The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-03-16
THE BOARD OF HEALTH.
,crIoN or THE CHAMBER As TO
THE STATE ORGANIZATION.
Tn. Paper Adopted at the Last Meeting Re-
called Prom the Governor and Re-
Committed 70 the Committees.

A
-..,ors OF the Richmond Chamber Of
,.,.,r,orce was held yesterday evening at
o'clock. Present: George L. Christian.
.,csficnt: S. II. Halves. first vice-presi-
,.-.. S. w. Travers. second vice-president;
I. Antrim. i. II. Bissell. r. S. Rose.
% carter scott. J. Randolph Tucker. Jr..
,.,,rctt Waddey. James r. Werth. John
90 West. G. D. Wingfield and +. Nj. Whit
oil, Jr.. members of the board. and Drs.
,,arcs NJ. Shields. Christopher Tompkins
end George Ben Johnston.
The Chair explained that the object Of
.ta meeting was TO consider a matter OF
.-raf Importance 10 the community, upon
pn.rh the beard had taken action at it's
t... regular meeting namely the ques-
..r 0f the organization OF a State board
. health. that as this action had been
,sken hy the Chamber under a total mis-
.nrrehcusion Of what il understood the
Governor OF Virginia desired. he had ad-
.-.ssed His EXcelency. on Tuesday. a
.,.munication upon the subject. which
fs thought 10 due both the Chamber and
,ne gentlemen who had been proposed by
OIL. chamber as members Of the State
board OF health should he sent. The COM
..sni.atlon then submitted for the con-
eloration OF the meeting was as follows
TO His Excellency, Governor Mckinney:
pear Sir.-Having heard. for the first
time in my interview with you this morn
.~g that the recent action Of the Cham
Der Of Commerce OF this city in refer
.rce % the appointment OF a state Board
~ Health Was based on a total misap-
preherson OF what II supposed your
position and wishes in regard 10 the APP
t4 allow this action OF the Chamber 10
stand under the circumstances would
place 10 in false position before the
public. and be calculated to impair its
influence and usefulness in the future,
therefore deemed il 10 be my
duty 20 the Chamber, as its executive
fe4d. respectfully to ask you TO return
std the Chamber the paper embodying its
aid action. for further consideration by
t u in its wisdom any further action
SHALL be deemed proper or advisable.
have the honor TO be, your obedient ser
tlnt.
(signed)
GEORGE J.. CHRISTIAN.
President Richmond Chamber OF Com
wcrce."
Tho letter having been read Mr.. Everett
Waddcy offered the following, which was
unanimously adopted:
iorses the action Of it's president fl
reluesting permission 20 withdraw the
r.e0lutions and recommendations sub
nittcd 70 His Excellency. the Governor
- Virginia. on the 10th instant. for the
purpose Of giving this board opportunity
flr further consideration OF the subject.
The Chair then announced that the
question was what should be done with
tho report 81 the committee on health
and sanitation. which had been returned
ls His Excellency the Governor OF Viz
rIuia. in accordance with his request as
president OF the Chamber
The position OF the Governor In refer
ence 10 the report Of the Chamber nav
ing been very fully stated by Judge CHRIS
tan. Colonel Purcell, Mr.. Halves ana
Dr Shields. who mad been present AT
interviews on the subject with His EX-
ceuency. which was 10 the effect that
while he was glad TO receive the report
~ the Chamber and its recommendations
that he had no idea of being bound by
IFS recommendations. and had not invited
them with that intention
Mr. Edward II. Bissell next addressed
the meeting for the purpose Of giving
Fan history Of the movement under con-
alteration TO organize the State Board or
Health. In considering the subject ne
said Il should be remembered that TINS
was an effort to reOrganize detunct
board. one that had had no existence Tor
some twenty years, which mad no means
at its command, and which would be cah-
ed upon to perform most arduous ana re
spousible duties without pay; that IN
View Of the imminent danger of VISTA
ton from cholera this year, at meeting
Of his committee he had expressed the
idea that with the aid of the Chamber OF
Commerce an efficient board might De
created. that this idea. meeting with the
- . unit 81
unon the Governor, had stated his plans
for rendering the board an efficient one
and understood them TO be fully approved,
and had distinctly understood HIS EN-
ccIfencv TO say that If names were SUD
ruttted by the Chamber the parties Idiheu
would be appointed by him. that TINS part
Of the conversation related especially 10
.no o,nointrnents from Richmond. that he
had then asked the Governor from what
other points he would appoint members OF
tho hoard. had been told that NortOlk,
Alexandria, Petersburg and Roanoke were
the other places from which he preferred
TO make the appointments. ana that upon
further asking him If he could INFORM
balm, who would be appointed from those
,1ocee he had with equal dstinctness
understood His Excellency to say that ne
t,ouid also leave that with the Chamber
~ Commerce of Richmond, that in ac-
cordancc with this understanding OF Inc
situation his committee had proceeded TO
select such gentlemen as II thought would
render efficient service. had correspondent
with them and secured their consent 10
act and had therefore embodied thelr
names i'm me report adopted by the Cham
h.r ON the 9th instant. adopted with TINS
exulanation and understanding as 10 the
Governors wishes and intentions, that III
aN OF these proceedings his idea ana that
of the gentlemen cooperating with nm
upon his committee was that they were
presenting WAYS and means OF enectually
and promptly putting into operation the
services OF such an important organlza-
ton. for which adequate provision mao
not been made by the state.
The subject was then further discussed
hv Neesrs Purcell. West. TraVers. Wad-
dav Halves. Werth. White, and DIS.
Shields. Johnston and Tompkins. and the
conccnsus OF opinion being that the i'm
rortauce Of the creation Of such board
MAS now fully understood by the Gov
ernor and the public. and IT having been
exclaimed fully TO His EXcellency that
me chamber or its committee on health
and sanitation would not have nominated
anv gentlemen as members OF the board,
and especially would not have nominated
members from other cities. unless II had
heen under the impression that II was his
oNrrsss desire that they should do SO.
no further action was deemed necessary
than 10 recommit the report back 10 the
committee on health ana sarltatoh'