The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-04-30
He is IN DOUBT.
Mayor Doesn't Know About Board of
Health.

There seems to be mix-up about
the membership of the board of health
Some think that the board must be
appointed annually; some believe that
the members hold office two years, the
same as other appointees.
Mayor BergundthaI thinks that he
Will reappoint his board at the next
council meeting. The three doctors
Menninger, Plummer and Storrs-will
stay Sinner and Nellis, who have
been the members from the council
may be changed. DR.. Ryder taking the
place OF one OF them. The mayor
stated that he would probably appoint
DR.. Ryder and Mr.. Sinner
The ordinance says: 1T shall be the
duty OF the mayor of the city of To-
peka to appoint annually on the third
tuesday in April or within one week
after entering upon his duties of office,
committee consisting of five, two of
whom shall be members of the city
council and two of whom shall be rep
utable practising physicians residing
in said city"
From this it would appear to be the
mayors duty to appoint a new board
every year, though it has been custom
ary to allow the appointment of
board to stand for two years. Anyway,
the mayor will play 'er safe" and ap-
point a new board.
Want More Policemen.
Mayor Bergundthal today nipped in
the bud a scheme which was being
worked up by the health department
for the employment Of three additional
sanitary policemen.
Talk of employing the specials arose
because of the refusal of Councilman
]. c. Sinner and Street Commissioner
]. F. Snyder to undertake the task OF
reporting to the board of health once
month the condition of all the sewers
and alleys in Topeka The three extra
men whom the board wanted to en-
ploy were for the purpose of doing
this work.
-
of the board of health each member has
been assigned certain duties. J c. Shi-
mer was assigned to look after alleys and
sewers He called upon street Commis-
SiOner Snyder for help. Mr.. Snyder said
it would take about half his time to get
up such a report ana ne Wouidnt I do II
without special orders from the mayor
and council he said he took his orders
rom the mayor and council and not from
Mr.. Sinner seemed to think that it was
a little TOO big a CONTRACT for him to
tackle, so he politely declined and sug-
gested that the work be given to some OF
the sanitary men already in the employ
of the city. There are five of them. Other
members of the board said this would not
do at ali; that they must have three ex-
ira men to do nothing but examine alleys
and sewers and see 20 it that they are
kept in proper condition
Today Mayor Bergundthal got wind Of
what was being talked of and he promptly
called up City Physicians Storrs.
I've heard this talk about employing g
extra sanitary men," said the mayor.
and won't permit anything of the kind.
enough
That settled it. for the mayors word is
law in regard to sanitary policemen.
Mayor Bergundthals opposition to any
more sanitary policemen is very well
founded. Hair the time the sanitary pO-
licemen have nothing to do 1t is al
most as much of snap as that of city
physician.
So far the health department under the
management of DR.. StOrrs has been doing
very well financially. 1t has been run at
an expense of about 2.50O less than last
year, although last year the city bought
a pest house site ana pest house. which
cost 81, 800 and also had good deal more
contagiOn to fight than It has had this
year. The total expense of the health
department for the year ending April.
1903. was So. .506.57. while for the fiscal year
eneding April, 1904. it has been only ST.
0Jl.Sl. The average pay roll per month
during the year in this department has
been about $3.50, but during the month of
February and March it run away above
that because the city had been bothered
by some smallpox cases
The mayor IS anxious that the health
department should continue to maintain
its good record for low expenses. and for
that reason put his foot down hard on
the scheme to hire more sanitary police
men.