The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-03-29
ANGRY WITH HO0S
Police and Health Boards
Think They Have Been
Unjustly Criticised.
WALTERS upHoLDs THE MAYOR
Commissioners Had a Lively
Time Discussing the De-
tails of His Honor's
Letter.

rs uG1 was OQb at tAC 0A-~
meeting last night over the communica-
ton Mayor Hoos sent the Board on March
40. criticising it for closing public schools
and doing other things which to him APP
peared unnecessary when it did not inter-
fere with the overcrowding of trolley cars
and did not. take steps to compel the
trolley companies to keep the cars In
proper sanitary condition. The Republic
can Commissioners and the Republican
members of the Board accused Mayor
Hoos of unjustly criticising the members
of the Board of Health for political pur-
poses.
Commissioner Walters took the Mayors
part against his colleagues. The letter
was read by the Clerk
Commissioners Abernethy asked how the
letter had come into the possession OF the
newspapers before being presented to the
Board. The clerk said he did not give
it to the newspapers. Health Inspector
Benjamin said he happened to know that
copies of the letter had been sent from
the Mayors office to the newspapers
Health Inspector Benjamin declared
that from what he knew of the sanitary
condition of the cars the Mayors COM
plant was g~roundless.
The letter is an insult to this Board"
said Commissioner West.
President Abernethy also took excep-
ton to the communication. In regard 10
the closing of public schools. President
Abernethy said that it was highly neces'
sarv to close No. II School and that the
Board of Health gave notice to the Board
of Education at the time that the upper
part of the building could be used for
school purposes. The Board of Eduea-
ton. he declared, delayed the matter for
weeks and then gave out contracts. cost
ing thousands of dollars, that were un-
necessary. He added that the Board OF
Health has always acted in the best IN
terests of the public and not deserve
criticism from the Mayor or any otner
person.
1t was nothing new, he said, Tor the
Board of Health to close schools on ac-
count of sickness. School No. 20 was
closed for two weeks before Mayor Hoos
administration. AS to the condition OF
the cars. Commissioner Abernethy knew
from personal inspection that the cars
were in good condition and that what dirt
entered them was from the dirty streets
which should be cleaned by the Street and
Water Board. The Health Board, de-
clared Commissioner Abernethy, has al
ways treated the Mayor with courtesy
and expects like treatment in return. 1t
does not expect curtain lectures from him
for political effect.
Regarding the dumping of garbage and
other refuse" COMMISSIONS Abernethy
continued, I'VE lave frequently asked the
Mayor for suggestions but he has failed
to make any. We have had these matters
investigated by committees composed of
reputable physicians, appointed by this
Board too conscientious to make false
reports. They report everything in salts
factory condition.
Health Inspector Benjamin remarked
that the dumps were in better condition
last year than they are this year as the
men employed by Harrington, who had the
contract in 1898, did what they were in
structed to do, while Byrne's men do as
they please.
DR.. Rector said that a letter should be
sent to the Mayor in answer to his COM
munication calling to His Honor's mind
that responsibility for my cause of COM
plant should lbe placed where it be-
longs. The Board of Health, he declared.
has no Jurisdiction over cars until some
disease is traced to one, neither has II
mower to limit the number of passengers
q car may carry.
Commissioner Walter said it was true
that the North Hudson County Railroad
Company had taken off half the cars ana
did not begin to give sufficient accommo-
dation to the public.
Commissioner Walters stated that a
committee of citizens had complained to
him of Eberhardt's tannery on Griffiths
street. which was in full operation and
was an intolerable nuisance. He was
surprised to learn that a license had been
granted the place at a meeting from
which he was absent. At his request the
license was revoked and Health Inspec-
TOR BENJAMIN was instructed to order the
proprietor to close the tannery today.
Commissioners Walters asked DR.. Rector
If he had secured a place for an EN-
Urgency Hospital He replied that ne nau
NOT: that as soon as he mentioned en-
Urgency hospital to property owners he
was sat upon. He promised that ne
would do his best to secure a suitable
building before long.
On motion of Commissioner West a
resolution was passed kim the term OF
couns to the Board at three years
Commissioner Walter could not see why
this should be done and asked his Re-
publican colleagues why they took such
action.
President Abernethy replied that it was
merely done. out of courtesy to Mr.. Carey.
.AThat is no explanation to my ques-
tom said Commissioner Walter. The
resolution was adopted.
city Physician Wolfson. of the Second
district, reported "a cases and 50 visits In
the month of March. and that four cases
of diphtheria had been admitted to the
Emergency Hospital, one Of which had
been discharged cured.
For the Third district, DR.. Holman re-
ported q cases and AZ visits; Fourth dis
trict, DIR. Henry reported rs cases and Al
visits. and for the Sixth district Or.
Everett reported 10 cases and 46 visits.
Health Inspector Benjamin submitted
the following report for the month q
March:-Number of nuisances complained
Of. 115: n~uisancest abated, 1H; notices
Sent. 121; contagious diseases reported;
diphtheria. u; scarlet fever; go; typhoid
fever. 4; measles, 6s; membranous Group,
s. Total, 1859; horses with CHAMBERS, g.
Permits issued to clean privy vaults, y;
10 keep dogs. IA; to keep chickens, !; un-
had vessels. Q; to build vaults, 2; trans