The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-04-23

spent the work for which was Intended, owing 10
the large amount appropriated for salaries. The work
81 the department could be WE'LL II not better, con-
.ucted ny large reduction the clerical 40
seli Ms medical force 81 Hoard Over
$4,000 year Is spent IN maintaining .sattorncy's
department" when in reality there need Tor such
expenditure tho Corporation Counset beng the
proper party % eonducl the legal work Of the Depart
ment Of Health. over sli5.Ooo is spent yearly IN
providing Tor the salaries Of Commissioners Of
Health and The officers OF the Sanitary Bureau Bureau
OF Vital statistics and secretaryis department The
work Of these departments could DO fully well
complsbcd al saving OF $40 900 per year; thls
added 10 the saving made by obiieng the Corporation
Counse TO do the leg work OF the department would
reduce the expenditures in salaries alone $50 900
year II IS impossible to expect any large Of
sanitary work OF practical and useful Kind be done
when out oil yearly expenditure OF s25.p00 tho sum
OF $685. 900 TO salaries stationery printing law
ilDn ana change are made the management OF the
Department OF Health bull little improvement can be
under the present system no attempt viii ever be made
10 remove the great sources OF danger TO tho public
health which exist within the city.
NECESSARY CHANGES
The Health Department should DO entirely freed
from all political changes and the influence Of poll
ticans ana in the interest o. tho people, and not
made species OF medico- political asylum as IL has
been m The past The department should be modelled
on tho plan OF the present Department OF Public
Works, In tar that II should be placed under ono
head, TO nc appointed by tho Mayor. and who should
hold Office long his management and the sanitary
condiiicn OF tho city justified. rho city should DO
divided INTO sanitary health DISTRICTS about fifteen
III number, each being placed under the care OF san
Vary inspector, VINO snouu DO appointed uy
ard be responsible TO the Health Officer for
The condition OF his district Tho Street
Cleaning Department should divide the city into dts.
trics correspond 10 the health divisions, and the
work OF cleaning divided up In this way could
be done cheaper aud u need hardly be snid In
much better and more salts actory manner. Tho SAM.
ary Inspector OF each district should also DO charged
with the work OF supervising this work. aud his weekly
certificate that The work had been properly done should
be necessary the contractor 20 oUtau hts pay The
clerical OF the department could be materially
dNced; also the contingent" ana STATIONERY"
counts might be made little less in future.
One OF the evils the present system II that
there Is too much division OF responsibility and the
health affairs Of the CITY are managed by tho cnefs oi
the different bureaus and not by tho Commissioners oil
Health. One ofhe special benefits TO be derived by
change such AS Is suggested above would
traton OF authority AID the direct OF the
Chief officer OF health who should be obliged devote
public health, and not is now tho case, every men,
Der and ltache OF the Board havin, also his pri-
waite affairs 10 look after. BY such u system this
economy and efficiency will DO secured, tho city will
DO rendered clean and healthy ana over $50 900
will be saved in department. and can be devoted,
II necessary the abatement OF public nusances Tho
badly constructed tcnemens be improved with this
fund, aud the expense. tho law Directs made a
lien tho property ITSELF thus securing the city
from any loss and nsuring u positive safeguard 70
public health.