Morning journal and courier., 1891-06-02
More Power md More Money.


 To the Editor of the JOURNAL AND COURIER: pr. Osborn's address before the Cham Der of Commerce is remarkable 'fhowln for an autocratic form of government. It advises the people of the great need of | such form of government. in his words, | as reported, concerning the board of | health, ''We must rest our power in some | man or body of men, and that body of | men is in existence. I mean the board of | health. We must give the board power | and money to do what it decides should be | done." Is that so. Now, Doctor, will | you pleasd state what you mean by power, also candidly state how this power is cur tailed and by whom. Have not the vari- ous boards of health in the towns in this state power enough to make them abso- lutely monarchial forms of government, and are they not in the possession of pow CT equal to the Queen of England, the Emperor of Germany or the Car of Rus sias Please tell us what more power is needed. Chapter xii, title 16, General Statutes of Connecticut, section l.: "The justices of the peace and selectmen in each town and such reputable physicians resi- dent in said town as shall be chosen for that purpose by said justices and select men, shall constitute a board of health and have all the power necessary and pro per for preserving the public health, &c.," Section 3. ''It shall be sufficient notice to all persons of any regulation of such board if it be published in newspaper in the town or posted for three days on each signpost in said town; and if any person shall willfully violate such rules, after they have been so published or posted, or after actual notice thereof shall have been given to him, he shall be fined not less than fifteen dollars, nor exceeding one hundred dollars"
 Section 12. "The board of health of any town may interdict communication be- tween it and any other town or place in which contagious or malignant disease is prevalent"
 Section IA. ''When any person shall re- fuse to obey any legal order given by board of health, or shall endeavor to pre- vent it from being carried into effect, any justice of the peace, on the request of such board, may issue his warrant to any proper officer, or if need be, to any indif ferent person, therein stating such order,
  and such officer or indifferent person shall | execute the same"
 Section 16. ''The board of health in any town may order any person, whom they | have reasonable ground to believe inflicted | with any malignant, infectious or conta- | gious disease, into confinement in any place to be designated by said board there to remain so long as said board shall l judge necessary"
 Il III violate any provision of the preceding ssc- tions of this chapter or legal order of a board of health, for which no other penal | ty is provided, shall be fined not exceed | ing five hundred dollars or imprisoned not exceeding six months, or both" Citizens of Connecticut, I ask you to read these sections and then notice the s'howl" for more power for the boards of health. They have not only ''all power necessary and proper" and now they de mand power not necessary and proper. Perhaps it is desire to fine any one who shall speak or write against them five hun | dred dollars, with six months imprison- ment, or both.
 According to these laws the people are absolutely at the mercy of these boards of health. They can invade the sanctity of your homes upon any trumped up charge or complaint: they can restrain the liberty of sympsthizing neighbors who come in to assist and watch with the sick, as did one health officer, who held two or three neighbors in house prisoners for several days. I feel as did the apostle-''thanks be to God who giveth us the victory" over such absolute tyranny of making 1t a crime to be sick, or waiting upon the sick we have this victory in the constitution of this state and in the constitution of the United States. Constitution of Connecti- cut, section 10: "No person shall be ar rested, detained or punished except in cases clearly warranted by law" Article 16, constitution of the United States: ''Nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty or property without due process of law"
 Article 4: "The right of the people to be secure in their possessions, houses. &c., against searches and seizures shall not be violated" &c. Perhaps this howl for more power is, or will be, an attempt tc amend certain sections of these eonstitu