The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-04-22

sit permits. concerning which a vigor-
Gus complaint comes from the towns up
the valley. The state has made provi-
sion for transit permits where body
is carried on a railroad train, but failed
10 make any provision for carrying
bodies from one town to another in car
riages, as a consequence of which un-
dertakers are put TO the Inconvenience
OF securing certificate from a physi-
clan, permit from the health authori-
ties, a transit permit which has to he
endorsed at each town through which
funeral passes and lastly. they must
secure burial permit. 1t Is the in
tention of the undertahers to petition
the boards of health to agree to accept
one permit for all purposes. No action
was taken on this matter.
Following the suggestion of the execu-
tive committee. the following standing
committees were constituted by the
chair:
Doran. Archibald; Patrick Coar, Throop;
DR.. W. ?. Kennedy, Priceburg;
Committee on Pubication-Dr. ]. A.
Manley, Scranton; Thomas Bondy. Jer-
mEn; EomMi,ac MI t. MahIIdy Ha IsySsistoSmpr MRiSn D.
Bailey. Carbonndale; Dr, W, 4, Paine:
DR.. j. S. Graves, Jermyn.
EX-Mayor Powderly, the organizer of
the Scranton board of health, was in
troduced and told of how Il was ac-
complished. In 1878, when the agira-
tion for the organization of board was
started, the state even did not realize
the necessity of boards of bealth. The
law read "a city of the third class
may organize a board of health" There
was no should or 'shall' about it.
A recommendation sent to councils by
the mayor that a board of health be
organized was regarded by the city
legislators as sort of a huge joke. Mr..
Powderly made n visit to the councils
and personally impressed upon them
the necessity of such a move.
MADE NEW OFFICES.
The additional offices that would be
created rather than the councilmen's 3
belief that a board of health was a ne
cessity finally brought about the es-
tablishment. A set Of rules and reg
ulations were drafted by Mr. Powder
ly and Doctor Allen. and active opera
tlons We're begun. The people did not
take kindly to the sanitary officers and
about the only nuisance complained of
was the board of health itself.
During the course Of his remarks, Mr..
Powderly advanced the suggestion that
the associated boards Of health should
petition the legislature to dredge the
Lackawanna, and also commended to
the association the consideration Of the
system for the disposition Of sewage
| and garbage adopted in Berlin, Los
Angeles, Pullman, Me-, and other places
where the sewage Is piped to waste
iand and transformed into fertiIizing
material. He also spoke about unsan-
itary burials. advising against metallic
caskets, which preserve the bodies in
stead of allowing them to return to the
| dust, whence they came, and suggest
ing the isolation of bodies of persons
who die from communicable diseases
to prevent the possibility of these
bodies being disinterred when other
graves are being dug, which has been
proven to be dangerous to health.
| Judge Edwards made a stirring
speech, the burden of which was ar
arraignment Of councils for their disre.
gard of boards of health. The laws
regulating the health of the public, he
contended, are just as important as the
laws for the protection of persons and
property. The law Is thing of slow
growth and formation. and the health
laws, as compared with the other laws
are yet in their infancy. They, like the
others, will grow and in the near fu'
ture, If not in this century then in the
early part of the next, will receive pro-
portionately the consideration due
them.
TREATMENT OF THE BOARD.
He was thankful. he said, that h,
had been invited to address the con
vention If for no other reason than tina
it had opened his eyes to the shameful
treatment which the board of health o.
this city receives at the hands Of tht
councils. The eminent councils, ir
their wisdom. prudence and sagacity
had appropriated this year $4,000 fol
police protection. $4,000 for fire protec
tion, $4S,000 for electric lights; tn,
county, last year. spent s21,0 900 caring
for prisoners who were criminals pri
marily because Of their diregard, th'
laws Of health, and the expenses Of thu
court house for the dispensing of jus
tice were $4,000. The board of healtl
this year received an appropriation o.
Of the pig pens.
II am glad to be here" he continued
with an earnestness that could not b,
mistaken, that I may personally and
as representative of the bench o
Lackawanna county, raise my voice t
wake up the conscience of the peopl,
against this lamentable condition ant
to rouse their interest in the gospel O
health" A burst Of hearty applaus,
followed the judges words, and boil
he and Mr.. Powderly were rendered {
vote of thanks.
Short addresses were also delivered
by DR.. II. d. Gardner, president of tn,
Lackawanna County Medical society
Dr. p. r. Gunster and DR.. L. S. Barnes
DR.. Van Sickle read an interestin.
paper on the history of the sanitar,
movement in the state and this county
which showed him to be thorough.
cOnversant with the subject. Adjourn
day in October.