Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-03-17


Board Of Health.
THE NIGHT SOIL CONTRADICTIONS OF
THE PRIVATE MEETING-DR- VERDI DE-
TENTS HIS COURsE-LAwLEsS SALES OF
meeting OF the Board of Health was held
last evening, Drs. Cox, Bliss and Verdi, and
Mr.. MaTbuTy present. The minutes of the
last meeting were amended so as TO make Ii
read that the contract for removing night
soil "was awarded to III. F. Turner & CO., the
lowest bidder for two years, by means of rail
transportation" Also, that DIR. Verdi re-
ported i'm favor of awarding ''the contract to
IL p. Wattrous, To remove the night soil by
water 10 -Four Mile run, IN Alexandria
county, state OF Virginia" (Dr.Verdi did not
come in until after the minutes had been
amended.l
Communications were received from Sena-
TOR Hamlin, OF Maine, and Senator Window.
of Minnesota, recommending certain parties
for positions under the board
The synopsis of the operations of the health
Office for the week ending March IS was pre-
sented-
DIR. Cox called the attention Ofthe board to
the careless manner in which some druggists
dispense drugs. and remarked that the most
active pOisOns could be procured from almost
any drug store without a prescription. He
had been called on during the day to attend
the case of a woman who had taken from 4
to ounces OF laudanum, which she had pro-
cured from the establishment of one of the
leading druggists in a tumbler, ana after she
had been restored to consciousness she said
that her intention was TO destroy herself, and
1.-THE laudanurn did not have the desired eff
feet she could easily procure something that
would ~ effectual. He did not believe that
the druggist would have allowed it if ne had
known IL, but OF course he was reSponsi BILE
for the act Of his clerk. DIR. Cox had little
doubt but that the woman could have pro-
cured a pint of laudanum as easily as two
ounces. There ought TO be some restrictions
and the subject was one which demanded the
early attention of the board.
AFTER DR. VERDI.
DIR. Bliss said that il was due 10 the board
that some action be taken as 10 the publica-
ton of portion OF the records of the last
private meeting as TO awarding the contract
for the removal OF night soil, and he gave
notice that he should bring il up at the next
meeting. This publication was a direct
violation of a standing rule of the board.
Dr. Verdi said that he had given his report
10 the reporters, for he wanted the public TO
from other members being published even
before they were reported TO the board. As
for this publication, he was responsible. He
desired to state here that he regarded his
position as a public one, and the public were
entitled Tot only TO know how he voted on
particular measures, nut his reasons there
for. All his acts as a member OF the board
were open TO the public.
DIR. Bliss reiterated that the publication
was in direct violation of the rule. The
statements were garbled and unfair. and
calculated 10 injure the members. IL the
publication had stated what the proposal of
Wattrous was there would not be so much
ground for complaint, but DIR. Verdi had
kept certain things closely yelled and
seemingly desired TO publish himself as par
excellence the virtue OF the board. He re-
garded the action of DR.. Verdi as
AN INSULT TO THE BOARD.
DIR. Verdi denied that any garbled state
ment had been published, and said what he
gave TO the papers was what the public were
DIR. Bliss said that if DR.. Verdi had the wei
fare OF the board in view he would have
asked that both reports oe published.
Dr. Verdi answered that when the board
was about 10 consider the subject he had
urged that il be done with open doors but
they decided otherwise. He was in the mi
Dority and had made his report, giving his
reasons therefor. This the public were enti-
tied to, and he had given il to them. 1t was
not for him, who had opposed the action of
the majority, VINO had endeavored To show
that they were wrong, TO give reasons by the
majority to show that he was wrong. As for
publishing reports made in secret meeting,
before its adoption.
Ir. Cox denied this.
DIR. Verdi said that when the president
went TO New York at the expense OF the
board his report was read by himself in this
board from the columns OF THE STAR.
Dr. cox don't recolleet anything of the
DIR. Verdi said he recoIleeted the circum-
stance distinctly.
Dr. Bliss-But it was before the adoption
OF the standing rule.
DIR. Verdi.-Why was the rule adopted?
simply To keep my report as health officer
from seeing the light
which do not belong to the public. The
member had the right 20 give his views to
tne public, but not in violation of the rules
OF the board, nor In such manner as TO
place his fellOw-members in an unfair light
Inc course taken by DIR. Verdi was for the
purpose OF boistsring himself up az the ex-
pense OF The others, and was al insult to the
DIR VERDI OPPOSES SECRET MEETINGS.
DIR. Verdi SAID as long as ne was member
ne desired the public To kIOw what he was
RIl-g-Tp1 ia xryI.a
You are doing nOT.l IL was not for him TO
MAKE an argument Tor the Other side. II he
conld not serve a a Iree man he would not
serve az all.
Mr.. Marbury sand he had voted that the
subject be considered in private meeting, and
ne tnought that thei; quarrels should not be
DIR. Cox ruled debate out of order and hoped
mat they would coDfocm TO the rules
The board then adjourned.
- THE EXCESSIVE MORALITY AMONG THE
toLoRED PEOPLE-Heeti1s0o Of CotOred Preach
- meeting OF nlinistefs of eolored
study OF Rev. r. A. Hall, OF Union Bethel
snuIen 10 consider what can be done, IL any
tnIng, toward controlling the great excess OF
eitv over that among the whites. The follow
ing were present: Revs. r A Hall, Robert
Van Deurs. Sandy Alexander ". j. WaikeI
~. III. Lee, Joseph Armstrong, w H Waters
y n Green, VIM; Warning, B. y. Lloyd, aud
-HOldhoIi Dcht- rScN "a Etdll was called
To the chair and VIM. Waring was appointed
secretary. After free interchange or opin-
Ions, a committee was appointed 20 confer
with the committee OF investigation ap-
Iointed by the Board OF Health with refer
ence 70 the same matter. and also TO confer
VII, VIII me commissioners for the relief of the
poof. Ihe committee consists OF the follow
,ns nsmed gentlemen: VIM. Warning, w. III.
waters, W d Walker. Rob't johnson. Sandy
alexander, George Van Deurs. and @. T.
watkins.
he CAsk o. GRANT vs.. THE Il. 4 Il. r.
n COAPAN1-ln the Circuit Court Judge
Iartter) to-day. the case OF Grant vs. the
Baltimore and Potomac railroad eon,nauvN
action FOR damages by having his toes mashed
between the bumpers Of cars, in Septemher.