, 1899-03-10

A special meeting Of the city council
was called last evening to organize a
board of health under the new law pass
ed at the last session of the legislature
and cooperate with the county COM
missioners who at their meeting yester-
day had completed a similar ~organiza-
ton
Councilmen Crumrine, Hicks, Bran
dis, Jones. Miller and Schwatka re-
sponded to roll call. City Attorney Ar
mold was present for a short time and
was excused on accoun of some other
work. The members of the board OF
county commissioners, Messrs. Balch,
Andrew Miller and w. ]. Broadhurst,
were present, as were County Attorney
Downey and County Physician S. B.
Miller.
After roll call the special call for the
meeting was read and Mayor Miller ex-
planned to those present that the object
of the meeting was to consider the new
bill passed by the last legislature,
known as the bill for the Preservation
Of the Public Health" The mayor
stated that steps had been taken a
month before to organize a board OF
health and shortly after the new city
council was organized a committee con-
sisting of Councilman Crumrine. Jones
and Brands, City Clerk Symons and
Attorney Arnold had been appointed to
draw up rules as recommended by DR..
Stevens in his report in january, and a
meeting was to have been held this
week, but when his attention was call
ed to the new law the special meeting
was decided upon to take such steps as
were necessary in view of the condition
OF things.
Mr.. Crumrine called for the reading
Of the new law, stating that while he
had read the bill and was acquainted
with its provisions that possibly some
of the other members were not and they
would be better informed after hearing
the law read.
City Clerk Symons then read the bill,
which consisted of thirty-fve sections
and covers the organization of boards
Of health for counties, cities, towns and
municipalities, and their powers in
preservation of the public health.
This health bill provides that in ev-
cry county the board Of commissioners
shall be a board of health, the president
of the board of commissioners to be
the president of the board Of health,
and the county clerk the clerk Of the
health board. In cities, the mayor and
council constitute the board Of health
the a being president and the city
clerk to be clerk of the board.
These boards are required to appoint
and have constantly a health officer,
who is a competent practicing ply
sician. to act as sanitary advisor and
executive officer of the board.
The boards of health are required to
make regulations respecting ~nuisances,
sourses Of filth and causes of sickness
ard any person violating them may be
fined not to exceed 500.
Regulations are prescribed concern
ing infectious or contagious diseases
and members of the board are given
the power to enter any building to in
spect the premises as to Of sick
ness, causes of filth or ~nuisances, such
entry to be made between sunrise and
sunset and any person refusing entry
to these officers may be fined.
Provision is made for caring for cases
of sickness dangerous to the public
health and for places where sick people
may be kept and for the removal of
causes of danger.
Physicians are required to report
cases of dangerous diseases and house
hcders--are required to report such'
cases in their family under penalty Of a
heavy fine.
The board has full power to make
regulations concerning the care Of
patients sick with contagious diseases
and may establish and maintain q strdct
quarantine aoaiuDt people from any