The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1899-01-13

Board of Health should be enlarged.
and not be merely sdyisory, as they
are st present, and thoy should To
given control Of epidemics whenever
they ocodr in the State. Their sc.
ton would be less ioluenced by
local Interests and prejudices than
the local Board Of Health. The act
Of 1894 establishing local Boards of
Health in incorporated towns and
villages should be extended to every
township, and these township Boards,
us we'll us those in the Incorporated
citios and towns, should be required
to giyo notice to the State Board of
Hoalth Of tho presence Of any con-
tagious dscaso in their jurisdiction,
and penalty should be attached
for neglect to perform this duty. If
this was law, tho State Board of
Health, being npprised of the pre-.
senco Of any epidemic, could taks
immediate stops for it's suppression,
and thus save life at less expense to
tho people OF the State than under
the present law. During the pre-.
sent epidemic Of smallpox, the St, to
Board of iIonlth took charge only in
those looalitio, in which there were
no local Boards OF Health. AS their
powors wore moroly advisory, and in
order to ho clothed with some au-
thority to do this work, they had to
obtain from tho Governor commits
sions for sanitary inspectors. The
epidomic in incorporated towns was
undor tho management of their re-
| spective local Boards of Health, and
the Act Of 1894 conferred ample
power on them, as their rules and
regulations had tho force of town
ordinance when approved by the
mayor and council"
CONCLUSION.
In conclusion, let me impress up
, on you that the past year has been
one of unusual financial stringency.
The people generally are hard press
cd to make a living, and many Of
them are not able to pay their taxes.
AS guardians Of the public veal
and conservators Of. the prosperity
Of the Commonwealth, it behooves
you to take every possible measure
to insure economical and careful OK.
penditure of the hard won funds that
the slim resources of the State Treas
ury place at your command. Dur
ing the recent campaign you pledged
yourself, as Legislative aspirants, to
economical administration of public
affairs, and to reduction of expenses.
We all preached economy then; we
must practice it now. have point
ed out various end practical methods
OF reducing expenditures. 1 trust
these recommendations may meet
your approval and secure your sup
port. If you will adopt these recon-
'mendations you can reduce the tax
levy without at all impairing the
efficiency of the public service. 1
can only recommend and advise; you
alone have the power TO act. I leave
these important matters, with all
their burden Of responsibility, IN
your hands, feeling confident that
you will endeavor to discharge your
responsible duties with earnestness
aud fidelity. -.
1t is my desire this session, as last,
=, TO cooperate with your respective
bodies and members, in forwarding
the interests Of our mother State and
improving the condition of her peo-
pie, and especially in tightening the
onerous burdens of the taxpayers,
and this behalf l shall be glad at all
times to CONSULT with you as COM
mitteemen and as members.
W. II. ELLERBE, Governor.