The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-01-20
HOW mann ~ PROTECTED IN ENC.
LAND.

LAND.
Few things IT. the current history ~ Great
Britain are more worthy of remark than the
extensive functions now committed to Boards
Of Health and the degree of authority cNcr-
cisod by the central Government in sanitary
matters during the last two years. The truth
is that there il nothing in the regime Of Cont
mental States moro inconsistent with the old
British theory Of local independence and moro
-igniiieant of crntrali2ug tendencies.
W" niuv hc sure that the principles and pro-
eoss.s of rltnrnal Government werc not COM
mondcd to fugiishmcn without many spacious
and sOine substantial arguments. AZ regards
sanitary improve mcnts. 1t is certain that the
national officials could point to solid arhioV"-
mcnts while the local authorities. when uncon-
trollod. had exhibited gross negligence aud in
competence. In the prisons. for instance. be-
longing tO the State. the rate of mortality had
been reduced from II 10 in a thousand. and
penal establishments 50 transformed that phys-
clans had been known to express n wish that
surgical operations could be undertaken in
medium 80 salubrious Like results had been
aucstcd In the Government usyums for or
phans and at military stations. as at Gibraltar.
whore the death rate has declined from II to )
per thousand. On the other hand. the local
boards had signay filled to carry out the meas
urcs projected by the act of 1913 and had been
guilty Of blundcrs and rcmssncss to when
series of frightiul cpidcmics could unducston-
ably be traced. Accordingly. the public mind
was rcconcilcd to the gradual cncroachments Of
the national authority. eliminating in tho act
Of 1875. which practically vests an absolute
power of supervision and control In a central
sanitary bureau. The local boards continue to
exist but only M channels and instruments of
the projects formulated at headquarters
Now, Wight il the scope Of the functions which
have been intrustcd to this highly centralized
organzation2 The sanitary bureaus are
charged with the construction and maintenance
Of sewers. with the cleaning Of streets and
country roads. and the removal Of impurities
from private enclosures with measures Of pre-
caution In view Of cpidcmics. with the visitation
and amolioration Of tcncmcnts. and. in general.
with minute and constant surveillance Of the
cleanliness and saluhrity Of the district under
their management. and Of the health Of lie in
habitants. They alonc can authorize the estab-
lishment of slaughter houses and certain kinds
of factories they have the power to open and
widen streets aud 10 create parks and squares
and they must see 10 IL that an adequate supply
Of gas and water il forthcoming Much Of this
work they are permitted and in some cases re-
qurod. 20 let out to contractors. but they cannot
I,,y .,,n,r,.ion No., ori,.,,,o n,at,,,,,a,,a
h,,, Ill.,, ,,,, ~, e., NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.,
>, ia,'. -, =, H.. ....,i.t ,..t., s'.''
- CO. ,h, 1.al,i, i,.,, -. .,.,,,,
'.,r,i,,, -, i.,,. -,
- III. a,,I :, - ,,1n e,.'. -,
,',.,'.',.,'.. ''' ,,'',",, W
III 49,. ,...',t a., ~,
49,. "a, ,......,. -. - 80, -, ~,
mn, -, p",..,. -, Nh. A.. -.
t.,,I -, -, -. -. ..' -.
~ ,rn,..1 80 .,,.. -
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Inc expenditure oi su'h comprehensive
department must. OF course he very 'on~ldera-
"l'' curing the lhHt year Tor Whl'h statistics
ARE n''sslp' uStol inc t"'al outlay Tor all IN"
sanitary bureaus IN town ana country exceeded
llN-hlhe ihlll'"h dVH1rS' Whlle me indebted
ness "i inc h'ath boards hhd rehch'd one nun
urea ana seventy millions. Moreover. thes"
isures do not include the sums relating To the
city oil Lohhon. In" heaih rate Ike the poor
rate. II levied upon the owners and tenants ot
r'al property possessing a certain value. and
Tor some years. az above stated. the doctrine
WaH accepted mat IN" disnurstm'nI 81 IN" vast
sums assigned io sanitary purposes should be-
long exclusively t'the agents "i the rate payers.