Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-01-27

!" !: !: !:
VNtANW its organization hav-
NELfiJTN ins been held at the
~ III IiAt Invitation OF Or. J.
l5l So N@ s. Billings in the
III UE-". rooms of the Army
III Medical Museum on
January IL, 1888.
w This meeting was
attended by a number of the leading cit
liens Of Washington. among them being
the Commissioners Of the District OF CO.
lumbia, NJ NJ. Parker, one of the present
Commissioners, R. Ross Perry. Charles L.
Condit, ]. W. Babson. Theodore W. Noyes
and H p. Goodwin. 1t was called for the
purpose of discussing the plans and pur-
poses of the proposed organization. and TO
bring to the attention of the citizens of the
District the needs of Washington as re-
CARDS sanitary conditions. in view of the
dangers which were at that time threat
ening US arising from the possible inva-
sion of epidemics into this country during
the following summer. At this meeting
there was appointed committee of three
to draft a form of constitution and to
nominate officers. with instructions to re-
port at subsequent meeting, which was
held on January ID. II was not. however.
until the 18th of January that the league
was formally organized and the perma-
nent constitution adopted. At this meet
ing the officers were also elected, Mr.. X.
Ross Perry. the well-known member of the
District bar being chosen as its president
and DR.. ]. s. Billings and Mr.. Theodore
w. Noyes as the vice presidents. A council
was also chosen, consisting of twenty-one
members. leading and influential citizens.
representing all sections of the District.
who, in addition to the officers. were to
ed yrft adj TIM of
the affairs Of the league. Mr.. John Joy
Edison was chosen as secretary. and Mr.
Z. Francis Riggs was made the treas
urer Of the organization. The task of
bringing about a complete organizati ton
end setting 1t in motion so as TO produce
the best possible results Involved a great
smount OF work upon the part of its off,
GERS. So fast did the work in connection
with the affairs Of the league accumulate
that 1t was found necessary 10 appoint an
assistant secretary. and Mr.. Nelson Z.
Webster was chosen as IN additional off,
Ger in this capacity. The membership of
the league steadily grew from the outset
until 1t now numbers something over five
hundred and embraces many of the lead
ing and progressive citizens of the Dis
trict. who are deeply interested in the
public welfare and in matters of public
heaIth, both from a humane point OF view
and from natural pride in increasing the
attractlVeness Of the national capital as a
place of residence. although the prime
OBJECT OF the proposed league was to de-
crease by organized and voluntary effort
on the part of the citizens of the District
the possibility of an invasion Of violent
epidemics into Washington during the
summer season. those VINO most interested
themselves in the work thought they saw
neld for broad and permanent useful
ness and what was at first intended as A
temporary means of protection has. now
become hrmly established, and the perma-
money OF the organization Is assured
OBJECTS of the League
Inc OBJECTS of the association. as set
iorth IN the constitution, are the innrova-
meht OF the health of the citizens of the
District py collecting data with regard to
existing or threatening dangers. by difrus-
ing information with regard to the hest
means OF removing or preventing such
dangers, by aiding the proper authorities
In their efforts to improve the sanitary
condition OF the District. and to prevent
Lac introduction and spread OF disease
Inc work Of the league Is especially aimed
against the Introduction ana spread OF that
CLASS OF diseases whicn are properly termed
preventable- This class is constantly in
the nature and causes or diseases become
better understood, while those which are
not properly termed preventable are de-
creaslhS IN IKE ratio Prohting by past
experience and by the aid of superior means
Oh investigation, diseases which mad for
years baified medical skill are now SO thor
ouShly understood that by the observance
OF a little precaution We can bid them de-
Nance, though We live in their midst MANY
classes of bacteria whose invasions have
produced Results more fatal than the bat
Ties OF a Caesar or a Napoleon have re-
treated before the attacks of science and
We are no longer compelled to flee from
their ravaSes. But even il this day of en-
Hshtenment such diseases find a fertile
Fed III many OF our larger cities, and es-
peciaAy among the poor and Ignorant
among those who are uniformed as to the
Simple laws of health. Here the Sanitary
League tnds a broad field for usefulness
Ia the line of popular education on the SUBJ
1ect OF sanitation, and the good which 1t
has accomplished and which IL will doubt
less accomplish in the future Is beyond es-
tmdtiOn- IL has instituted a crusade in
the dissemination of information on SAINT
tary matters by providing means of in
strdction in simple hygiene and sanitation
50 as TO remove as far as possible the ig-
nor9nce that permits unsanitary conditions
10 exist and which contributes so much TO
Increasing the annual death rate This
campaisn OF education has proved most
beneficial in it's results. as the reduced
death rate IN the District will attest The
direction OF the affairs of the league is in
trusted TO Its council. which meets monthly
and which. in addition to It's officers. is
composed Of twenty-one members, elected
annually.
Following are members Of the council at
present: J. w. Babson, Vim. II. Baum,
Glenn Brown. Chas. L. Condit. John F.
Cook. Reginald Fendall. f. NJ Galiaudet.
c. c. Glover. ii. p. Goodwin O. Brown,
GOoie. j. n. Gordon, Geo F. Hardin, J
Harrison Johnson. B. F.. Leighton, T. p
Miller, F. L. Moore. NJ. VI. Parker Ellis
Spear. George Truesdell and Il. II. Warner
The committees and subcommittees
which now number twenty-five, guarding
nearly every avenue through which it is
possible for diseases to enter the city,
either through our water and food supply
or through the existence of unsanitary con-
ditions, report either to the council di-
rect or to some one Of the committees of
the council Such reports receive consider
alton at the monthly meetings of the coun-
Gil ana are acted upon and disposed Of in
sven manner as may seem best designed
70 promote the interests OF the city
W nile the league Is accomplishing much
sood IN this quiet way, it's work being
brought to light only through occasional
notices OF the press. its value as an or
ganlzation would be especially noticeable
IN the event of the appearance OF some
dangerous and violent epidemic such as
the cholera In such an event Its influence
could be brought to the homes of nearly
every resident of the District. In this re-