The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-05-03
TWO OUT ron HEALTH OFFICER.
DIR. LeHardy and DIR. CrOwther the
Only Candidates So Far.


The election for health officer to fill the
vacancy caused by the resignation of DR.
Drummer viii take place at the meeting
of city council Wednesday night.
DR.. st. J. b. Graham, who is now acting
as health officer, has stated positively that
he will not be a candidate. This leaves
only two candidates in the field, Drs. ]
c. lie Hardy and J. W. Crowther. 1t is
said that Dr. F. T. Lincoln is considering
the ACCESSIBILITY of announcing himself, but
he has as yet made no announcement.
Between Drs. LeHardy and Crowther
the contest Is likely to be a close one
When DR.. LeHardy was first named as
a candidate for the Office, it was thought
that there would be no question of his
election. The discussion of the quaran-
tine question, however, and the general
interest that has been aroused in that sub
ject that developed the fact that there is
a very strong public sentiment in opposi-
ton to any relaxation of quarantine, other
than removal of unnecessary and arbi-
trary restrictions. Although DR.. Lee
Hardy has stated that he is in favor of
maritime quarantine, and that he would
not, If he were health officer, admit any
TONS this has not overcome the belief pre-
viousy entertained, that he was an open
quarantine man and that consequently he
could not be expected to enforce quaran-
tine in the same manner as one who be-
lieved il to be necessary for the protection
Of the city.
A partial canvass of the members of the
board Of aldermen reveals the fact that
they are about evenly divided between
rdr nd bar wi
are expected to vote for Or. LeHardy are
Aldermen Hull, Wylly, Davis, Smith and
Guckenheimer and for DR.. Crowther, AL
dermen Hamilton owens, Krouskoff, Reid
and Charlton. Aldermen We'll and O'Don-
nell are said to have refrained from max
ing promises. Mayor Meldrim was anx-
ious to secure DR.. Graham as health Of
fcer. AS DR.. Graham will not be a candi-
date, it is likely that Mayor Meldrim will
support DR.. Crowther as more nearly rep
resenting the views held by DIR. Graham.
1t may that the vote will be a tie, and
that the mayor will have the casting vote.
A member of the sanitary board in
speaking of this matter with a Morning
News reporter said: mo matter who is
elected health officer there need be no I'M
easiness on the part of the public. The
rules governing quarantine are made by
the sanitary board, and no matter who is
health officer, those rules will have to be
carried out. There is no inclination on
the part of the board towards lax meth
DDS in the matter of quarantine. We de-
sire to remove all unnecessary restrictions
to the commerce of the port, and we will
not arbitrarily detain vessels on mere
technicalties, but we shall continue to en-
force quarantine against all suspected and
infected ports. We cannot conduct any
commerce with these ports without some
risk. There is no absolutely sure method
of disinfecton. The only way to absolute
ly insure safety is to shut out commerce
altogether. There is always a mean be-
tween two extremes, and we shall adopt
that policy, to enforce quarantine with
discretion, so as to insure the least pos
slble danger of disease and at the same
time impose as light a burden as the cir
cumstances will allow upon our COM
merce.
The sanitary board will meet tomorrow
afternoon. 1t is not likely that any
change in the present regulations will be
made, however. until after the election of
health officer.