Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-01-19


enter into competition with the farmers.
The resolution was adopted and the meet
ing adjourned.
THE BOARD OF HEALTH.
There was another meeting of the board
of health last Monday night. 1t was held
for the purpose of making still another
attempt To straighten out the tangle in re-
gard to the local health laws. All the
members were present except DR.. White,
and the session lasted about two hours;
but as to just what was accomplished, If
anything at all, remains to be seen.
The controversy, as has already been
stated, is over the action of the town
council in amending health regulations
submitted by the board, and publishing
the same as an ordinance of the town
without having previously notified the
board of the amendments. The board Of
health held a meeting shortly after the
publication of the amended regulations,
declined to accept the amendments, and
asked the council to ratify the rules in the
shape in which they had been originally
submitted. Instead, however, the coun-
ell invited the board to joint meeting,
was very polite, and had Mr.. Brice to
make long explanation, during which
he practically sustained the board Of
health in all its contentious and made it
clear that the town council should have
ratified the resolutions as they had been
submitted. He held, however, that the
town council had legal right to revise
the action of the board Of health in such
matters; but at the same time assured
the board that the whole matter was OF
very little consequence anyway. AS the
result of the joint session, some of the
members of the board Of health willing
ly, and others with reluctance, were in
duced to surrender their position and vir-
tually acknowledge that not upon them
but upon the town council, devolved all
the duties and responsibilities of the
board of health. The only exception was
DIR. Walker, who, it will be remembered,
did not allow himself to become confused
by the delightfully."- conciliatory condi-
ton of the atmosphere, and left the room,
and the board unorganized, before any Of
the members had committed themselves
in favor of the councils rather unique
position.
The m Getting Monday night was for the
purpose of getting the matter finally
Strengthened out. The members were
confronted with their official action,
whereby they had refused to accept the
amendments of the town
council, and their unofficial action where
by having lost sight of the vital questions,
they bad informally expressed their ac-
quiescence in what had been done. This
situation presented somewhat of guam
Diary which was rather difficult to unravel.
DIR. Walker, the chairman, was of opin-
ion that there was only one thing to be
done, and that was to say that, in the
opinion of the board Of health, the town
has no health laws that are binding on
the citizens; this Notwithstanding the
laborious efforts of the board of health;
that the responsibility for this situation
rests upon the town council; that the
hands of the board of health are tied,
and that until the town council complies
with the law and ratifies the rules and reg
ulations submitted by the board of health,
the council should take the responsibility
for whatever embarrassment tina might
arise.
Mr.. Williams, while not expressing any
from this position, did not
think it advisable, under the circum-
stances. He thought it best for the board
to smooth over all disagreements as far
as possible, and do what it could to reach
an amicable arrangement, whereby the
health laws could be enforced without
undue feeling.
Mr.. Hope, while recognizing that the
expressions of the members of the board
of health in the council chamber recently
were informal, at the same time he
thought that the action of the board was
morally binding as if it had been official.
Still, however, he had not changed his
opinion as to the right Of the town council
to interfere with the regulations of the
board of health. He agreed with Mr..
Williams, however, in the desire to ar
range the whole matter without unneces-
sary friction.
Mr.. Lowry had but little to say; but
what he did say, showed disposition to
agree with the other members in what
ever action they might take.
AS the result of the discussion, it was
finally agreed that the principal amend
ments that had been inserted in the
boards rules and regulations by the town
should be stricken out. Section
2, as amended by the town council, reads
rs follows: "That any person who neg
Iects to abate nuisance, or any matter
Or thing which, in the opinion of the
board of health and town council, en-
dangers the public health, etc." The
land the town council" inserted by that
body, was stricken out by the board, as
also were the words "any matter or
thing" which were thought to have been
objected to by the council because they
implied too much power. An amend
ment of the council in section 4, giving
certain discretion to the ''health officer"
was stricken out, and The words "board
Of health" inserted ins cad. With these
changes, it was agreed tc submit the mat
,er back to the town council for ratifica-
ion.
The paper, as revised by the board of