Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-03-16
STATE. BOARD or HEALTH.
The sabject Again Before the CHAMBER
of Commerce.

The Board OF Directors of the Chamber
of Commerce held a called meeting lsss
evening at 6 o'clock. with a full attendance
of members. There were also presehs
Drs. Charles M. Shield. Christopher lomP-
kins. and George Ben. Johnston.
The chair explained that the object OF
the meeting was to consider q matter VI
great importance to the community upon
which the board had taken action atlo
ORGANIZATION of a State board of heaitn;
that as this action had been taken by Tue
chamber under q total misapprehenslono %
what il understood the Governor deslreu'
he had addressed bis Excellency on lues-
dny a communication upon the suD)ecl,
which he thought 1t due both the cnamoet
and the gentlemen who had been proposes
by the chamber as members OF inc o'a'o
Board Of Health should be sent.
II COMMUNICATION.
The communication then submitted for
the consideration of the meeting was Us
as follows:
"Having heard, fer the FIRST time in my inter-
view with you this morning, that the recon.
action OF tho Chamber OF Commerce OF THIS el.y
IN reference 20 the appointment OF a otato
board Of health was based on a total mlsapplo..
hension OF what II supposed your posi.ion ne
and wishes In regard 70 the appointment OF me
board 70 be; and since, oalow this action OF tuo
chamber 20 stand, under the circnmslahcss'
wouli place II In a false position before inc pup,
lie. and be calculated to impair its innnence anu
usefulness in the future, ] therefore deem u 10
be my duty TO the chamber. as It's executise
head, respectfully 70 ask you TO return 10 tne
chamber the paper embodying its sara ec,lon
for further consideration by u, II Ia its WISDOM
any further action shall be deemed proper VI
adyieable."
II PRESIDENTS ACTION ENDORSED.
The letter having been read, Mr.. Everett
Waddey offered the following, which was
unanimously adopted:
Rcsolred. That this board hereby endorses the
nc.iOn Of It's president In requesting permission
to withdraw the resolutions and recommenua-
tons submitted to his Excellency the utoverhOr
Of Virginia on the 10th instant, for the purpose
Of giving this board opportunity for further ccH-
sideratiOn OF the subject.
Tho Chair then announced that the question
was what should DO done with the report or the
Committee on Health and sanitation, which had
been returned by the Governor Ia accordance
with hrs request.
The position Of the Governor in reference to
the reuort OF the chamber having been very
fully stated by Judge Christian, Colonel Purcell,
Mr. Hawes, and Dr. Shields, which was In effect
that while he was glad 10 receive the reporter
the chamber and Its recommendations, ne hhu
no idea OF being bound by lts RECOMMENDATIONS
Mr.. Edward II. Bissell addressed the meeting lor
the purpose OF giving a full history OF the move
ment 10 organize the state Board of Health.
MI. BIssgILs EXPLANATION.
In considering the subject. no said, II should
be remcm oered that this was an effort 20 reOr-
ganize q dcfunct board-Ono that had had no eA-
istence for some twenty years. which had no
means at its command, and which would 90
called upon 70 perform most arduous ana re-
spOnsible duties without pay; that IN vie" OF the
Imminent danger of a visitation from cholera
this year. at a meeting OF bis committee he ha1
expressed the idea that with the aid OF the
chamber OF an efficient board might
be created; that this idea meeting with the
approval VI the committee. he had called upon
tbs Governor, had stated his plans for rendering
the board an efficient one, and understoOd them
10 be fully approved OF. and had distinctly IN
were submitted by the chamber the parties
named would be- appointed by him.
A~PPoINTMENrs IRON RrCHMoSD.
Mr.. Bissell further said that this part Of the
conversaiiOn related especially 90 the appoint.
ments from Richmond; that lie had then asker
the Governor from what other points he would
appoint members OF the board, had been tOld
that Norfolk. Alexandria. Petersburg, aud koa-
noke were the other places from which he pre-
ferred 70 make the appointments, and mat upon
further asking him II he could inform MN VINO
! would be appointed from those places ne had
| with equal disunctness understood his hX-
cellency TO say tRat he would also leave
| that with the Chamber OF Commerce OF
Richmond; that, In accordance Win tnis I'M
dcrstanding OF the situation, his committee
had proceeded TO select such gentlemen ms "
thought would render efficient service; had cor
| responded with them and secured Their consent
70 act, AMI had therefore embodied their names
| In the report adopted by the chamber on the
9TH instant, with this explanation ana
| understanding ~ 10 the Governors wishes
| and intentions; that In all OF these proceedings
his idea and that Of the gentlemen cooperating
with him upon his committee was that they
| were presenting ways aud means Of erectually
| aud promptly putting into operation tho
services OF such an important organization, Tor
which adequate provision had not been made by
the State.
THE REPORT REC0NsITTRp.
The subject was further discussed by Messrs.
Purcell, West, Trsvers, Waddey. HAYES, Werth,
Whittle, and Drs. Shields, Johnston. and I0Dp-
Rims, and the conconsus Of opinion being that The
| Importance OF the creation OF such a board was
nog fully understood by the Governor ana the
| public, and IL having been fully EXCLAIMED 10 MS
| txcellency that the chamber or us committee
| on Health and sanitation would not have nOml-
mated any gentlemen as members Ci the bOard'
and especially not nominated members from
other cities, unless IL hal been under the impress
sion that Il was his express desire that they
| ehould do 30, no further action was deemed
| necessary than 10 recommit the report back 10
the Committee on Health and Sanitation, which
| was gly done.