Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-01-29
POLITICS AT THE EXPENSE on HEALTH.

permit, the teTTlIOEldl DodIu VI dsilOuGuic anu
forestry to drop its campaign for pure milk
a campaign that involves the never-ceaslng
fight against bovine tuberculosis.
If there has been one public service In which
the territorial and municipal authorities have
eo-operated to the advantage of the community
more than another, since the inauguration OF
county government, it has been in the matter
of obtaining pure milk supply from healthy
cows. That is, until the late board of super
visors brought politics into the equation--a
course that Mayor Lane seems also determined
to follow, with nepotism thrown in to make 1T
still worse-looking. The recent Democratic
mayor and board-the appointing power hay
ing meantime been transferred from the super
yisors to the mayor appointed as milk inspect
or an utterly useless political hanger-on, who
made milk and dairy inspection complete
farce.
Until that time the milk inspector. Richard,
appointed by the board Of supervisors that
passed the milk ordinance after Mayor Fern
successfully vetoed the original measure, had,
besides his duties as Inspector, been appointed
to assist the territorial veterinarian in the test
ing of dairy cattle for tuberculosis this in con
sderation of the engagement of the board OF
agriculture to issue certificates free of charge
to darymen showing that their cows were not
diseased-4the ordinance requiring that the
supervisors should furnish such certificates
free: This was an exceedingly advantageous
arrangement for the city and taxpayers, as
without it there is no saying how much money
would have had to be expended in paying vet
erinarv fees. the owner Of dairy being at
liberty TO call in any licensed veterinarian to-
inspect his cattle, with the county paying the
bill
When Richard was let ont By the Democratic
board, the board of agriculture, having mem
Afime arained him to high efficiency, retained
Iis services but he was absolutely without au-
Ihoritv under the milk ordinance to inspect
fies or their product. It was hoped that
p the election Of Republican mayor and
afisors, the old arrangement of co-operaA
buld be restored.
3 be of the cancnses on the appropriation
4 kfore the new outfit took office, the au-
2. If the milk ordinance, now again super
?. mentioned that he wished the appoint
of Richard, when he. was informed that
i n3was the purpose, the county and territory
to divide the salary payment, but that an adj
ditional inspector under the county was also
to be appointed as 1t was represented that there
was work enough to keep two inspectors busy
This statement having been repeated to Mn.
Watefhouse. president Of the board Of agricul-
ture, he declared that such an arrangement
would be an absolute waste of public money,
as Mr.. Richard had ample time over from his
cattle-testing work to attend to inspection.
The next thing the supervisor in question
heard on the subject was when inscr1aed by
Mayor Lane, a few honrs before he sent the
nomination to the board, that he was going to-
appoint his brother milk Inspector but would
not appoint Richard, as the board of agricul-
ture was not acting friendly to The city govern
ment, Or words tosfhat effect
Mayor Lane attitude is insupportable ON
any basis of efficient government and it is open
to suspicion of favoritism because he insists on
pntting his brother in the useless position.
Public sentiment should not permit this to
SO on. The new mayor has shown himself
anxious to learn on good many features of
municipal governments Asvigorous EXPRESSION
Of public opinion may cause him to withdraw
llis appointments before the appointee actually
takes Office
AS the Star Bulletin stated yesterday, his
action in this matter is likely to lead to the
introduction Of a bill in the next legislature
turning all features Of sanitary inspection over
to the territory the board of agriculture and
the board Of health and depriving the county
WANTS PUBLIC ADMITTED lof the league in
rf&mcMpcuclilp 0r lChAmber Of Comm