Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-03-20

THE NoRTUARY REPoRT-THE COM
soUABBLE AGAIN. -kACl

A meeting of the Board of Hes'
asst evening, and the registra- ,. IN VS. neia
EEr e sr Sr VITAL rArpsTsss MS
minors, go of the celored; 50 adults, 50
were under one Of ase Tbsre w ane 70
measles, e diseases, including 6 from
smallr~ oofn whooping- cough and / from
inclr &c ID nom constitutional diseases,
d. 1atns Is from consumption; 50 from local
Eases, including from apoplexy, from
SfantiIe commissions, from congestion OF
ne o.ain, from dropsy, 20 from pneumonia,
mental, and from violence from homi.
eide and from suicide. There We're mar
riages, and ~ births-4s white and q colored.
The following remarks are given:-The NOR
tality was 10 less than last week, or at the
rate OF S3-2s per loo per annum- Rate of
mortality Of the white population was 264I
the colored population was 80 per 900 for the
same period. Rate of decrease of the white
population BY deaths over births, 33l per
lation by deaths over births was 1851 per
LOCO per annum-
MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS.
The frame Shanty and premises In rear OF
NO %, Adams Express alley, was consid-
cred nuisance, and the health officer Or
dered to abate it. The board recommended
10 the Commissioners the dismissal of gar
bage- gatherer j. II. Barringer. A corarnunf-
cation was received from the health officer
suggesting that Richard w. Brown be Sc
terry, which was referred. The president was
requested To correspond with General Bah
COCK. the water registrar, or the officer hav-
ing charge of the Potomac water works, aud
inquire what causes the present condition of
the water, and If some remedy cannot be APP
piled 10 render it purer.
DIR. VERDI READY AND WAITING.
The board at this time was about eady to
adjourn. when DIR. Verdi stated that 1t had
been fntimated that charges would be made
against a member. and as he was the inter
rfy In ka q tn q
up, as he was prepared To meet any charges.
Dr. Bliss-I'n attend to my business in
good time, sir.
Or. Verdi.-But am the party charged,
and IL is my business also.
DIR. Biiss.-Well, you can attend 10 your
part of the business now.
Prof. Langston said that one of the reports
In regard to awarding the night soil contract
had been published, and he had no objection
to Or. Verdi publishing his report, but he
submitted as his ". 81 report had gone out,
II was due TO the board That the majority re-
port be published
A QUESTION OF DEcENcY.
DR.. Bliss said that DR.. Verdi had clandes-
timely got his report in the papers. If he had
bad any decency about him he would not
have acted in the manner he had done.
Mr.. Marbury objected to such language,
and raised the point that, as the majority re-
port had been considered in secret session, IL
should first be taken out of such session.
The President tDr. Cox ruled that mas
much as the subject had been made public il
could be discussed.
Professor LangstOn urged that the ma jOrity
report should be made public, and he
DEPENDED THE ACTION OF THE BOARD.
Claiming that If Turner & Co do the work for
TWO years il will cost them $1,000, and they
cannot make more than 5000; that these
bidders were the lowest that came within the
limit of time for awarding the contract en-
tertained by the board. In regard to the re-
moVai OF the nth street wharf he was favor
able 10 the proposition, because he believed
the locality for the temporary deposit of
the offal was in too close proximity to the
Excessive Mansion.
Dr. Verdi said If the doors had been opened
there would have been no necessity for this
discussion. He had urged that the bids be
considered publicly Mr.. Langston-So did II
but the majority thought otherwise. If he
understood the president at the last meeting
he (NerdD was TO be lectured tonight.
Dr. Cox disclaimed making any such asser-
sion, but had simply stated that when the
subject came up for discussion he would have
something To say.
DR.. Verdi felt that he had been insulted and
treated as if guilty of some crime.
The president interrupted the speaker by
saying that there was nothing before the
board except to print
THE MAJORITY REPORT,
upon which the vote was taken, and the mo-
ton agreed TO. The report is as follows:
Tine committee having met, according to
direction CT the Board Of Health, and after
having held several conferences touching the
matter submitted to them, and upon which
they now submit report in behalf of the
majority OF the committee, reached, after
ing conclusions:
l. That contract be made for period not
exceeding two years.
2. That the contract be awarded to parties
Offering to perform the service for that length
OF time for the smallest amount OF compen-
satiOu per annum.
3. That in reviewing the bids made 10 the
board for this service, your committee find
that parties making the lowest bid for the
time canned are Messrs. II. +. Turner Il Co.
and recommend the making of a cont. act
with said lf fxUn
at - see per annum, PROVIDED that said III. f.
Turner q Co. construct, at their own cost and
expense, suita bic depot for the reception of
all ol1a ~ a place within the District of
Columbia 10 be designated by them. subject
10 the approval OF the board of health.
]. NJ. LANGsToN,
ID. w. Bliss
DIR. VERDI SAID
ihat ne DID not propose answering the Ian
guage indecent &c, but hurled back the
charge OF clandeStinely abstracting the re-
port, with scorn. He had an extra copy of
his report, and when the doors were opened
and the result announced, awarding the con-
tract TO Turner, ii was making the majority
report public, and he did not make his public
until some time after AS for violating a
rule which was made expressly for him when
he was health officer he claimed that il an
piled only TO the officers. He could show
that reports of committees had been pub
llshed before they came before the board. He
claimed that the rules adopted cOrld not pre-
vent him performing his duty, which was to
The public. They should not institute a star
chamber or attempt TO enforce a gag law.
Inc TACT is, that as soon as the reports were
made and accepted by the board they became
public property, and the public had a right
TO them. The majority gave theirs riUo u0c,
me minority had no voice in the matter, and
gave il in print. For this he was brought
before the bar OF the house fof contumely
Mr. Langston said he did not intend to an
swer the remarks except as to private meet
lngs, and If there was 10 rule there was The
custom which made IL law. He held that
proceedings or such were To be kept secret
III was an assumption of ethics thai the ma
Jority Is the voice of the people and the voice
OF God. DIR. Nerdi.-That is great deal to
assume. DIR. COx.-Nox populi, yox Dell
The rule quoted did not apply, but the gem
eral understanding and custom had been vio-
ated.
Dr. Bliss said that he did not irnpugn Dr.
erdIs motives as TO his vote, but as to MS
action In making his report public.
Dr Cox said he should ask leave 10 give
MS views at the next meeting. Adjourned.
Charges against n Sehaal Uam;ta.