The Hawaiian gazette., 1911-04-14
Power Taken Away.

Power Taken Away.
For some time, prior to April l, he
had the poi bill ready and urged thai
the legislature pass the bill, at the samt
time, urging that the poi ordinance bC
passed by the county. That was be
cause he knew the control of the board
of health would cease when the forme
quarantine was lifted on March 30.
He then went on to tell of the mai
who died in the morning, having eater
poi from a South street shop whicl
supplied poi to sixty families, the rang,
of activity of the proprietor being frcn
Palama fire station to KakaakO and VI
to Punchbowl, and he believed some o.
the Punchbowl victims of the last out
break could be traced to the same
source. The taro came from the sec
ton of upper Manoa where several Ha
waiians became i'll and died. Mr.. Mott
Smith said that the city and county
physician had been credited with this
statement:
81 don It know whether this shop hal
been allowed to open or not.
Health Comes First.
Mr.. Mott-Smith said he desired to SO,
county government developed as far as
it could be, but the health of the com
munity demanded that the laws be en-
forced by a trained organization ant
that supreme powers be placed with thu
territorial rather than with the county
organization.
The territorial board of health is ap
pointed by the governor. 1t is non
political and non-partisan and is per
fectly Independent body. The differ
ence between the board of health an(
the health department Of the county il
well known. The county officials ar,
at the beck and call of the electorate
to whom the officials look for thei
positions.
81 have been informed that the po
bill was defeated because the territorial
board of health wished to take owe
the garbage and excavator depart
ments, aid Mr.. Mott.Smith. 90
was asked to withhold any effort /,
take over those departments, otherwis
the city officials would see that the bill
was defeated.
Political Reasons.
az was also informed that they coul
not let the garbage and excavator de
partments go, for political reasons
They needed the jobs for the politics
workers and must retain those depart
ments, they say. i had hoped not t
bring this matter into the open fgh
I decided to leave this alone for tw
years, provided they would pass th
general bill through the Legislature.
"What a condition II Is 10 be brough
down TO, TO get sufficient and adequai
protection for the health Of this con
munity. This thing is not being col
sidered from the standpoint Of IL
health OF the community but fro
political preferment. This should n,
be tolerated In this Territory"
Special Danger Here.
Mr.. Mott Smith went on 70 sho
that Hawaii Is the endemic fOei ,
many diseases originating Ia the o.
eat, aud unless stringent measures Al
taken diseases from CentTal and Soul
America might also be introduced d
rather lambasted tho city health a
paTlment, but stated BIO ala not lie
assume the position " critic undeT h
circumstances,
Az ~ ihe gaIhsgo sRa eseagaifT
paTimenil being turned over % iha "a
Fliefyi ihpi nas abtoluiely neeeasaly
supreme power Nas 40 ~ vested vi
ihe hnari " heaiih Thai 0ar ia
~ ihe work ~ 3 hoard " healit
lplAppfrl M mHha oYeTF eHalf ~ 4
ihr rErHFHtaf and naflaHa anualimai