Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1895-09-22

a very important session of the City
Board of Health was held at the City
Hall, last evening, at which Health Of
ficer Jepson was present.
The time OF the session was largely
devoted to consideration of the advisa-
bility of allowing the schools, the Ii
brary and the markets TO reopen, and
the discussion was very earnest. Pre-
vious to the meeting of the Board three
members of the Committee on Markets
had met and passed a resolution throw
ing open both market houses, while the
members of the Board, as a matter of
course, were conversant with the ac-
ton taken at last Thursdays meeting
Of the Board of Education, declaring
that the schools would reopen Monday,
but they only had this knowledge
through the press reports of the pro-
ceedings of the Board of Education,
the City Health Board not having been
consulted previous to the meeting OF
the Board of Education, nor were they
after it had been taken. There was
a general sentiment among the mem
bers of the Health Board that however
desirable il might be to have both the
schools and markets reOpened, to do so
might result in the further spread OF
the disease, and it was thought much
better to take all the precautions pos
sible until the disease was thoroughly
and wholly stamped out, than to risk
a continuance of the disorder by hasty
action. There was also a very decided
feeling that the Board of Education, in
taking its action of last Thursday, had
not only usurped the functions of the
Board of Health, as conferred by the
Code of the State and the city ordi-
nances, but had also been guilty of dis
courtesy.
The session of the Board opened with
the consideration of bills, and a total of
S3S3.77 was recommended for payment.
These bills, added to those passed
earlier in the week. will make about
1880 of health bills to be laid before
Council at next Tuesdays regular ses-
sion
The question of whether or not the
markets should be opened was then
taken up and this carried the schools
with it, by general consent the two
propositions being discussed simulta-
neously for almost an hour. The
clerk was asked, as a preliminary,
whether an official notification of the
action of the Board In closing the
schools. or rather, forbidding their be-
ing reopened after the summer vaca-
ton, had ben served upon Superintend-
ent Anderson, and he produced the
original order in writing, a copy of
which had been served upon the Su-
perintendent by a lieutenant of police.
This order read that the schools were
to be kept closed until October LIST, I'M
less otherwise ordered by the Board OF
Health. Several members expressed
themselves as being surprised at the
action of the Board of Education, in the
light of the past situation in this city,
and Of the great desirabiity of using
every means of stamping out the dis
ease Health Officer JepsOn thought
the action taken by the Board Of Edu-
cation was not only irregular, but an
insult to the Board of Health. and said
IF the mover of the resolution in the
Board OF Education had been as care
full of the public health as he should
have been, he would have made some
enquiries from the health authorities
before offering it,
DR.. Taylor took strong ground in ia
vor of caution in again throwing open
either the markets or the schools, say
ing: "An ounce of prevention is worth
a good many pounds OF cure, in this
important matter. The schools might
be reopened and no trouble follow; but
if we should have another outbreak OF
the disease, running into cold weather,
the result might be very bad.
For a time there was disposition to
allow the schools to reopen OH the ac-
ton taken by the Board of Education,
and shifting to the shoulders Of that
body the responsibility for any trou>
bic which might result, but it was
pointed out that if there should be an
other outbreak of the disease the pub
lie would properly hold the Board Of
Health responsible for not enforcing
it's own precautionary orders, and this
sentiment was accordingly changed in
favor of the Health Board keeping en-
tire command of the situation.
During the discussion DR.. Jepson
said: Father BoutlOu called upon me
regarding the parochial schools, and
said he wanted to know my wishes in
the matter. l want TO contrast this
with the action Of the Board Of Educa-
ton. | told Father Boutlou it was
nv Judgment that the schools con-
trolIed by the Church might be re-
opened north of the creek, if pupils
from the South Side We're kept away,
and he said he would adhere to that
idea"
After a long discussion, during which
all sides of the question were eXamin-
ed. the following resolution regarding
the public schools was passed.
Whereas. No case of smallpox ex-
lists north of the creek. and the number
south of the creek is rapidly diminish
ing; therefore,
Resolved. That the restriction placed
by the Board of Health on the reopen
ing of the schools be removed from that
portion Of the city north Of the creek.
An official copy of this resolution
was ordered served upon Superintend-
ent Anderson Immediately.
The question Of the markets was then
taken up. and was likewise discussed
for long time. DR.. Taylor again took
strong ground in favor of any and all
measures esteemed necessary TO put
an end to the existence Of smallpox IL
this city. He said the Health Board !
had been endeavoring for six months 70 |
stamp out the disease, and the way 10
do it was to continue the precautionary |
measures until the last case was OH lil0 /
hooi,s He feared the Board was TAX /