The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-12-06
A POPULAR BOARD or HEALTH.

A POPULAR BOARD or HEALTH.
All truly patriotic oiiigaua must be deeply
affected ~ liz showing that. untln, thn CON
atitu'lou jpet adopted by tho popular vote.
there will mol be money enough n tho city
treasury IA properly conduct Tho Board Of
Health In ita great sehemea of sanitation
Those arhomra arc g" grand and conlprnhen
ave ~ deeply rooted In science. aud 50 ap-
proved by nontam poraneous opinion. that
ID amounts ~ public calamity 10 find
Ourselves unable to carry them forward
Ia practical realization. Az tho last meeting
of our Board of Health II WINS demonstrated
that under tho now constitution the allow
aneaa made for sanitary purposes would not
he autlicent " put In operation tho plans now
agreed upon as beet and most eifeetualhy tho
assembled Wisdom of the I'oard. This Is
melancholy fact but. being a fact. 1t 10 he=
yand controversy. md must bo treated as
l,ah Tho gentlemen Of tho BOARD arc In
position "a know. and they assert II "a al In
onntrovertibln truth. hnnoa we aea'Imn
tina, the situation nalIa tor special coneldetas
tion. and IL. III a word. immnent. Tire nev
arrangement leaves tho Uonrd II Health
without adequate nEbAl5 VI iaf VIC IshlFGA
tion nf Tia achame 81 nitatior and ON
haaItl, onlocra arc lett with ptohIem enn
fronting Thorn tho problem Of how To ae
complain given result with insufficient
means.
WI realize tho fact that ihe solution or this
problem Ia difficult. not 10 gay impraetlcahe
II the Board entertain grand and expansive
theories. and IT Tho constitution 40 limits
the revenue as 10 ronder thnae theorea ahsa-
lutoy unattalnah|e. we cpnfesa that we are
at n losa to suggaat nh eSpedieDt. II ~. In
decd necessary Ia enncede that the theories
arc quite beyond rpaef. aud admit that soma
other plan must Is" adopted.
And thIs brings us to augga-
ton. which y supported not only lay
reaaon and probability. but by tho
stern. unatcrable logic of tho case, #
the hoard of Health be. IN truth and fact. left
without tho means of carrying into effect
their largo and eeientine sohemas. and II there
tie no possibility or their accomplishing their
own theories of public sanitation, what can
be lott fnr Thorn except to appeal 10 popular
sentiment for the means OF setting In motion
such plans "a popular sentiment approves?
The history Of tho Auxiliary Sanitary Assoc
citation Ia full Of Wholesome suggestion. That
Association was lnaugurated here last year.
ri time whom tho Beard Of Health was In
tie enjoyment of far larger privileges and Of
a far greater revenue than they can poashly |
enjoy under tho new constitution. The Board |
Of Health was almost omnipotont In ite
apherc and II assumed. and took possession
Of, more comprehensive prerogatiyes than
in hn to-
Nevertheless, tho Auxiliary Association
sprang ut once into public favor and ooni
dencc received Mt once tho largest evidences
Of public confidence and sympathy. and.
almost ut q bound became the recipient
through tho voluntary contributions or the
II 4 much richer revenue than the
Board OF Health with all it's authority could
command The explanation OF this Is to he
found In tho fact that the Association cher
ished n theory based upon common sense and
sustained BY tho prevailing opinion OF intol-
ligent people In tho city. 1t appealed to the
which cItlzNns had acquired
through experience md observation. and It
placed itaelr In Ilnn with tho popular idea at
every point OF tho sanitary situation. Tho
was that the association became
tHt 'tJ''th Hi HflttIHi aSiHtHttHS, IHat III NJ
ramo the recipinnt Of universal support and
that II NJ once attained II financial atrength
which the Board Of Health did not and could
not enjoy.
Now, the suggestion that Inevitably occurs
In the present situation, Ia that tho Board of
Health shall promptly place itsef In limo with
the AuxiliarT Asaoclation that 1t shall en-
doavor to occupy toward the community the
tain tho same encouragement and support
Once in possession of popular sympathy ard
assured Of the Same manifestations of
respect and contitence as wero 80 freely
avished upon tho Auxiliary Association
The Board may safely count upon Ill needed
material for carrying out rational and en-
iGhtened sanitary policy, and may place
Itself upon q basis or entiro Independence SO
lar rs concerns governmental support What
New Orleans needs is a popular Board OF
Health, and to such Board 1t Ia prepared to
pay willing and abundant tribute. For ex-
pertinent and for arrogant dogmas the peo
pie have no desire or sympathy, but for In
Felligent and practical sanitation they cherish
Tho most absolute respect and sympathy.
let the Board or Health adopt popular
policy and 1t will experience no Inconvenience
IS result Of the parsimonous action OF the
Convention.
COTTON AT GALVESTON