The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-09-17

In OH1 1GAOIAe lON
of the bone and fat bob that ~
the public. While n.....s,. ~ .;ws full an.
.,.,s pretending ss !. =. TO-, CIV, .. is os
AUST % abated, yet in providing mode to
exe~dte the law it throws 80 many obstacles in
the way that II is almost impossible for pub
lilo officer to put It into practice. 1t Is evident
from the opinion, not only Of the present
law officer of the city, but also
of his predecessors, that the Commits
sioners of Health do not have the
power to abate these nuisances under the pre-
sent law. It is also equally clear, and in fact
admitted by all sides, that the Board Of Health,
which is altogether different body from the
Commissioner Of Health, has not only tho
power but full authority to act in the premises.
If the one board has not full power, or ct the
best doubtful authority, then the board which
is possessed with the power beyond any per-
adventure is the body which should act in the
premises, and the official who refuses to call
that body together is the person responsible
for this neglect There seems to Us no COCA
sion for all this controversy on this point It
needs no lawyer, no nicely arranged arguments
to point out the person responsible. As long
as Mayor Gunther refuses to convene the
Board Of Health be must bear the odium, and
all the efforts of himself to shirk that RESPONSE
bility by mystifying the subject will be Of no
avail. The public see through it all. It is an
ant 70 hath for
political purposes. But If the cholera makes
its appearance in our midst and its ravages are
aggravated by these bone and fat boiling
establishments, he will find that he will not
only be held responsible for his neglect of
duty but will also be forced to the practical
experience that attempting to carry water
on both shoulders, in order to obtain votes, is
the worst Of all experiments
ABOUT THE CENsUs.-The Board of Super
visors are making great fuss about the CEN
sus. They are writing to the Secretary Of State
and to the Governor. They refuse to appro-
pirate the sum required to pay the enumerators,
and 80 forth. Now there is not the least ne
cessity for ell this trouble. The matter can be
easily settled. There is no doubt that the State
census, as taken, is gross deception. Enume-
ratOrs have skipped over many houses IN
their travels. They have had to catechise peo-
pie who were scared by the suspicion that they
were agents taking down names for the draft,
or that they were tax collectors under the In
lerual Revenue lava class of visitors who
are ~ unwelcome as they are new at our hall
doors. In many cases, no doubt, the enume-
rators were not always as civil as they ought
to be, and hence they often got very uncivil
reception. Then, again, the law provided that
they should make their calls just at time
when many people were in the country. For
all these reasons, therefore, the census is neces-
sarily incorrect But, as we say, there isa
very easy remedy. We can obtain correct
account Of the population of the metropolis II
the Board of Supervisors will only order
census Of their own to be taken and pay the
expenses of it. This they ought to do
for many reasons The national gov
eminent deems it essential to take
census every ten years. The State govern
ment does the same. We conclude
that the interests Of this great metropolis are
important enough to warrant a census Of our
own being taken. The number Of the inhabi-
Eants regulates many things of paramount
value TO the city-for example, the precautions
for the preservation of public health,
he equitable distribution of taxation. the poll
lies Of tho majority and minority. the vote at
slsctions, the question Of representation, and so
iorth. Therefore 1t is most desirable that we
should have correct census.
Tt ia evident however, that the slipshod
manner Of taking the census recently adopted
will never do. We must have the plan carried
put in England. which is to have printed
paper left at every house, with the necessary
blanks 10 be filled on one particular day
my the first OF December. All the information
'an be obtained in this way, and the name,
sg" and occupation Of every one resident in
very house on that day would he recorded on
The printed sheets. which could be called for
by the enumerators. We would thus know
he exact number of residents in the city-or
state, If it we're extended to the whole State
m any givpn day in the year. Competent
'cus,ts agents should Of course be employed, !
nd VIZ would respectfully suggest that one Of |
he qualifications OF said agents should be a
Of reading and writing. I
By adopting sach plan there would be no
'aii,er about taking the census correctly. |
DISTINGUISHED REBEL. ExnEs.--John G. Brock |
nrdge, late rebel Secretary Of War, who left |
he company of JEFF Davis in Georgia just In
;mc to make good has escape to Havana, has
urncd up at Montreal, in Canada. Whether he