Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-02-18
URGES IMPROVEMENT OF CI1Y'S
SANITARY And HEALTH SYSTEM

healthy and robust citizens their
health must be guarded while they
are young and in the stage Of de-
velopment.
The legislature OF 1911 passed a
law requiring that when a tract of
land is opened up or subdivided 1t is
necessary to file a plan thereof with
the registrar OF conyeyances. We
should have another law which pro-
vide that when new tracts are opened
for residence purposes, water pipes
shall be laid, a pure waite rsupply and
an adequate Sewerage system or other
means of sewage disposal, and until
this is done the lots may not be put
on the market This would have the
effect of preventing the opening up of
undesirable sections, the whole sys-
TEN would be put in at one time
thereby reducing the cost to the indi-
vidual buyer and proper means of
sewage disposal would be provided
before the buildings are occupied.
To-day Honolulu has spread here,
there and everywhere Our expense
of maintenance is enormous, due to
area covered. 1t is largely due to the
fact that section here or there
wherever the agent owned a small
tract of land, has been opened up. If
some change is not made, our main
tenance will creep higher and higher
and it is necessary ito make new
tracts fit in with the city and assist
in the general growth. Miles and
miles of water pipe are in Honolulu
streets today, altogether too small,
friction losses and leakage enormous.
all because they We're put in for the
individual rather than for the future
of the community.
Amend Land Law.
The insanitary land law of the
last legislature needs to be amended
so as to apply to Government lands
as well as private. 1t has happened
in the past two years that of some in
sanitary land condemned by the
board portion belonged to the gov
eminent 1t does not look just to
make owners fill land and allow the
government to stand by and not do
their part.
THE board of health needs re-
yoRing fund say of about $25,00000
so that the law in regard to the
abatement of nuisances may become
operative.
AS the law stands at present, the
board is empowered in case parties
do not abate a nuisance to abate it
themselves but 1t is imperative be-
cause the board has no funds with
which to do it. A law without PEN
atty or means of enforcing the PEN
atty is not of much force.
To-day upon refusal to abate a
nuisance a criminal prosecution is
possible but the board of health is
more DESTROYS of eradicating the
trouble than carrying oneprosecutions.
Sanitary Court.
ITO facilitate the handling of in
sanitary conditions a sanitary court
is thought advisable. This court to
be composed of five members trained
in sanitary matters. Hearing would
first he before the board of health on
appeal from the order of the sanitary
Inspector or agent of the board, If
decided by them that it is nuisance
and should be abated, further APP
peal may be taken by the party to
the sanitary court and their decision
should be final.
THE reasons for such court may
be briefly stated. Men trained as
sanitarians will readily recognize
many self.eyident reasons which to a
man who had not made study of the
subject would appear as no cause for
action. Police magistrates are chosen
FOR their knowledge of law, their ia
miliarity with evidence, and their
knowledge of the causes OF crime. To
be unsanitary is a crime, it is true,
but it is crime against each anG
every individual in the state, and
jeopardizes their health. Therefore
sunsanitary criminals should be tried
before judges who are trained in san
itary matters and laws.
1.-THE laws of many states relating
to health matters are in the sanitary
code: in others they are like the
specifications for a building forming
the working basis of laws. Many of
the present rules and regulations of
the board are dead letters and others
, are out of date.
1T is suggested that a commission
of two lawyers and a sanitarian be
created to draw up a sanitary code
for the territory using the present
regulations as a basis. As soon as
completed this code to have the force
and effect of law after approval by
the governor and publication replac-
ing present regulations until the next
regular session of the legislature,
when they could be adopted by thAt
body. New York City, Texas, Utah
and Louisiana have such codes. The
reason for such a code are SO self-eyi-
dent that it does not require any ex-
planation
Asks Civil Service.
"One of the most important, If moi
most Important, measures desired is
civil service law TO apply to all APP
pointees of the board of health. 1t
takes years to train man so that
he is an efficient sanitary officer anG
just as often as wen are changed, just
SO great will be the loss of efficient
service
"A civil service law will enable the
board TO obtain men who had some
ability towards making an efficient