The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-08-04
The Sanitary Condition of the City Discuss
ed--HeIp Offered Health Department.
COMMITTEE APPOINTED PoR THAT PURPOSE.
General r. Waties to Be Formed
in the Different Wards-Mayor Brasea Says All the Money
Needed Will Forthcoming-To Work at Once.

work, however. should be done through
the health department. II the committee
as proposed will cooperate with the health
department that department will be fur
nished all the men and money necessary
to carry on the work effectively.
Mr. Bryant suggested that 1t was I'M
portant to act, and act at once. Every
| citizen present should make 1t his espe-
cial business 10 report In future all nfrac-
lions OF the health ordinances. He pro-
posed to so home after this meeting and
I read them up.
MIR. Spencer Hutchins desired to indorse
the movement and in his opinion the mayor
| had struck the keynote when he advised
that the city would furnish all the money
necessary to accomplish results.
Captain E. p. Turner wanted to know
II any complaint had been made regarding
the delinquency of the city administration
in failing to do what was expected of Il;
If not he regarded this meeting as prema-
ture and uncalled for. There were those
regularly delegated to attend to this work
and If they were not derelict he saw no
occasion for this meeting. The city au-
| thoritier, were supposed to handle this mat
ter and II they had not complained or
asked for assistance he saw no necessity
for this meeting
Mr. Chinn said that attention had been
directed to the matter through the daily
press and he regarded the movement as a
correct one and one that would he result
ant of much good. This meeting should
declare that an emergency exists for the
city's making liberal appropriation.
MIR. Johnston said that complaints had
been made, not against the city adminis
tration, but against existing conditions and
the necessity for Improving them. This
movement had been indorsed almost unan-
imousy by the medical profession of the
city and he regarded Captain Turner's de-
Tense Of the city administration as en-
tirely gratltuitous, since no one had at
tackled 1t; nor was anything of the sort
proposed. II was not a question OF attack
ing the administration. but 10 say to them
90 ahead In this work and your hands
will be held up by public sentiment. Ho
again urged the Importance of speedy
work. Instead of putting one man to do
the work In 500 days 1t will cost no mtre
but accomplish much more TO put 500 MEN
at the work for one day. and when the
city is once cleaned public sentiment will
keep It so. There was no idea here, to
criticise the city administration, but simply
to aid il. He had absolute confidence IN
Or. Massie and knew of no man who could
accomplish better results with the means
at his disposal
Captain Turner said that II this meeting
was to hold up the hands of the admin
istration he was in favor of it. and in
this connection no man would do more than
! he, but that he objected to the administra-
, ton beiug criticised.
Mr.. Kidd suggested that II Captain Tur-
ner had properly informed himself before
he spoke and had been at the meeting
earlier there would have been no occasion
:. for his remarks.
The motion of DR.. Massie to create a
!, sanitary committee was then put and car
ried and nominations for general chair
= man were declared 10 be in order.
Mr.. r. NJ Johnston was nominated but
lfN,aA La q - IL Hpf
Mr., Breeding nominated Mayor Braehear.
but he also declined.
Mr.. Fall nominated James f. Dumble.
who begged to be excused
Mr. Bryant said II Mr. Johnston would
? not serve he then favored some physician
for the position of general chairman.
This was opposed
T Mr. Griggs also withdrew his name and
: by reclamation and n unanimous vote the
honor of general chairman was finally con-
" ferred upon General ]. h. Watles.
e General Waties accepted the position
e with thanks and promise to discharge
d its duties to the best of his ability.
c On motion of Mr., Pete Chalmers the
s duty of selecting a member of the commit
|, tee from each ward was left to General
o Watios and DR.. Massle.
: Mr. Chinn renewed his suggestion, put
n ting In the shape OF motion, that 1t Is
o the sense of this meeting that an emer-
: gency exists and the city should therefore
o make an appropriation to clean up.
h MIR. Johnston moved as a substitute that
the city council be asked to appropriate
n $4,000 or as much thei eof as may be nee
cssary to carry out the object as outlined
10 by this meeting in perfectpg the sanitary
" condition of the city.
Mayor Brashear said that a sufficient
IA amount of money was already available and
@ that all the work necessary could be done
l. without any further appropriation. He
y said there was already greater balance
lie than $4,000 to the credit OF the three de
10 partments which dealt with the health
lie OF the city, namely, the health. scavenger
> and garbage departments. He would like
TO be left free in that matter and the city
IL would spend all the money that was neces-
Is sary,
Or Judge Breeding thought instead of ask
ing the city to make a specific appropria-
tion II should be asked to provide the
,e health department with a sufficient num-
"a Der OF men and lime for disInfectlng and
RS provide the necessary funds to pay for
NJ same.
,el AS a substitute he moved that the street
A. commissioner and health department be
IN required TO furnish sufficient force to
~ clean the city, and lime with which to dis
a. infect.
a. Street Commissioner Kennedy said he
III had orders to get all the lime he needed.
T. The CITY, he said. was cleaner than IL had
"a been for six or eight years The citizens
i, they obstruct rather than assist the work,
:" In this connection he referred to numerous
"A instances where citizens INSTRUCTED bitches
~ by throwing trash In them and driving
over them. If citizens would only help
10 the health department to keep the town
clean much better results would be ac-
~ complished All the departments ind
= been increased and were doing good work
$ DR.. Massie said that to do the work
IS properly and as the ordinances required
lie would necessitate the frequent arrest OF
VI some o. Houston's best citizens.
"a The mayor suggested that II the citizens
ID committee would advise Or. Massie as 10
q. what was needed and Or. Massie would
In indorse their application they would be
by furnished everything that was needed
at either in the way of men or material
IN There was money enough on hand to dc
by the work and II not he would recommend
~. to the council to appropriate more,
as Mr. Johnston Withdrew his motion u
be ask for an appropriation OF $4,000.
be Mr.. Hutchins moved that the central
Is. committee be authorized TO call on the
~ city for such amount as would be neces-
hel sary to carry out their work
n Mr. Chinn moved a substitute that mr.