The record-union., 1895-09-24
BUSY SESSION OF THE TRUSTEES.
A Discussion Over Board of Health
Matters.
Trustee Deyine Against the Sanitary
solution-Inspector Herr Gets
His Salary.

The City Board of Trustees met last
evening, Messrs. Lawton, Bragg, Davis,
Kent, Tozer, Leonard, Devine. Pennlsh
and Wachhorst being present.
Lawton said it had been authenticity
reported that cholera was raging III the
Orient and also that three deaths from the
disease had occurred in San Francisco.
Heidi not think the cholera would reach
this city if proper precautions were taken,
and for that reason had called meeting
of the Board OF Health for o'clock. he
offered the following resolutions:
WHEREAS, 1t is automatically reported
that cholera prevails in China, Japan ana
Honolulu; and whereas, there IS Imml-
nent danger of cholera spreading to this
country and to Sacramento, 1t Is hereby
ResotUed, That the Board OF Health IS
empowered to take such steps and create
such expense as they may deem neces-
aarv to place Sacramento in thorough
sanitary condition. and, in case the dis
ease should reach Sacramento, to DO sucn
things as will prevent the spread OF sald
disease. Il is further
ReSotUed, That the Chief OF Police Is dl-
rected TO render such assistance TO the
Board of Health as they may require.
Alter the resolution was read, Leonard
said the resolution was too sweeping.
The city's finances are low, and II the
resolution was adopted might be lnJu-
diciously expended. Building and SanI-
tary Inspector Herr, be said, is not the
proper person to I'LL the office he now
occupies He is not lively enough.
Within a stones throw from where the
Trustees meet, he said, there are signs
directing the public where filth Is stu
ated, and which was overlooked by the
Sanitary Inspector. If Herr is specl-
men of what the Board Of Health is going
to employ as Sanitary Inspector, he
would vote against Lawton's resolution,
Leonard moved as a substitute that $500
be placed at the disposal Of the Board Of
Health.
DIR. L. w. Huntington, President pro
tenn. of the City Board of Health, was
present on the invitation OF President
Lawton. He said ne wanted TO take oc-
casion to answer Leonard in his arraign-
ment OF Sanitary Inspector Herr
The Board of HEALTH" continued the
DOCTOR ''for the last three months has
been without Building and Sanitary In
spector Mr.. Herr was always attentive,
and paid his own street-car fare in going
from one end of the city to the other in
the performance OF his duties. 1t may
REQUIRE a week to abate one nuisance on
account of the possibility of the Inspector
being compelled to correspond with the
agent of the property, or the owner, who
may not be a resident OF the city. We
have no law efficient enough in this di-
rection.
''If the Board of Trustees had given Us
the kind of ordinances we asked for our
present Inspector would be the only otfl-
Ger Of the kind required. Up to 1880 our
Government was occasionally subjected
to violent epidemicS, which swept over q
large area OF the country. At that time a
sanitary engineer discovered remedy
for the epidemics, and since then we nave
had no epidemics, and we shall have
none if the principles for treating epi-
denies as laid down az that time are fol-
lowed out. If the schools in this city
were closed one day on account OF the
fear of an epidemic scare IL would cost
the city more than it would to main
tain the schools for an entire year. /
hope the members of the Board OF
Trustees will not act IN pennyWlSe and
pOund-foolish way"
Wachhorst said money matters should
not cut any figure in such an important
matter at issue.
President Lawton said he was in Cairo,
ILL.,, when the cholera was raging there in
1864 ana 1865. There were sixty-three
deaths in one day. Deaths occurred all
around MIN, but by good luck he escaped
caused by the city authorities being CT
the opinion that IL was not necessary to
take the ordinary precautions against the
disease.
Mr.. Lawton said he was also in the
smallpox epidemic in St. Louis. There
is no sickness in those cities now, be-
cause they have been cleaned up. hey
do not stop there to talk about dollars and
cents The Board of Health of this city
understands all about the matter under
discussion. The members of that board
are gentlemen, and there should be no
strings on them.
Davis agreed with DR.. Huntington, and
said the expenditure by the Board OF
Health to keep cholera out of the city
should not be limited.
Leonard said that Judging from what
DR.. Huntington said the latter must nave
taken the Trustee for an advance agent
for the cholera. The filth close TO the
meeting-room of the Trustees had been
called to the attention of the Board OF
Health, but that body had not acted in
the premises.
Or. Huntington denied that the Board
of Health had not acted in the matter. Ii
has been before that body for some time,
he said.
Pennish said that George w. Herr, the
present sanitary Inspector, had been
hampered in the performance of his du-
lies Dy the BOARD OF trustees. Alter MS
Office had been consolidated with that OF
the Plumbing Inspector persons to
whom he had occasion to speak to about
the filthy condition OF their property
would refuse TO recognize him as Sani-
tary Inspector.
Devine said the Board OF Health did
not give the city fair trial after the con-
solid8tion was made. They should have
given the Plum bIng Inspector an oppor-
turity 10 prove that be could perform the
duties OF Building and Sanitary Inspector
and Plumbing Inspector. In one hour
the Plumbing Inspector could attend to
his own particular work, and the rest of
the day he could devote TO performing
the duties of Sanitary and Building In
spector. a year ago the Board of Irus-
tees enacted a law which was in conflict
with the organic laws of the country. lie
said he would not act in like manner,
and would vote against Lawton's resolu-
tlon and in favor of Leonard's ameud-
ment TO allow the Board of Health $500.
Tozer said he felt as though q sum suf-
hcient to satisfy the Board OF Health
should be appropriated.
Kent wanted DR.. Huntington to ex-
plain what course the Board of Health
would pursue TO judiciously expend the
money that might be appropriated.
Or. Huntington said the matter would
be left largely to the discretion and jndg-
ment of Health officer ii. l.. Nichols.
From four to six men should be en-
pioyed to make a house, Toulouse inspec-
tion, and should be so employed for a