The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1911-03-13

hobbies Of ball and chain strapped tol
their ankles was one of the first sights
that caught the eyes of the legislative
visitors to the Boys Industrial School
at Waialee yesterday.
Immediately a warm controversy
arose which continued more or less,
and in changing groups, during the
three hours of the visit. Such al
humiliating restraint on the boys was
denounced generally by members of
the legislative party and most OF the
invited private citizens. 1t was either
eXtenuated or defended by the edu-
cational and police officials and W..
T. Rawlins, U. S. assistant district
attorney The plea in defense was
several times-one of them, it was
said, eleven times-and it was neces-
sary to the school discipline that an
example be made of such incorrigi-
bility
Such boys were likely bound to be
criminals anyway, it was gravely ar
gued, and nothing less than the means
employed would suffice to control
them.
Superintendent w. T. Pope of the
department and T. H. Gibson, former
principal of the institution, together
with Fred w. Weed, city truant Of
ficer, were among the defenders of
the discipline in question.
Those joining in the criticism urg-
ed that at least there was no neces-
sity of parading the trio of delinquents
in ball and chain with the other boys
on such a public occasion. Further,
they deemed it cruel that the lads
should have been compelled to march
to and from the railway station, for
meeting and escorting the legislative
party, carrying the heavy weights in
their hands. One of the weights was
a leaden sphere of so to go pounds,
the other two were rectangular pieces
of metal.
When questioned the boys said they
had run away on account of the brutal
treatment of the bandmaster and an
other luna, both native Hawaiians,
who struck and kicked them for the
slightest cause. They alleged they
had also been beaten with harness
straps and garden hose, leaving their
backs and limbs marked with black
and blue stripes and welts.
Other boys corroborated the tale of
woe, one of them saying: IF we
stand up to rest a little when we get
tired working in the taro field, we are
pushed and kicked and told to keep
working"
There were also complaints about
the daily bill of fare, one boy saying
they had to eat "mush and milk with
out sugar" at breakfast. What the
legislative visitors found wrong in the
regimen was a lack of variety.
1t was remarked with disapproval
that yesterday was the first time in
two years that the boys had fresh
fish to eat. This appeared strange in
recollection of what was told about
the schools sea fishery two years ago.
also in view of the fact that the insti-
tuition owns fishponds. Moreover, q
big fish net was drying upon the lawn
yesterday. 1t was stated by some OF
the legislators, who had made in.
quiries, that all the fish caught went
to the teachers messroom.
Worst of all, in the matter of diet
was the quality of bread supplied to
the pupils. 1t is so poorly baked that
the loaves come out as raw dough-
Senator Hewitt took away a sample
of the bread for an exhibit. The rea-
son given for such poor baking is that
the department had not funds with
which to install a new cooking range.
Whatever merit there may be in
the complaints thus far mentioned,
there is no question regarding the in
adequacy and unfitness of the school
accommodation. Nothing beyond the
labor Of the boys has been put upon
repairs of the buildings for four years
past. With normal dormitory accom-
mediation for about ninety boys, there
(are 142 now crowded into the rooms
The whole place is wearing an air OF
dilapidation and decay. The build
ing situation can not be shown better
than in the official statement distrib
uted yesterday and given below.
After the inspection the visitors
were treated to luncheon in luau
style served in the hall of building
No. 2. Fish, pig and sweet potatoes
of underground baking, together with