The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-03-25
MUST ATTEND POLICE CASES.
The Health 0mcer Required by
Council TO Perform That Duty.


The subject, which caused the most in
teresting discussion in the city council
last night, was Alderman Hubs ordinance
requiring the health officer TO attend emer-
gency calls at the police barracks which
came up on it's second reading.
Alderman Davis asked for information
from Alderman Owens as a member of the
sanitary board. who replied that he was
not the author of the ordinance and had
nothing whatever to do with IL.
Alderman Hull replied that the matter
had been fully discussed In caucus, and
1t was agreed that council would not sub
init TO the extra expense of $3.50 per
month for attending prisoners at the po-
lice barracks.
Alderman Krouskoff said he considered
the health officers, one Of the city's
most important officers and he
wished TO place himself on record as OPP
posed to this ordinance whether on ac-
count of economy or for any other reason.
1t was poor economy to take the health
officer from his other duties, he said, to
attend to comparatively unimportant work.
Alderman Well said that his main reason
for voting for the ordinance as he intend
ed doing, was that he had heard that the
health officer had said he would not at
tend the emergency calls at the barracks
and that he would resign If such an ordi-
nance was adopted
Alderman Hull said it was not the mo-
tive Of economy which prompted him to
introduce the ordinance but that he had
FOUND that the health officer
had attended the prisoners at the bar
racks up to 1893, when he received less
pay than at present, and as his duties are
no more onerous now than then, he saw
no reason why he should not perform the
duty now.
Alderman Krouskoff opposed the ordi-
nance very strenuously He dwelt upon
the necessity of constant watchfulness to
prevent the spread of epidemics in Sa-
Vannah, and said that the expenditure of
small sum monthly is as nothing COM
pared with the city's health. 1t is the
duty of the health officer 10 guard the
city's health, he said and he did not
think he should be burdened with petty
duties.
Alderman Krouskof's reference 10 cpl
denies brought Alderman Charlton to lis
feet, who said that he was tired of hear
ing this cry of epidemic raised. He want
ed to know what was the use of a splendid
water supply, of the immense amount of
drainage done by the county, and the adj
vantage of bluff forty feet in hight, If
1t Is to be continually advertised to the
world that Savannah is always in fear of
an epidemic
Alderman Charlton said the health con-
ditions Of Savannah are of the very hest
He did not believe if an epidemic were in
PRODUCED here that it would spread, and If
the quarantine system were wiped out
entirely he did not believe the city would
be in any danger. He was tired of the
nonsense of a system which was more
Dehttng the middle ages than the present.
Whether or not the health officer is re-
quired to attend emergency calls al the
barracks is of small Importance, but it is
OF Importance that ships should be adj
mitted to the pert as freely as possible,
and our commerce given a chance to re-
ViNe itself. If the numerous complaints
OF the merchants are true, he said a very
onerous system has been practiced, which
has resulted IN driving commerce away
from the port.
Alderman Krouskoff replied to Alder
man Charlton that 1t was due only to
continued watchfulness that Savannah
had been kept healthy city.
The ordinance was put to a vote and
adopted, Alderman Krouskoff and one or
two others voting against it. There was
no call for a division of the vote