The San Francisco call., 1899-07-11
THE BUBoNlc BOARD OF HEALTH

Nth the abortive attempt to create scare by
w a report OF the appearance OF the bubonlc
plague in this city the Board OF Health ap-
pointed to reward the followers and to serve the pur
poses OF Dan Burns and the Southern Paclhc COM
Danv began its career and gave the public ustra
ton OF the tactics on which it relies for success
The board cannot be accused OF lack OF energy
OF acI, OF audacity Scarcely was ii in Office when 1t
began looking around for chance to serve its mas
ters and TO gain prestige for itself 1t did not wait
for an opportunity to come, 1t made one out OF what
was virtually nothing It did not restrain itself IN
moderation in exploiting OF the manufactured op-
portunty but about starting panic with the au-
dacity OF men who have scruples and are reckless
OF what may be the consequences to others so long
as something be gained for themselves.
Dr. Barbat, who serves Dan Burns as family ply
sician and as representative the Board OF Health
has brother who has laboratory and who is ser
vceable to the board as 'bacterologist" The will
ing germ hunter examined the bodies OF two Japan
ese who were drowned in trying to swim ashore from
the Nippon aru and declared he found evidence that
they were injected with the bubonic plague-the most
dreadful pestlence OF the pestilential Orient Thus it
was made to appear that the plague had reached San
Francisco, and the board got ready to profit by the
panic which was expected to follow.
Two advantages were to be gained from the panic
In the first place great and valuable service to
ty iniuring rival line II the public could be per
suaded that the competing line OF steamships brought
pestence to the city, Huntington would have the
ocean something like the monopoly he abuses on
land. That far the service rendered to the rail
road bosses and no doubt the bosses appreciated
its true worth.
The second service was to Dan Burns himself. Had
the board and its bacerologst succeeded in causing
a general alarm, it could with pretension ask
from the Supervisors large appropriation ostensbly
Tor the publication and the protection OF the health of
the city but really to make places for the idle and
worthless members OF the Burns push. Thus the
board would have increased It's prestige in the city
and augmented the strength OF the Burns ring
The attempt to create scare was abortive, but it
none the less succeeded in doing the city considerable
harm. In the East the character OF the Board Of
Health is not understood nor are its purposes COM
pretended Therefore the story of the bubonic plague
in this city has been widely published there and e-
aggerated. Many a tourist who might have come to
San Francisco has been turned away by this false
rumor started for the purpose of making business for
the Pacific Mail and doing politics for Dan Burns.
Thus the first effect OF the operations Of the board has
been to inure the whole community to extent
which it is not possible at this time to estimate
From the way the board has begun it is easy TO
oresee how it will continue The welfare OF the COM
rnunity is to count as nothing The main object is to
devise OF forcing the Supervisors to increase
the appropriations for the board Fortunately the
first move was so gross blunder that the people can
readily perceive the nature OF the trap that was pre-
pared Hereafter the public will be wary 1t will take
something more than report from the bacteriologst
Barbat to start induce the Supervisors to
intrust public money for the pay of the Burns
Ol1eh