased salaries for
the Supreme Court and Circuit Court
judges is constantly becoming more
apparent. 1t is difficult to obtain or
keep the best men in office on the
present small salaries. Congress at
its last regular session increased the
salaries of the United States District
Judges for this Territory, and there is
urgent need that it should increase
(by amending Section 80 of the Or
ganic Act) the salaries of the judges
of the Territorial Supreme and Cir
cult Courts.
The Supreme Court holds that a
judge is not disqualified by reason Of
having been of counsel in the case,
partly on the ground that that was
not disqualification at common law
and partly on the ground that Section
"a of the Organic Act, which enumer-
ates certain causes of disqualification
not including this one, is exclusive.
This should be remedied, as by adding
this to the enumerated causes or by
permitting the Territorial Legislature
to add to such causes.
LEPROSY.
Conditions have been very satisfac-
tory at the settlement on Molokai.
Contentment has prevailed. A num-
Der of improvements have been made,
particularly in the extension of the
waterworks. The Federal leprosar-
| ium has been completed. At the be-
ginning of the year there were at the
settlement 791 lepers, AZ nonleprous
helpers, q officers and assistants, in
Guiding the Catholic brothers and sis
ters in charge of the homes, and %
A nonleprous children, making total
population of $50. At the close of the
year there were 72S lepers, A nonlep
rous helpers, 80 officers and assistants
and II nonleprous children, making {
total population of SIG. During the
year IL lepers were admitted, GO died
were transferred to the receiving
station and hospital at Honolulu TO
treatment, and IL were released. A
there were 10 lepers at the beginning
of the year, were received from thu
settlement, and Is new cases were re
J ceived, making total of 33, of whom
| IL were transferred to the settlement
and died, leaving 20 at the close o
the year. Thus at both the settlemen
, and receiving station there were a
! the beginning of the year S04 lepers
to whom tire were added during tn
/ year Is, making S19, of whom 65 die
; and II were released, leaving at tn
, close of the year 743 in the care O
: the department.
Hawaii may well take pride in tn
generosity and humanity with whic
she has treated those so unfortunat
: as to be afflicted with this disease
? but the facts make it clear that pre-