Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-05-01
snmeihlnc TO mink About.

0nNNENNiNNk 10 iNINN~ FfNRNNt
Today or tomorrow Mayor Wilson win
appoint a new Board of Health for the
city OF Wilmington
The Board Of Health Is one OF the most
important adjuncts Of our municipal gov
ernment, and il is conceded that the body
which has served the city during the past
two years has proved unusually capable.
10 has made a radical improvement along
the line OF compelling owners of property
TO establish sewer connections. has abated
numerous nuisances, and has effected
a decided improvement in the garbage
collection service. As a result OF this
highly efficient work by the Board Of
Health, the death rate in this city has
been steadily reduced and is now lower
than 10 has been for many yean.
II the Board of Health we're an adjunct
Of Mayor Wilson's private business there
is no doubt about what action he would
take in relation to the appointment of its
successor lie would simply continue the
present members in Office, without the
slightest regard to their political aihlia-
tions He would rcappoint the old mem-
hes solely on account Of the manner in
which they were attending to their duties.
But as the head of our municipal gov
eminent Mayor Wilson is not permitted
70 do for the city what he would do for
himself and his associates in private busi-
ness. lie must set his face against the
present members of the Board of Health
and their efficient agents, and appoint an
entirely new board, which, in turn. will
appoint a new set Of agents for carrying
on the work of the department. OF
course, he win endeavor to make good
selections, but the result viii be placing
the interests Of the Health Department
in charge Of new set of agents. who may
or may not emulate the good example of
their predecessors.
The reason for this evil policy is that
the present Health Board and lis agents
arc Democrats, while Mayor Wilson is
Republican. Efficient service and the
public interests stand for nothing against
partisanship and the demands Of place
hunters. The new Board Of Health will
have several positions to fiji, positions
very important to the work Of the dc
partment, and because Mayor Wilson
is a Republican these positions must be
filed with Republicans, regardless Of the
work of the department or the interests
Of the community.
IL is encouraging to learn that while
Mayor Wilson viii submit 70 these par
tisan considerations in the appointment
OF a new Board of Health, he does not
propose, in making the appointments, 10
yield TO the opportunities of that band
of oihoeholders known as the "Court
House Ring that he shall appoint a
board which will distribute its official
iavors in a manner designed to strengthen
the partisan influence of the "Ring." He
has stated that he will select the new
board without regard to the manner in
which il may dispose OF the official places
at its command. But he must yield TO
the dictates Of partisanship and supplant
the present board by Republican body,
unless he shall revolutionize custom by
determining to stand by the public in
terests alone by reappointing those who
have rendered such good service to the
city.
We do not blame Mayor Wilson in thus
yielding TO custom and making a partisan
matter Of this highly important public
duty He is but following in the foot
steps Of his predecessors. Mayor Bird
a Democrat, selected a Democratic Boarc
Of Health, although Il must be admitteC
that he chose one which has made recorC
for efficient work that stands unrivalled
And now Mayor Wilson, a Republican
will appoint a Republican board, an,
the people must take chances on its Off
oial capacity.
Ii is the system that is to blame. Blu
the situation is one that should open tn
eyes Of the people to the evils Of thi
system and incite them to a firm resolv
TO get away from il and adopt a syster
OF business, instead of partisanship, /
the administration Of their munieip.
government.