Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-02-02
CITY COUNCILS.
THE FEBRUARY MEETING.
Message from the Mayor-Heport of Board
OF Eea!th-ElectiOn of Chief Engineer
OF Fire Department..
Select COunciI,

| oI department..
Present-Messrs. Barr, Bitner, Berger
Doer, Franklin, Judith. G. W. Zecher
Philip Zecher and Evans, president.
The minutes Of last meeting We're rea,
and approved.
The report of the city treasurer and re
ce!ver OF taxes for the past month wa
presented and read. 1t shows the receipt.
during the past month to lave been So
390.9G the payments $7,09S.57: balance
in treasury, February 1st, S22, 291.23
Mr.. Zecher presented the monthly re
port of the finance committee, containing
an abstract fom the minutes of the com.
mittee for the past month.
Mr. Berger presented the monthly re.
port of the water committee, which was
| read.
MIR. q. w. Zecher presented the follow
lGS message from the mayor, announcing
the suspension Of Constables Flick and
Merringer !:
To Tie Honorable the Select CoaacI of the Gin
Of Lancaster:
GENTLEMEN: Jan. 24, suspended And.
j. Flick, policeman OF the 9th ward, for
twcnty days, 70: bringing second suits
against J. Murray, J. Kelly and others
after they had been heard and disposed of
by me upon the charge of disOrderly con-
duct. BY this proceeding he caused costs
to the amount of S10O Or more, which must
be paid ont Of the taxes upon the property
Oh the people of the city and county.
Oh the same day suspended John Mer-
ringer, OF the 7sh ward, for drunkenness.
! appointed Adam Ditton, of the 9th
ward, and Aug. Steinwandel, of the 7th,
to fill the temporary vacancies. respect
iullya>k your concurrence in tho suspen-
sions and appointments. Yours,
JSo. T. MACGONIGLE, Mayor.
On motion; the action Of the mayor was
approved.
Mr.. G. W. Zecher presented 4 report
from the committee on the reorganization
OF the fire department, the substance of
which has heretofore been published. The
report was accompanied by 4 communica-
tion from the Empire hook and ladder
com pany, offering to sell their real estate
t" tie city for $4,000, and in case the city
and bell to the city.
nication YVES laid over for the present
that the city solicitor may have time to
report upon the law regarding property
belonging to the volunteer fire depart
ment.
Tho first annual report Of the board Of
health was presented. After reciting the
the laws and ordinances regulating the
appointment of the board, comforting
upon it certain powers and enjonlng Ger
tain duties. the report proceeds to give an
abstract OF its business for part of the
year just closed. The whole number of
Of marriages reported to tho board was
a327, of which number $40 were white and
cO!ored. The oldest person married was
aged % years, and the youngest 1G years.
Lutheran clergymen performed 12G Of the
marriages Reformed, 9J Catholic, SO
Methodist, 21 Episcopal, s.; Presbyte-
rian, 8; Baptist, 6 Church of God, IL
Evangelical Association, Moravian, 1 !;
Congregational, l; Aldermen, 12. The
whole number Of births reported was 514
24S females, 266 white, 5OG
cOlorcd. 8. The number of deaths is not
given. The report concludes rs follows
Of Nuisances.
Eighty-two complaints were entered ut
the secretary's Office during the year. In
a few instances there was found to be no
Just cause Tor complaint. The great ma.
Jority of the cases, however, called for the !
remedial powers of the board, and it is |
gratifying to say that our directions for !
abatement in these eases were promptly |
with by the offending parties. |
The secretary's record shows the locality
and special character Of every nuisance so |
and abated
The authority and powers conferred on |
the board Of health by ordinance would
seem to be ample for all purposes but
tho test OF experience has already shown
that in some respects they are not of the
wisest practical character. That provision
OF the third section which makes it tho
duty OF the constables, police officers and
street commissioner to aid the board OF
health by endeavOring to ascertain every
nuisance which may exist in any portion
1f the city and to report the same to the
secretary Of the board, does not work
effectively. The reason is obvious-it
crops out OF our vicious elective system.
It is idle to rely upon the police for fear
ess impartial and intelligent performance
If this duty. 1t should be committed to
some fit person to be appointed by the
,ourt OF common pleas simultaneously with
he yearly creation of the board of health
~ said court, giving such officer general
uperVision Oyer the sanitary con-
''tlon OF the city, requiring him
o investigate every complaint OF
nuisance, and to report the result to tho
'oard in writing for their action-said
tiicer co receive i moderate salary to be ,
ixed by councils. In this connection We
suggest an increase of the
alary of the secretary. The time spent
nd the services rendered by him would
ot be overpaid by thrice the amount o.. ]
he smai! pittance now fixed by ordinance. S
We may, too, with great propricty, ask an ,
nnual appropriation for the use of the 7
oard to meet those exigencies which call {
,r an immediate expenditure of money. !
In conclusion, we commend to councils &
nc following extract from the circular of 7
he state board of health of New York:
"Naccination is 4 public duty for the
rejection of the whole community, as
ell as of each individual family; and it
SO necessary to secure its protection in {
II places and for all classes Of people, t
lat none have right to neglect it for a
lemselves, :heir families, the public v
hools, or the community
Respectfully submitted, t
L. n. LIGHTNER, President.
G. H. Brown, Secretary.
Annexed in a short financial statement 2
expenses for the year 1881: s
tlary OF secretary. y....................S 80 W
anks (for abatement, nuisances etc H. 10 95
{" {" marriages. births and deaths) oleJ
srtilicate of appointment by court.... 3 50
'stal card notices to delinquents... so o.
oni: ;, G;
slos % q,
A letter from Christopher Lewis, Phila- le
,lphia to MavOr MacGOniule heretnfora