Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-13
STICKS TO HIS OPINION.

City Attorney Moreland Says Any Man on
the sOIehside Can Sne the schIndery
Owuers-CouncIIman NIsbet's Minority
Report-InspecrOr ThOmpsOn's Opinion.
The Beck's Run schindery agitation will
not down, despite the vigorous attempt of
many to brand it merely as a political
scheme. Councilman W. w. Nisbet, chair
man OF the sub-Committee on Health, ap-
pointed to investigate the matter, had
minority report ready to present to Select
Councils on Monday, but he was prevented
from doing so by an early adjournment of
that body. His committee referred the
schindery matter to the State Board OF
Health. Mr.. Nisbet thinks the city should
proceed at once against the schindery. His re-
port is as follows:
the effect that the city is vested with the legal
authority to abolish all ruisances within five
miles Of the city line which in any way affects
the health of the people, and
Whereas, A nuisance is said to exist near the
city line on Beck's run, Southside, which
should have the attention OF the Board Of
Health; therefore be it
Resolved That the Superintendent of the
Board of Health be and he is hereby instructed
to make thorough investigation OF the matter
and to proceed Immediately in legal way, un-
DER the QlrecGlOn OIL the ALLOEuey'S AQVlce
to abate the said nuisance.
City Attorney MorelaDd, when asked re-
garding the reversal of his opinion by Health
Officer Thomas w. Baker concerning the re-
moval of the Beck's Run schindery, replied:
"Well, 1 don't know that the health officer has
any more right than anybody else to proceed
against such a nuisance, if 1t is shown to be So
l don't care whether the nuisance is within 20
feet or % miles of the city, As long as it can be
shown that the drinking water is contaminated
any citizen can appear and prosecute the peo-
pie who maintain such a nuisance.
"Oh, yes, can give you number of cases in
point on that subject-cases in which it was
necessary to stir uD the community to make
the city officials do their duty in protecting the
public health. One was in Elizabeth an al
most similar case to the one you mention in
Beck's Run. 1 acted as attorney in the matter,
and the schindery had to be removed when it
was proved to have been nuisance. This
was about ten years ago.
There was another case over in Allegheny
some time ago in which was interested. The
finest slaughter house in Western Pennsylvan1a
was complained OF as making too much stencil,
and action was brought to compel the pro-
prietors to desist from consuming the offal, on
account of the eff1uvia. The action held, and
the butchers were compelled to desist from
making their establishment a nuisance. ANY
man on the Southside can proceed against the
schindery proprietorS."
DR.. J. K Thompson, the Local Inspector of
the State Board of Health who, it will be re-
membered, was spoken to in reference to the
matter when the subcommittee acted, was in
terrogated last night anenI the Schindery mat
ter. He said that he had not heard a word
from the Councilmanic Committee as yet, and
he could not understand why they did not call
upon him, if for nothing else but to get an idea
of the means to be pursued in procuring the
States assistance in such matters. He was
also of the opinion that the whole affair was be-
ing quashed for political motives, and that if
the agitation was not continued it was likely
never to be heard of again.
DR.. Thompson went on to say that he could
see no earthly reason why the State should be
called upon to act, as it was clearly demon
strated by Attorney Moreiand's opinion, and
even without it that the city had jurisdiction
within the limits prescribed.