New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-04-05

: -
the EN- oagEa=sei condition of the city
finances. We nus: limit ourselves 30 wlar
! we nave al.aauy Sa:I.
| II RELATION - EVIDENCE.
| Although y NAV not be strictly within
| the sphere of our duties to suggest changes
| or Innovations IN legislation, we can not re-
! t-ain from expressing n opinion on the Law
| OF evidence as il stands at present. IN rela
ZION to criminal eases. We have not been
| able 70 avoid observing the perncious in.
! tluenCe eXe-tai by tle restraints which
| conf0rln&5iv y with the customs and the pre-.
| judices oc uaS- zines still interfere with
| the cOCr:e of Justice, operating sometimes
!niG::ousiy 70 defendants, and sometimes
! a.sad van sageousiy 20 the State. The ten
dency Il other civilized cOmmuni
stTa!HtS. D. eut.-olr Inconsistent with
any Ca.ipnt: 5h-o-y OF the admins
tratiOn y: Justice. and. TO permit the widest
| latitude, a. % witnesses, while CONFORMING q
10 those c-..s OF evidence which experience
and reason have established. In Louisiana
the example was sat OF allowing all persons
I. testify IA .:vg. cases. even the plaintiff
and che defendant themselves, and while
this reform las been adopted in England
and in New York and other States, thus
atturdiny al instance of wide departure
tanned n criminal CaseE the limitations and
restraints o. tIe common law. which in so
nanv diner comm mites have been
entirely removed. Thus, while we find
that in England ani New York the defend
ant IS now permitted 30 testify in his own
favor. we stiIi refuse TO permit the wife 20
give evidence either for or against the hus-
band. ana The husband for or against the
wife. |: is often tne case that the truth
-
anaivsiS OF evidence which. in detached nor
t!Ons, may De regarded as untrustworthv.
but which. correctly interpreted. NAV fur
nisA me solution OF many problem, other
wise entirely uns0tvaD!e. There is no good
reason 70 refuse - avail ourselves OF anv
evidence that may be attainable; nor can It
De supposed tina. q jury If capable of cor
rect.g balancing the conflicting testimony
so treuGently presented 10 them, would not
De equally capable Of estimating the value
ot evidence as affected by motives Of self
interest. o. u persona! ties and obligations.
ASSESSMENTS.
AnOtaa: serious cause Of complain. which
has cone unGer OF! notice Is the high rate
o: assessments iev.ed n the Fifth District
of New Orleans. which extends about fifteen
miles along the Mississippi. Some OF the
remOteSt properties. consisting chiefly Of
plantations. a-s assessed as IN tho more
valuable localities. apparently under the
pre.ex. that they are situated within the
limits OF the corporation, while they are
deprived .. man. advantages. such as gas.
wa.eE. c0ads and sidewalks.
The PEST HOUSE.
4 communication from DR.. HAYES. S-o-
prietoc nj the Luzenberg Hospital. CAIN
ing that his establishment is by legislative
hr,T,- T.,rr,:+aI rbo-
pox patients sha,I Oe treated, and also that
tine pest house on Common street under
the charge Of D.. Antoux, Ia insufficient
and improperly conducted, has received
our attention.
W, have dismissed the controversy as 70
VINO IS entitled 10 .Ia smaIipo patients.
"a party matter not coming within tle
scope of pur duties.
Regarding that part of the communica
ton which affects :le interests OF the com
municv. we bav9 considered it By ac-
tlai visits 10 both hospitals The
hospital Of Dr.. AniOux we have
found 70 meet all the requirements of such
a hospital, although i may not vie In point
of elegance and finish with the establish
meut ot DE-. Havcs, situated on ELVsiau
Fields street. II the discharge OF his du-
les. Dr.. Ant3ux IS assisted by DR.. Fjnney,
a Young physician whose ability has iust
caused him to Oe elected member Of the
Board 0. Health on The part of the city.
THIS matter having been referred by the
grand jury 10 the Board of Health, viii the
request that chay sho@ld report on It. has
resulted ii the sUbiOined answer of De-
Whit. IN which we silly concur. and re-
commend i.s consideration by the city AL
th0....es:
O9!.', ~ THE BOARD oF HRILrH.)
State OF Louisiana. :
Eev Orleans March 81, 1875.
Hon Pl:: waterman. Foreman OF Grand Jury:
SIE-The communication from the hon
cradle grand .iurv TO tue Board Of Health
was referred to the president, With inst"uc-
lions 20 make such reply as Was possible.
When smallpox became somewhat Yreva-
lent. ii was reported 70 me that the wards
OF Dr. Anf"ux' hospital were TOO crowded.
and that the nunJe! 0t nurses was Insult
cien..
The attention OF D-s. Cooper and Ames.
city pnys.c;tnS was, invited to the matter.
and they made immediate and re-
peated visits % tle institution and
| was informed y them and the
person whom | afterward sent to ex-
anime the hospital. shat the evils COM
planned Q: had been renedied. At the pres-
ent time. one OF The sanitary police officers
visits the hospital every day,
The practice G: taking care OF the sick
from any disease 09 cD' '.'.,:' is decidedly
objectionable.
THIS is especially true of those sick with
smallpox. as proper regard to the health
Of the community requires the isolation Of
those afflicted with it. Smallpox hospitals
are properly located a: considerable re.
move from habitatiOns. and frequent vIsI'
tatl0ns 81 The sick By .cie nds Is improper.
Both because OF the danger 70 the Sisltants
ana the LIABILITY OK carrying abroad the
contagi0n 20 others.
The sick az a smallpox hospital
are IN az especial manner at
tha mercy of those IN charge of II.
A contract TO take care of the sick at so
much per case. makes it to the interest Vi
the proprietor of a pest house to economic
in number and quality Of nurses. in food, N
stmulants, in medical attendance. TO make
the stay OF patients n the hospital as short
as possible, even though the patient be I'M
perfectly cured. and be still , source OF
danger 10 others. Even early death of pa
Ients Is gain to the funds of an instltu-
ton paid by contract at so much per case.
distinctly state that | make no charge
or hint OF charge against the hospital before
mentioned. but discuss the matter az to
the principle on which hospital accommHda-
ton FOR smallpox patients should be pro
Vided.
a government with proper sense ot
duty to its sick citizens should not adopt
plan for caring for them which makes the
best good OF the patient the greatest disad-
vantage to the persons in charge of him.
1t can NOT be anticipated that average
nnmaa nature will make prolonged and
considerable pecuuiary sacrifice TO oeneht
unknown strangers.
| have the honor 20 be. sir. very :espeS.'
fully. your obedient servant.
&C. B. WHITE. NJ T..
President OF the Board Of Health.
THE CITY wATERwoRKs.
We regret sincerely thai we can not give
oEr teliow-citlzens a good account OF tne
tlty Naterworks. and we further fear that |
anything we might say here on this subject |