Telegram-herald., 1890-07-15
A BIG BOMB FIRED
Sensational Charges Made Against
the Board OF Public Works
By EX-HEALTH OFFICER TiTSOS
Hs Makes a Protest. - the CoanetA say
ias ne Ma U.fziriT frsatsd-tae
B4gh-a0asss - be Ersctsd-fr0-
cssdiass Last EssDtng.

he pushed a volumlnOus looking docu-
meut toward the city clerk. For a
moment there Was silence. Presently
the cleEk commenced reading the dOcu-
ment, and before he finished it created
quite a sensation among the city faith
ers. lt wss not entirely unexpected,
however, as the TELE0RAM- HERALD had
previously made reference 10 Il. It was
a communication from eX-Health OH
Ger Edward Watson, charging the Board
Of Public Works with appointing Health
Oftcer VIM. :. Saunders as his success
sor SIMPLY for political purposes and in
direct defiance Of an act OF the Legis-
latare. IL read as follows:
''Io the Hon. the Common Council:
"Gentiemen-I hereby desire 10 call
the attention OF the council 70 the local
acts OF the Michigan State Legislature
OF 1917, 3 an act 10 revise the charter
OF the city OF Grand Rapids.
"In title *, section I, you will find
an act creating cGr present Board OF
Health. In defining the duties OF SAID
Board of Health you will ind the fol-
loving relating 70 the appointment OF
4 Health officer:
"'Said Board OF Health shall have
power, and 1t shall be their duty, 10 ap-
point a Health Odlcer who shall be
pracuciug physician and graduate
from some legally authorized medical
college as aforesaid, and who shall be
selected with special reference 10 his
knowledge OF chemistry, hygiene and
sanitary matters. SAID Health Officer
may be removed from Office by SAID
board, Il majority OF It's members voting
for a removal
"ln May, 1889, when the board met to
organize TOR the ensuing year, | was
then the health officer, and at that
time was confined 70 my bed by illness.
! asked that a competent person be
selected TO ill my place for a reasona-
ble time, % see II my health would al
low me to resume the discharge of the
duties OF the office.
The board did not grant my request,
as u was desirable on the part of the
new administration, to place IN the
office, one Wm. ,. Saunders, the pres
ent incumbent.
The city charter plainly does not fix
the time the health officer IS ap-
pointed for, bnt distinctly says, such
health officer may be removed from
Office by said board, a majority of its
members voting for removal.
'in my case no vote was taken tor
-emoviug me from office, but w. G..
saunders was promised the place, and
have been informed by member of
the Board of Health that the eligibility
of SAID W. G. Saunders was then ques-
toned by the members of the board; +;
and have again been Informed by Il
member OF the Board of Health that At
the first meeting of the board 10 MAY,
1880. the question of appointing another
person came no. The same question of
the eligibility Of the present incumbent
was again brought up and fully dis
cussed. Tne board adjourned and met
the third time for the purpose of dis
cussing this question, and 1t was fully
agreed that toe present ncum-
bent ord not possess the qualifications
demanded by the city charter. In the
face of these facts ". G.. saunders vas
retained n Office. | now ask the Hon.
Common Coyncil by what authority
the Board of Health made the appoint
meu2 And Is an appointment thus
made, in open and wIlful violation of
defiued BY an legislative act, a legal
appointment
Respectfully,
EDWARD WATSON"
Accepted and placed on file.
The city comptroller's report showed
the accounts of the week to bc sl9,-
527.ZS. Accepted
Andrew Fyfe, clerk of the superior
court, asked that he be authorized to
appoint Charles A. Trait assistant clerk
at .he superior court for one month,
without expense 20 the city, a ne VIII
Se absent during that time. Granted.
The CITY marshal notified the council
hat the Chicago s. West Michigan and
.he Grand Rapids d Indiana railroads
aifer to place gates at their crossing on
Frst-st.. and they are willing to do as
required and will commence the cree
tou as soon as possible. Accepted.
The city marshal reported that he
bad made an investigation into the pro-
posed erection of two bath houses aud
found that they would cost $3.50 each.
Alderman sproul opposed the meas
ure OF appropriaungthes sum necessary,
saying tne evpcnse was too heavy.
Another alderman drew a vivid pic
ture of the necessity of the bathing
places. re illustrated how the boys
were obliged TO 60 into the water at the
rlsS OF being arrested. etc.
Alderman Carpenter, who had made
the original notion, moved "a an
amendment that the marshal be in
structed TO build only one bath house
az cost Of $3.50 as au experiment
Alderman stokes wanted the bath
house located opposite tOmstOcks. :.
Aid. Carpenters amendment was
voted ON and .0sc HIS original mo-
ton was passed for two bath houses 20
cost $3.50 each.
President DAVIS Of the Board OF Pub
lie Works. reported that correspond
ence had been entered into wlth land
sCape gardener Co improve the Ball fo.
m whiCh BE- s stated that the cost NAV
b. si00 and. a. this amount Il iu excess
Of tire sum stated r. the resolution. the
Board d.d rot feel authorized CO pro
cecd with Gre work. r ferred 90 com
nt,ee ou parks.
The ccrfrrl tfee on parks afterwards
reported art recommended that the
common Gee he author. .zed t0 employ the
E'rtercr
ne- ticn vas read from property
holders II block III. Dexter fract on. J..
srg that tac same be graded. from
fres-eut-ave. t0 Fast RridEe-st. BE
4 rrtd to Board of Public WORKS
Property holiers of NIucenr-st- peti-
toned tae counCi for naptha lamps.
heferrfd a1 ommlttee on lamps
The Board 0f Public Works, relative
- tfc proposition 81 the Cook Well
company c. furnish che city with well
water. recommended that the board be