New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-04-16

PRECAUTIONS AGAINST PESIILENCE.
The Sanitary Protective League has sent 10
Albany bill to protect the puDhc hea'tn'
which has been approved by anumber OF prom
inent lawyers and laymen in addition 10 'ne
members of the League. The Legislature VIII
do well to pass it. 1t provides that owners anu
keepers of hotels, boarding and lodging houses
shall be required to obtain from the Board oil
Health in every city, town or village whefe
there is such Board, certificate that the
premises are in good sanitary condition. ms
certificate is to be renewed annually and 10 DC
display ed conspicuousy on the premises Inc
Board of Health is to make the necessary eA-
animation without charge and to refuse certih-
c,tes unless the buildings have proper
plumbing and drainage with cellars Tree
from dampness, are without foul odors'
have an adequate supply Of pure water
and direct light in sleeping rooms
with not less than 600 cubic feet OF air space
for each occupant. If the owners or Keepers
of such houses fail to get such certificates, they
will be responsible to every occupant for dam
ages in case of sickness or injury caused oy the
bad condition of the premises and to the WIDOW
or next of kin in case of death. The tenants OF
buildings In q condition dangerous 10 heaith
are to be freed from obligation to pay rent, II
the owner or lessor fails to put the building In
proper condition within ten days after notice
is gwen by the Board of Health that changes
are necessary.
The thorough enforcement of this act would
cause great CONSERVATION among the unscrupu-
Ions owners of overcrowded tenements, and
would spread dismay among the cheap
lodging houses. But if it were carried
out to the letter it would do this big, dirty,
foul-smelljng town an incalculable amount OF
good. 1t might work out the practical coniis-
cation of a considerable part of the property of
the people who have grown rich out of the
restitution, distress and torment of the miser-
cradle beings herded in their nosome teue-
ments but if these fellows could be stripped OF
all the riches which they have piled up out OF
the pitiless taxes they have laid on disease
and death. it would be public benefit. We
need strong, sharp. searching work here III
New-York if we are to escape
cholera epidemic. We need that our
streets shall be swept as they have
never been swept before. We need
that the filthy nests of pestilence in our swarm
ing tenement districts shall be destroyed or
rurged as with fire. We need sleepess viei-
lance at Quarantine that shall let no case oil
cholera through.
America is an easy going country and New
York is the most easy going of cities. Not
until the cholera is actually here will our
officials become as alert and active as they
should be. Health Officer Smith should feel
keenly the tremendous responsibility which
rests upon him. By constant vigilance, by un-
tagging energy, by the strictest supervision, ne
can make it sure that no cholera enters our
doors from the sea. The dread disease has
appeared already in Spain. IL will be on
Manhattan Island during the approaching sum-
meruDess every avenue of approach is guarded
by day and by night Let President Shaler OF
the Health Board understand that his reputa-
ton and position in this community and In this
country depend upon his diligence in labors to
ward off this evil He will have need OF all his
martial qualities. and the best work his brain IL
capable of, to conduct this great campaign
against the most deadly of foes to successful
Issue. Street Commissioner Coleman, also, will
be held by the people to a sharp accountability.
No excuses or apologies or explanations will be
accepted for failure to keep our streets
cleaner than in any previous summer. He has
money enough. He has capacity enough, we
believe. Now let him show it. Mayor Grace
will be looked to by his fellow citizens to keep
watchful eye on the Departments of Health
and Street Cleaning, and to see that they do
their whole duty.
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