Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-07-19
A CLASH OF AUTHORITY
Between Two Departments Of ths
City Government.
The Health Authorities and the Board Of
Public Works Disagree on Sprink-
ling Line for Sanitary
Purposes,

There was considerable talk about the
city yesterday of clashiDg Of authority be-
tween the Board ofPublic Works and Health
Officer Edwards in relation to spriRklipg
Line on the streets and alleys for sanitary
purposes. The latter has been ordered by
Council to distribute the lime, which pre-
r gative is claimed by the Board, and the
latter stopped work. The views of each
axe gi, en-, without coloring or prejudice,
al} the reader may take bis choice.
EDWARDS VERSION.
Last evening a REGISTER reporter called
on Health Officer Edwards for his version
Of the controversy with the Board of Public
Works. The doctor said: Some time
ago council ordered me to purchase guam
tity of lime and distribute it on the streets
and alleys OF the city, where they needed it.
met Dr.. Bari, one of the members OF the
Board OF Public Works and asked him if
he would distribute the lime He informed
me, in a very abrupt manner, that he
would not and further stated, IF | or
any other persons put anything on the
streets or alleys Of the city, he
would have such person arrested. That the
Board of Public Works had full control Of
the streets and alleys and when, in, their
Judgment the streets and alleys needed lime
for sanitary purposes, they would furnish
it and put it on. | then concluded not TO
do anything until consultation with the
Committee on Health. A meeting of said
committee was called, but no quorum APP
peared, hence no decided action, was
taken. A few days ago | met Mayor
Miller and he inquired if the lime
had been spread as ordered. informed
him that it had not, and also told him what
had taken place between the Board of
Public Works (Dr. Baird and me. The
Mayor said "You are an officer appointed
by Council and should obey its dictatiOnS.
Council ordered you 20 distribute the lime
and it is your duty to do so, Wednesday
| ordered man 10 distribute the lime on
certain portions of the Island, and | do not
suppose the Board are aware of it vet or
they would either arrest him or me.
CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE.
The scribe then hunted up the chairman
of the Committee on Health, Mr.. MyleS, and
asked him for his views The gentleman
did not care to talk on the subject, as the
committee had not acted on it. He said,
however: There is a slight difference. OF
opinion between the Board of Public Works
aud our committee. The former claims to
have full control of the streets, and alleys Of
the city, whether from a sanitary point or
Otherwise. | met DR.. Baird Wednes-
,lav and on broaching the
subject about the distribution OF
inc, he few off his base and talked
strongly on the subject That evening !
r ceived letter from the Board OF Public
Works, which letter however, was addressed
10 the committee, and | do MT think it ad
visable to show it. The letter refers to the
conversation between DR.. Baird and me,
and states at some length the power invest,
ed IL the Board by the act of the Legisla-
ture in creating the same. A meeting Of
the committee will be held Monday night
and the matter win then be finally settled.
VIEW OF FHE BOARD.
DR.. George Baird, President OF the Board
of Public Works, made very plain state
ment, last night, when called upon Re
said the law gave the Board full control Of
streets and it proposed to keep it, in the
interest of discipline. "lf the committee
will tell us where they want the lime dis
tribu,ed, we will do it, but we can
not have this man and that man throwing
lime about We sent letter to the com
mittee so telling them, and our rights anC
position are undoubted, To-day met s
met man driving cart of lime over tn,
bridge and asked him what he was going Il
do with it. He said he vas ordered to pu
it on the alleys and iold him ! would &c
process for him "a i, he did. That is al
her is to it. We will do our full duty, bu
we cannot have three or four heads to th
department"
The matter will come before the Commit
tee on Health, on Monday night, and som,
action probable taken.