Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-01-04
will So recommend to Il
coming legislature
ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

supervisors will 50 recommend to the
coming legislature.
ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT.
Two years ago this department and
the road department. and last year the
water and sewer department. were CO.
ordinated by providing for the appoint
Of them. This has resulted in the
anticipated advantages OF unity. econ
Omy and efficiency. but ii has not been
entirely without disadvantages. There
has been too much for one man TO at
tend TO without more adequate pro
vision for experimenting assistants.
There should be a man at the head
Of the road department, corresponding
to that at the head Of the water and
sewer department.; that is, regarding
these three departments as practically
in the nature Of bureaus Of one depart,
ment, each bureau should have 81,
perintendine head in addition to the
office force, excepting that the head
Of all three may we'll act -as superin-
tenoent Of one. Of them: and the office
force in each bureau should be regu-
lated that none would be in each 9TH
er's way. This is needed especially in
view Of the large amount Of detail
work involved in the engineering de-
partment. and the possible increased
activities Of said department under the
recent frontage tax law.
Public opinion seems to be opposed
to a division. of these three depart,
ments Of our city government. II was
the same cry six years ago which re-
suited in ;he coordination OF three ter,
ritOrial departments While such co.
ordination has had it's anticipated ad-
vantages, it has also had its disad,
vantageS: and two years later this
was overcome by providing a super,
intending head for each of the said
departments. Following the analogy
of our territorial government, | urge
that the engineering department, road
department and water and sewer de.
partment be divided in the manner
suggested
PUBLIC HEALTH
Six years ago there were transfer
red from the territory to the city and
county the inspection of fish, meat and
cattle in cooperation with the terri,
torial bureau of agriculture. and for
estry: dairies in cooperation with the
federal and territorial food commits
sioner and analyst: buildings, plumb
ing. house sewers. the licensing of res
taur ants and laundries subject to the
approval of the territorial board of
health as to suitability of locality; and
the maintenance of hospitals.
These transfers, considering the ex.
tremely cosmopolitan population, the
climatic conditions. and the
location Of these fair isles of the seas
at the crossings Of commerce between
the Orient and Mexican and Centra'
and South American countries, make
the subject of public health one OF
imperative moment, especially as a
duty Of self-preservation locally
Provision should be made for the
proper inspection of diaries and other
sources of infection. Fish, meat and
other articles Of foodstuff should be
properly Inspected before they are Of.
fered for sale. At present this work
is conducted by the police department
which already has so much to do that
it cannot devote the necessary atten.
ton.
CITY ANo COUNTY HOSPITAL
The city and county should have ar
extensive hospital with accessories for
the scientific Investigation and treat
ment of infectious diseases, more es
pecialIy for the treatment Of INDECENT
sick. This need 10 becoming more
urgent on account Of the rapid in
crease in population. In like manner
provision should be made for the in
disent dead. For the present, how
ever, ! recommend that liberal appro
priations be made for the Queens hos
pital, maternity home, Leahi Home anc
the Salvation Army Home.
CITY HALL $780,
Two years ago an effort was made
through the legislature to secure an
appropriation, by way of advancement
for the acquiring of suitable site and
the construction thereon of city hall
but unfortunately it failed. AS yet
our city government is still paying
rent for its quarters, and with the
transfer Of the water and sewer works
from the territory to the city and
county, this expense has been in,
creased. .... ..-
The need Of city hall is becoming
more urgent on account of the increas
ed functions Of our city government
Provision should be made for the sd
vaneement Of funds by the territory &c
the city and county for the acquiring
of suitable site and the construction
thereon Of municipal building. In
order to keep pace with the rapid
growth of our metropolis, urge that
the present board will so recommend
to the coming legislature