Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-03-26
Health Matters.

1 ne report OF inc llfdliu commute
transmitted two ordinances. but the
Committee made no recommendations,
and the Chair called the attention of
Council to the omission. Some one
moved to recommit. when Mr.. Miller
took the floor and said il would be use
less to send the report To the Committee.
lie had met with the Committee until
ne was tired. They would meet and
wranglc three nights ina week, but would
donothing. 1t was the poorest commit
tee of which ne had any knowledge.
The motion To recommit was lost, and
the ordinances were taken up. Both re-
lating TO the removal of garbage, one
providing for the removal of garbage by
one contractor. which was read hrSt
time at the last session. and the other
provided for the removal OF garbage at
SO much per load The latter ordinance
was taken up first. and was read first
time. The Chair then asked which or
dmancc Council desired to adopt. Mr..
BrandfaSS said. after mature conSidera-
ton. ne had come to the conclusion
the ordinance providing for one con-
tractor would be the best. He thought
removing the garbage at 50 much load
would be unsatisfactory, and in addi-
tion it could not be told what it would
cost.
Mr. Cruise took the floor, and said
the cost was not the thing to be conSid-
cred. The citizens wanted the city
cleaned and kept clean. and were will
ing to pay for IL. The contract system
had been a failure. and citizens were
tired of il. He thought it would be Il
good thing for the city to make ample
provision in matters of health. The
money would be well spent. Under the
contract system, the figures would be
so low il would be utterly impossible
for the contractors TO do the work. lie
thought the work would cost $4,000 or
Sl5.O if done right. but the people
would save money in doctors and under
takers bills
Mr.. BrandfaSS said he agreed with
Mr. Cruise that the city ought TO be
cleaned up and kept clean, and that the
question Of cost ought not TO enter too
much into it. But undor. the load SyS-
TEN. what guarantee had Council that
the work would be done?
Mr. Cruise, i'm reply. said just as sure
as Council let contract il would have
to either increase the price or relieve
the contractor. Suppose the contractor
should come to Council In six months
aud say: gentlemen. took the con-
tract too low; l amt do the work. The
Council would have to relieve him or
vote more money. That would be the
inevitable result. On the other hand,
/ the more filth was gathered up the more
money the garbage men would make.
+ The result would be the city would be
clened up and kept clean. but il would
cost a large sum. He was willing to
vote for IL that the city might be- cleaned
mp.
Mr.. Harrel said one great source Of
/ trouble was that there were too many
weak-kneed members of Council. They
were under the control Of garbage col
/ lectorS and night soil haulers and ward
politicians. They had bounded mem
/ beers until they shook in their boots, and
/ the result Vas they jumped on the
Health Oficer for doing his duty, and
called him of. He dcied any one to
contradict his statements. shame on
ON such men," said Mr.. Harrell
shane on the men who are under the
/ thumb of garbage collectors and night
soil haulers. Shame ON the members
who are afraid TO do their duty"
Mr.. Bailey said the health depart
ment was as important as the police or
fire. vet members seemed afraid to do
what was right as to health matters.
/ He was opposed TO both the pending or
/ dinsnccS. and favored eight contractors,
one foy each ward. He thought it
would be good plan TO appropriate
about $40. 900. and have eight contrac-
tors.
Mr.. Harrell thought eight men would
be vorse than FIVE. He wanted one re-
sponsible man al the head of the matter,
The question vas pat, on taking up
the ordinance giving the work TO one
man M Il gross sum. and the motion
was adopted, ayes l6. noes =, the latter
Maxwell and Cruise.