Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-03-24
Board Of Health.

THE DOCTORS DIFFER AGAIN-COx AGAINST
NE6DI-VERDI AGAINST CoX-BLIss GET
TING READY.
A regular meeting of the Board of Health
was held last night, all the members present
Mr. Langston, from the committee on orrii-
pances; submitted report on the claim of
Lucas Il Co for making sewer connections
&c, suggesting to the contractors that they
apply direct to the District Commissioners
for relief. Mr.. Marbury moved that the COM
mittee confer with the Commissioners on the
subject; agreed TO. DIR. Bliss, of the sanitary
police committee, recommended the sale OF
the pound" horse; agreed to. The weekly
report of the health officer was presented.
DRAINING PRIVATE LOTS.
n communication was submitted from the
health officer, asking instructions of the board
as TO the fulfllment of the second section of
the legislative act in relation todraining GER
tain lots, &c. In view of the recent opinion
of the attorney OF the District Commission
ers as TO the cOnstitutionality of said act.
The contract is still in existence between the
board and Peter Murray & Co, under which
said firm are bound to drain lots to the salts
faction OF the Board of Health and District
Commissioners. Under the contract some
sixty or more lots have been drained, the
owner having failed to do so after receiving
legal notice. The nrst interfering work was
suspended, and IL now becomes necessary 10
proceed with this drainage, as required by
the act above referred to, unless the board
shall decide to discontinue the work and the
contract. The wisdom of the law, and ne
ceSSity for its prompt execution. are every
day apparent, and in cases where the owners
may be best TO proceed against them In the
Police Court. provided those sections of the
ordinances may be considered sufficiently
explicit, and on this point he asked the in
ierTed 10 the committee on ordinances.
THE NIGHT SOIL CONTRACT.
The contract for the removal of night-SOil
Offal and removal of garbage, made between
Messrs. ii. r. Turner. w. r. Turner and Je-
rome Bradley, under the firm name of Tur-
ner & Co, and the Board of Health were
and 3dODrp6 M ne Hna rrf II
Health.
AFTER DR.. VERDI.
Dr. Cox said that at the last meeting he
mad expressed a desire to be heard on the
subject OF the publication OF the minority re-
port on the garbage contract. This he did
because IL was due to himself as a member
and officer of the board. AS he was liable To
become heated in the discussion he had COM
United his remarks to paper. He said that
the board had been most unjustly assailed
and the publica ton had placed them In a
false position before the public. He then
referred TO the proceedings in reference to the
contract, and said that although wholly un-
Necessary and unusual 1.-the board animated
10y the spirit OF fairness and freedom from
cOncealment, which has always character
lzed me performance OF It's public functions,
opened these bids in the presence of the per-
sons interested. and unhesitatingly handed
the schedule of them, with every thing OF
interest connected herewith. to the reporters
of the press. When il became necessary to
discuss the merits and advantages of the re-
spective proposals il was deemed proper i'm
order 20 avoid embarrassment 10 full and
Tree discussion growing out of the presence
OF parties Interested, TO reach q conclusion in
private meeting. SO careful was the board
that no injustice should Oe done, but the
iulleSt investigation instituted, that after
considerable debate i'm private session the
entire bids Were referred To a special COM
mlttee, tNessrs. LangstOn, Bliss and Verdi,)
VINO were required, after thorough ex-
animation. To report the result of their
oesI Judgment. said report To be subject of
cOuTse, 10 lts revision, approval or rejection.
H.
mo uiry aud debate by this committee. ma
JoTity OF whom cOncurred in tine fecommen-
a s OF a certain proposal, aud minority
OF one non-concurTiEg. Hence. two reports
lr tended to affect the private deli oerations of
me board, and not designed for public criti-
cisssn, Were offered. the majority report was
adopted, and oy courtesy to the Single dis
senIins member the report of the minority
was ordered To be filed. This virtually and
f ca oonciuded the whole matter. The en-
IRE question waS determined by the will of
the majority, and the minority Welded with
Out protest. The minority report having been
by the majo,ity report fhe for
mer had no longer an existence excenf To be
nIed away. he charged that the preu,atur
publication OF the minority report, wha tever
n may oe asserted 10 the contrary, was direct
ana Migrant violation of an existing order of
the board. The arguments used were the
fiimsiest, and the act was a breech of conf
ience, inasmuch as il revealed their private
transactions. After referring TO the words
star chamber and "gag law" used by Dr..
SeTdi, DR.. c, closed oy saying: The con clu-
'ions are my own, fof which am alone re-
sponsible, and in regard TO which every me. u
Der is entitled TO his unchallenged opinion"
DIR. Bliss moved 10 adjourn.
DIR: Verdi asked leave TO make a few re-
n arks.
DIR. Bliss called for a vote on his motion. \
and IL was lost-yes, DIR. Eliss; nays4.
DIR. VERDI DENIED
mat ne had made a premature publication,
1r that II was an en- pouTe statement II was I
new To him that minority report should 1
never see the light, and he believed that as
public officer, he lad right to give such a
'epoTt TO the public. He denied that there
was any unfair treatment of the board. He
was proud of his position On the question.
Congress never Went into secret session to
appropriate money; # they attempted IL
hey would soon find their mistake. II mi
loFity reports are not to be made public. the
poard may as well be- run by three members
As 20 premature publications. the evening 1
laper OF this date contains some.
DIR. BLISS
aid that during the course OF the debate he |
rad made but few remarks, but now. as the /
gentleman had taken water. he would have /
onethlns TO say, ard he psopoSed % speak
- ihe next meeting.