Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-02-04
ROard of Health

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BOYS CoNPLAINT-THB o. 4. L. Co-Tgs
ILLUMINATISe OIL QUESTION.
meeting of the Board of Health was held
last evening, at which the reports of the health
officer, DIR. Keene, tor the past week and pasi
month, were presented.
The report of the coroner for January. stat
ing that he viewed II dead bodies during the
month, was received.
TOO MUCH GAS.
Master Frank Riley complained OF the con-
dltlon OF the stove in the MontgOmery-street
from II was injurious to health; referred to the
health officer.
THE opoRLEss
a letter was received from the Odorless Exca-
waiting Company in regard 70 the delivery OF
the night soil at the 1-th-street wharf, aud
calling the attention OF the board TO the fact
that by the terms of their contract they are
called upon to make their delivery at this
point, and thus far have complied with the
terms. Compliance with the request made II
the communication will cost them an additional
expense. IL will require three times as many
tanks as are bow used, and in consequences viii
make very large outlay necessary, which they
think would be unjust to lay upon them. The
additional handling by boat or barge of the
filed tanks would have a tendency to break
them or cause them to leak, and as a conse-
quenee they would soon find themselves COM
Mr.. Lansston moved that the vote by which
the report the sanitary committee
ON ILLUMINATING OILS
was adopted be reconsidered; agreed to. Mr.. L.
he was not present when the report was made
and had he beenhe would have made the same
motion. He was surprised at the conclusion:
the committee come to. He quoted from the
proceedings of the board of March 18th, 1872, in
which a report is made the board has not power
in the premises under the organic act. By
will be found for the Board of Public Works
the Board OF Health, or the Legislature on the
subject. Congress had however by act OF
March, ls6l, legislated on the subject.
NRrdi--Ehiaf II fJa.l
that act TO be unconstitutional.
Mr.. Langst0n.-Yes, as far as the states are
concerned, but here Congress has full power,
and the law Is in full force. He did not see
that the board had any right to legislate further
on the subject. The committee state in their
report that every board in the Distrlct-the
legislate on this subject. This was more of a
police duty, but he did not think that it was
the duty OF the board to appoint a smelling
committee on that subject. He did not believe
on reflection, the board would vote in favor OF
the report. They might as well say that be-
cause there is law against assault and bat
terry, they have right TO send out inspectors
70 arrest men.
DIR. Verdi, after referring TO the Importance
of the question, stated that they (the commit
tee did not know of the law of Congress on the
subject when they considered the subject pre-
ylously. The law was on the statute book, and
the police and the fire department do not carry
II out. He had called on the attorneys for the
District IN reference to the law, and thew said
they would enforce the law whenever such
cases are presented. He claimed that they had
the right 10 examine samples of oils, not as a
board but as citizens. The dealers themselves
he believed, would like 70 see the recommends
tons OF the committee carried out. They had
no interest in selling unsafe oils. He believed
that 81 600 spent in the manner proposed would
be of more benefit than so 900 spent IN other
ways. They had not always kept within the
law, and when the good ofthe people is involved
they should take prompt measures to protect
them. he, was surprised that the police or the
IRE departments had not acted on this subject
and he supposed that they know nothing Of the
law.
Mr.. Langston referred to recommend atoms
OF the committee, and stated that they could
not be carried out.
Mr.. Msrbury did not regret the report had
been brought up, as would awaken the public
mind in regard to these oils. He thou ght the
report of 1872 ought to have been carried out
and that the committee should have gone to the
Legislature ard asked for power 70 carry out
this law.
Prof. Lsngston said that the committee Wis.,
tied the Legislature, and were informed that
the execution of the law belonged to the police
authorities.
MIR. Marbury thought that the COMMITTEES had
asked for a general law, and did not specify any
particular point for Legislation. He thought,
sore time since, that they had the power to ex-
ecnte this law granted to them in the organic
act; however, the board had decided differently
and he was compelled 10 submit to the will OF
the N ajOrity.
The motion 20 file was adopted-yeas 4; nav,
DR.. Verdi. Adjourned.