New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-05-02
TIE BOARD OF HEALTTS ROUTINE.

THE BOARD or HB1LIHo hVOiLNf'
The Board Of Health complains OF being
falsely arraigned before the public az bound IN
routine and lacking in the energy and pubic
snirit that have given birth to volunteer SAM
tory ORGANIZATIONS in the city. But do the facts
nrove the accusation falseR Take rs an in
stance the result of n recent conference between
the Board and a representative Committee vi
that vigorous "upstart," the Tenth Ward SAM
taIy Aid Society. The meeting took place on
Tuesday after much correspondence between
the Official and the unofficial body that had
Jailed TO establish the harmonious corporation
so much dc sired by the young society on a basis
of energetic work for the common good. The
committee called upon the Board after due
notice on the protested GRAND Of learning Just
how TO direct its work so rs to aid the Board
most effectively in its summer campaign against
nuisances in the Tenth Ward.
Ii found the Commissioners assembled for
their regular weekly session. Uppormost
among matters that we're scheduled for dis
cuss,on at that session was report by Chief
Inspector Billiard on the illegal keeping of fowls
in the Hebrew quarter of the Tenth Ward,
which he characterized as serious nuisance
that had defied the power of the department for
comulaints and sordersn issued within the last
wear covering more than thirty houses IN the
district that harbored the nuisance accompanied
the report they were intended To demonstrate
the practical helplessness OF the department.
without change of method. Mr.. Bnliard sug-
gested that as religious prejudiccs and cere-
monial lay at the root of the opposition to
rroner enforcement of the law, local fowl
markets should be established to meet the needs
of the incubation and that increased powers
sbould then be given to the sanitary police to
deal with persistent offenders. His suggestions
were indorscd and strongly commended by the
Sanitary superintendent, whose opportunities
for iudging correctly of the urgency OF Inspector
Bnllarl's claim have been uneXcelled. The
report had been printed, commented upon in
the newspapers by tho Commissioners them
selves and been before the Board, in one shape
or another, since last January, until 1t lay
ready now for final action.
With this knowledge, what did the Board of
| Health reply to the anxious query of the
volunteer committee, how it could help the de-
partment to rid the Tenth Ward of nuisances
| That the only way was to help get through the
| Legislature bill, now pending, 10 increase the
| patronage Oh Jne DOdIus hHioHS tHo
tenements of the East Side it saw no other field
for the young energy of the society," and sent
the committee away with that answer
The door had scarcely closed behind the
visitors before the Board took up Inspector
Billiards. report. As the result of an hours
grave discussion, it rejected the expert opinions
submitted and decided TO leave the matter of
sanitary reform to tho intelligent action Of the
Teath Ward Hebrews ard to persevcre in tho
routine of the old and bad methods.
There were intelligent and influential
Hebrews on the committee that had just waited
upon the Board, and there is no lack of them in
the Tenth Ward society Yet with this
matter right before them it did not occur to
the Commissioners to point IL out to them as a
field Of usefulness. In tho hot zeal of the
volunteer sanitarians the Board had found fault
with @impracticablo ideas" The Committee
had come tosask for practical guidance. Here
was an opportunity for practical work. Yet it
was allowed to pass. In the routine of matters
Official it had not q come up" yet before the
! Board Its turn came half an hour later, when
the chance to speed an important sanitary re-
form had passed.
Do the facts acquit the Board Of the charge
of being bound, hand and foot in the fatal
meshes of routinef