The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1904-01-08
Guard Health of Community.

Following suggestions THAT the city
should have rules and regulations to gov.
ern the crematory, it is pertinent to con.
slider the sanitary conditions of the city
and especially along the line Of the office
of the one who looks after the healta
of the city, or in other words what
should be the status OF the health officer.
his powers and duties.
For many years that office has not been
what collection of people demands. A
community can not be served success
fully and satisfactorily by the plan thar
has been in vogue here The health
officer has not been clothed with any
general authority, or specific for that
matter, which warranted him in subserv
ing the cityis highest interests. First Of
all that officer has never been paid sui
fcient salary to justify more than causa
attention to the business of his office
A mere pittance mas been melted out t.
hmm and he has never been required Il
comply strictly to the letter of ever
what law there is on the subject. ANY
old thing along the line of what ought t.
be his duties has been quite satisfactory
except in few special incidents. wher
he has been roundly abused by the city
law makers because NE did not do il
their way.
There are good reasons for this state
of affairs One of the most striking i.
that the pay that attaches to the offc,
IS such a pittance that no man can afford
to render faithful service unless he want.
to be a pauper and be buried in the Pot
ter's field. There ought to be required
of &im a great amount Of work ana i,
certain extent it is expected. but wher
pay day comes they give him misery
sum and the laugh. Usually the amount
of work done, and of right ought to he
is according to the pay received. Little
pay, little work.
Garksburg has grown to that magni
tude and Importance which warrant thf
entire time OF a health officer and tht
city should so provide. Such an officer
should not be engaged in any other b,lsi
ness and he cannot be, If he does wha,
the situation demands of him. 1t is Just
important that the sanitation OF the city
should be cautiously looked after as it i.
that the fire department or the waite,
works or some other branch OF the cits
government should be attended TO- n,
sane man, especially no clean man. will
deny this. And, If health officer is t
give his attention exclrpsivelyto the city
is is but right that he should be paid Al
amount to justify that.
The law may provide that such al
officer shall be a physician, or it may not
but, if it does say that he must be !;
physician, then it IS time that it shoul,
be changed. There is no logical reason
why that officer should be physician
and the fact Of the matter Is II wal'l b
better, il ne were not, for The reason
that there is acertain amount III ethie.
in the medical fraternity that em6ar
RAISES and harasses the city health officer
in the discharge Of his duties. Thi,
would not exist If the health officer were
other than a physician. But be doctor
or not, ne should be clothed with author
ity and other physicians should be made
to comply with his orders in cases OF
contagious diseases and report to him all
uch cases. He should have absolute pow.
er in such instances, with the possible
exception that he should be subject Ia
city council. 1t should not he left to
the mayor to act. That officer should
not assume the duties or powers OF the
health officer in any way. To the con
trary tine health officer should be above
the mayor, in all such instances. In fact
he should be supreme.
The city viii feel safe and win be well
served, when this authority is conferred