The record-union., 1891-10-13
SANITARY INSPECTOR STARR.
He Defends Himself Before the City
Trustees,
And Claims to Have Been Diligent in
His Work-Chinatown to Be Ex-
amined This Morning.

AT yesterdays session of the City Trus-
tees Health Officer Nichols said there
was matter he desired to bring up. He
understood that the Mayor had caused
statements to be made and published to
the effect that Sanitary and Building In
spector Starr was not doing his duty, and
he desired to have charges preferred IF
the Mayor chose toy and the matter fully
investigated. Mr.. Starr, he said, was
working under the direction of the Board
of Health, and if he was not doing his
duty the board desired to know it. On
the other hand, if he was, it was only
right that the matter be Investigated that
he might be exonerated from blame.
WHAT THE MAYOR SAW.
Mayor Comstock said he happened to
be walking along in Chinatown, and a
man called his attention to the condition
of the alley between Fourth and Fifth.
He went down there and found lots of
filth and rubbish that ought to have been
removed. Then, at the corner of Fifth
and streets, there was a bad smell, and
he guessed it came from some of the
houses.
MR.. STARR DEMANDS AN INQUIRY.
When the Mayor had finished telling
about what he had seen, Mr.. Starr ad-
dressed the board:
II would like the board to investigate
this matter right away" said Mr.. Starr.
II want as full an investigation as it is
possible to have, and would like it to be
had in day or so. / am tired of hearing
charges, every now and then, about my
shirking my duty. This is the third
time now that ] have been attacked, and
l am determined that the proper authori-
,~1,n Il a.. L Il.
doing my duty. When / saw these
charges in the newspapers, went right
down to Trustees Mclaughlin and
Conklin and asked them to come along
with me through Chinatown to see what
work had been done.
'.They did not think" he added, "this
was necessary, and 1 could do nothing
further. But | want as speedy hearing
as possible, and meanwhile | will not go
near Chinatown nor order thing
cleaned up. l would request the entire
Board of Trustees and the Board of
Health to go through Chinatown to-mor-
row morning with me- and see for them
selves just what has been done in the di
rection Of improving the sanitary condi-
ton Of the quarter. / know that more
work has been done this year than dur
ing the last ten years.
But there's some foul rubbish there
yet," remarked the Mayor.
"Yes, suppose there ISL said Mr..
Starr. II can't do the whole thing in a
day, nor see that every alley in the city
is cleaned every day."
Its not as clean as other parts of the
city," continued the Mayor.
mo, and it will never be-" retorted
Mr.. Starr.
HIS HONOR NOT EXCITED.
"Well," said the Mayor, "Pm calm
about this matter. I've heard OF other
dirty places about the city,"
why don't you notify me?" was Mr..
Starts rejoinder.
ALL HANDS WILL GO.
The "setto'' finally ended, and it was
decided that the members of the Board of
Trustees and the Board of Health meet at
Fifth and l streets this morning at 8
o'clock and make an examination of
Chinatown.
Tonight was set as the time for meet
ing for the purpose of deciding whether
or not Mr.. Starr has been shirking his
duty.