Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-03-11
KEEP WITHIN THE LAW |.

In report Of the meeting Of some
members Of the board Of health which
appeared In morning paper II Is
stated that estate Medical Inspector
Baker was present and made a verbal
report" Also that certain "orders' were
issued to the local boards Of health.
Preparations were made as to the bien-
NAL report of the board to the Cover
nor.
II would be interesting to the people
to learn who appointed a state Medical
Inspector what are his duties and who
IL TO pay him for his services, The local
boards OF health in some Of the coun-
lies, and many Of the school trustees.
are aware that this person has been
travelling among them, and issuing 'or-
dersp from the Secretary who has act
ed as the state board. But by what au-
thorlty he or the Secretary has acted,
has not yet been divulged There Is no
such officer known 10 the law. There Is
no board or executive official who has
lawful authority TO create such an Of
fee n pay Is demanded for his SER
Vices, II ought not 20 come from the
state treasury The state Board of ex-
aminers should not authorize any such
expenditure.
1t Is time that such assumptions, as
the appointment Of officers not provided
for by law, should be stopped, We have
been surprised that the orders Issued
hy this inspector were paid any at
tention to by the local authorities. In
the same line Of presumption and as
sumption is the course Of the state
board. or its Secretary which seems to
be the same thing, in issuing orders
to the local boards Of health.
The state board Is endowed simply
with coordinate powers with the local
boards. The latter are specially required
10 exercise jurisdiction in all matters
pertaining to the preservation OF the
health OF those in attendance upon the
schools Of the state" They are re-
auired to nh ~ forms Of reports, fur
nished by the state hoard, as to inspec-
lions of school buildings and premises
aad send copy thereof TO the state
board. But In all respects they are In
dependent in their sphere, and are MOI
under the domination Of the State boarC
nor Of It's Secretary.
The report which the State boarC
talked OF making at this late date, Is re
qulred by law 70 be made TO the Cover
nor ION or before the first day Of De
cember preceding each regular session
OF the Legislature" This has not beef
complied with. Neither has the law beef
obeyed which requires the Secretary 4
provide for "a course of lectures to b
delivered each year at the capital Of
the subjects Of sanitary science, hy
giene and nursing
The Secretary, who has assumed $
much power without color OF law, ha
had the temerity 20 cali the people q
Utah "law-breakers,' because some O
them did not see III to comply with hi
arbitrary "orders," The attention of tn
Governor and OF the Legislature is di
rected to the 'lawbreakng' OF the Sec
rotary, in failing to perform dutie
made incumbent upon his office 10
which he is salaried. II he does nc
comply with the law, he is not entitle
10 his pay. II he oversteps the law y
one IL under obligations 20 attend 10 hi
orders"
Let the law be observed and let ever
person pay proper respect to It's olilcer
But let those officers, from the highe'
TO the lowest, understand that we hay
no masters or rulers in this state o'
public functionaries are the servants
the sovereign people, bound by the law
as much as the humblest citizen OF tn
commonwealth.