Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-12-20
WHAT The HEALTH BOARD WANTS.

1t WIN Ask the Legislature to increase
Its Jurisdiction to Some Extent-HOw
Its Power for Good Is at Present Re-
stricted.
There seems to be a movement among
the officers of tho various municlpal
departments of this city in favor OF Al,
improved system of local self government
and the consensus Of opinion seems 70 DC
that some of the municipal bodies are not
invested with sufficient authority to enable
them to properly discharge the tuncllohs
of their Office, then want power to enforce
the law. This being the case, they have
determined TO appeal to the next session
of the legislature, and IL Is probable that
this body which meets i'll January Will be
asked to take some concerted action ~ the
premises. The General Assembly Will be
asked to amend the law so as to invest the
departments with full power to meet any
emergency that may arise.
DIR. John L. Wales, president OF the
Board of Health, was asked yesterday
what action the health department pro-
posed to take in the matter OF securing
legislation and whether or not any definite
steps had been taken to place the short
cOmiugs of the department before the
members OF the General Assembly. Dr:
Wales said that the matter had been talked
over by the members Of the board, DAT so
far the movement had not assumed definite
form. He was in favor OF the appointment
Of Il milk inspector subject 10 the orders of
the.ljDard of Health, and was under the
impression that Il milk inspector was. a
necessity which the public health de-
inaudea.
DR.. Wales also spoke in favor of placing
the plumbing inspector under the jnris-
dicLion OF the Board Of Health. He argued
that the plumbing inspector, who is sub
ieCt to the orders of the Board OF street
and Sewer Directors at present is required
to perform his work outside the building
lines which is controlled by the Board OF
street and Sewer Directors The Board OF
Health is also required TO look into plumb
ing Irregularities, and us its duties do not
extend beyond the building line, TIC
mbiuE inspector is not required to re-
spond TO the call of the Board of Health.
1t is the desire of the board that the plumb
Ing inspector be transferred from the luris-
diction OF the Board OF Street and sewer
Directors to the department of the Board
Of Health. When a leak in the plumbing
Of houses occurs, to the detriment Of pub
| lie health, the department is compelled to
send tor Il plumber To do the work. IL the
| plumbing inspector was subject to the
orders OF the health department il is
argued that he would be u great help to
the board in pcrlecting the sanitary system
OF the city.
1t is also understood that the Board of
| Health will ask the Legislature TO invest
| the department with authority to enter
| liens against the property Of people who
decline to abate nuisanccs and which have
to be abated at the expense of the health
department. For instance the board dis.
covers u nuisance on piece of property
owned by u non resident and no Whining.
ton agent can be found for the lot. The
nuisance is detriment to public health,
ana the board is asked to remove it. Being
unable to come up with either the owner
or agent, the board is compelled to abate
the nuisance at its own expense and the
owner of the lot escapes all liability. The
board will ask the Legislature to invest it
with power to enter a lien against property
where Il nuisance has been abated and
where the owner, being a nonresident,
cannot be reached in any other way.
There is lien book in the auditors office
where the board can enter the lien which
prevents the sale of property until the lien
is paid.
A case is cited where the board was com.
polled TO abate q nuisance on a vacant lOl
ON the eastern side of town at n cost OF
SIS, the owner being resident of another
state. The owner has never remunerated
the health board and there is no way in
which to reach him unless by mora
suusion, and the board is not collecting
many bills in this manner nowadays.