Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-01-04

supervisors will SO recommend TO the
coming legislature. - .s..,. s.s.-srs. 49,
ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
Two years ago this Department and
| the road dePs rtment. and last year the
water and sewer department. were CO.
Ordinated by providing for the appoint
ment of the same person over each
OF them. This has resulted in the
anticipated advantages Of unity, econ
omy and efficiency, but IL 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
/ perintendin9 head in addition to the
office force, excepting that the head
Of all three may we'll act as superin-
tendent of one of them: and the office
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 he opposed
10 a division of these three depart
mentS Of our city government. Il was
the same cry six years ago which re
suited in ne coordination of three ter
ritorial departments. While such CO.
ordination has: had its anticipated ad,
vantages, it has also had its diSad,
rantages: 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
3D. 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; diaries in cooperation with the
federals and territorial food commits,
sioner and analyst: buildings, plumb.
ing, house sewers, the licensing of res
taurH nts and laundries subject to the
approval of the territorial board OF
health as to suitability of locality; and
the rhaintepance of hospitals.
These transfers, considering the ex,
tremely cosmopolitan population, the
subtropical climatic conditions. and the
location Of these fair isles of the seas,
at the crossings of commerce between
the. Orient and Mexican and Central
and South American countries, make
the subject of public health one OF
imperative moment, especially as a
duty of self-preseryation 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 tina,
il cannot devote the necessary atten.
ton. Lii ..: 49, II.
CITY AND COUNTY HOSPITAL
The city and county should have an
extensive hospital WITH accessories for
the scientific Investigation and treat.
ment of infectious diseases, more es.
ipeciaIIy for the treatment Ct INDECENT
sick, This need is becoming more
urgent on account Of the rapid in.
crease in population. In like manner
provision should be made for the in
dieent dead. For the present, how
ever, ! recommend that liberal appro.
| priations be made for the Queens hos.
pital, maternity home, Leahi Home and
the Salvation Army Home.
s CITY Hall ~.
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. -. h. E r: "a. !,
The need Of a city hall is becoming
more urgent on account of the increas.
ed functions Of our. city government.
Provision should be made for the ad.
lvancement Of funds by the territory to
the city and county for the acquiring
of suitable site and the construction
thereon Of a municipal building. In
order to keep pace with the rapid