The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1912-08-16
SHAME,
THEIR TOPIC
Miss Frances BIascoer Tells
Some HomeIy Truths to
Committee of Three.

Three men and woman held an ami
mated conference yesterday in Repub-
lican headquarters in the Judd build
ing. 1t was not political conference,
however, but nevertheless il may we'll
be that the outcome of this meeting
will have a political significance in the
future which will be for the great bet
terment of Honolulu.
The woman was Miss Frances Bias
coer of the department of public char
tiles of the Russell Sage Foundation in
New York. The men were President
b. Won Damn and Secretary George g.
Guild of the Oahu Central Improve
ment Association, and Representative
Ed Towse of Kaimuki as the third
member of the municipal research COM
mlttee of the central association.
The discussion at this conference
took the widest range and s'ouestions
uneonined were showered upon the
bright little woman who sat at the
head of the table, where the fate of
political parties are usually decided,
and answered each and all with assur-
ance born of knowledge, accompanied
with pleasant smile as much as to
say, in modern American style, SEQ it,
gentlemen; phase me if you CAM
Tenement Problems.
In the first place Miss Bascoer out
lined the work of the municipal re-
search bureau in New York, where the
problems of the tenement districts are
manifold. Then she told of how tho
information acquired was put into
practical use. Much of this would APP
ply to Honolulu, but other problems
there do not.
Then came the discussion and such
questions as garbage collection, the
care of babies, the grouping of tene-
ment houses, whether the poor should
live in detached cottages or in tene-
ments per Sc was the best.
cit would make more work for the
health inspectors when the cottage
idea is followed, remarked Mr..
Towse.
'Well, we are not trying to save
the board of health from any work,
but the lives of the babies" replied
Miss Blascoer emphatically.
Municipal lights and transportation
service came up and Mr.. Towse spoke
a good word for both services, but
Miss Blascoer thought more cars
should be put on during rush hours
up again and Miss Blascoer explained
that the trade unions have raised wages
among the garment workers in New
York so that the makers could not af-
ford to remain in the lower tenement
districts and have moved to the Bronx
and uptown in newer tenements.
Cottages Better.
In Honolulu the big tenement prob
d L.. 49, IL. I -
where the joint family washing and
cooking is performed Miss Blascoer
was asked which she thought the bet
: ter, the grouped cottages, like the four
teen now being built on Beretania ave-
nue., or the unit tenement. ooh, the
cottages by all means,' she replied
Owe re glad to hear it, responded
the committee.
The work of the Palama Settlement
| came in for considerable discussion and
!. Mr.. Rath would have been pleased to
? have heard what was said about him
and his efforts to improve the condi-
: tions in tenement Honolulu
9 "There should be more stable re-
sources,' remarked Mr.. Towse, "for
' this important work. 1t should not be
+ dependent upon whether Mr.. Castle do
! mates $500 or $1,000 a year or the price
a of sugar.
] Mr.. Won Damn thought the question
t of plenty of pure milk was a very i'm
| portant matter for Honolulu in reduc-
ing infant mortality. Then the ques-
S tions and answers took up this and
n similar phases of municipal work. Miss
d Blascoer advised the starting of a mu-
n nicipal library where all such informa-
= tion could be secured.
e City's Grossest Shame.
+ "The greatest shame of this commun-
!. ity is that there is no public orphan
b age asserted Mr.. Won Damn.
t "There seems to be no public pro-
e vision of any kind for these children, 2"
: replied Miss Blascoer.
v Mr.. Guild stated that there were not
so very many poor people in Honolulu.
g ooh, you have no idea how many
Y clamatio "There are many here who
!. die of malnutrition. think that is
II one reason why so many Hawaiians
die so easily"
t The home Inc of Hawaiians was then
$ discussed and Miss Blascoer stated she
II would have a report to make upon the
!. children in about two months. The
:. trouble was that people looked upon
$ children as objects of charity instead of
g future citizens.
:. Incinerator Profit.
r Then came up the question of free
Z garbage collection in this city and a
$ number of plans were talked over, in
d GLIDING that of an incinerator which
l. would be self-supporting, or at least
Il nearly so. Mr.. Won Damn told of a
little private incinerator of his own
and acknowledged that the ashes from
it were sold for fertilizer at profit.
Plantation labor came under the
scalpel Of thought and Miss Blascoer
= stated her belief that the children of
n the labOrers should be taught agricul-
@ ture. Also she believed that the hours
:. of labor should be shortened, OF at
!. least a rest time in the hottest part
\ of the day granted.
n The committee finally came to the
:. conclusion that it might be good
). thing to call mass meeting of the
citizens of Honolulu to take such ac-
tion along practical lines for munich