The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-11-22
CIVIC ASSOCIATION
ELECTS OFFICERS

not dlT"tt tne details OF local WORK
Freedom % initiative IS essential to prog
ress.'
DIR. NJ n. BAKER
Or NJ n. Baker. president Of the
board Of health OF Montclair. n. j. His
address Was as follows I'm part:
Although this paper has been confined
TO the work Of single hoard of health
In a small town. l wish. before conclud-
ing II. Go make n few observations that
apply equally 10 towns large and small.
These l call Seven Deadly Sins Of
Health Boards ana the Public
DD The majority OF boards Of health
| throughout the country lack the proper
qualifications for the work i'm hand in
cluding both knowledge and self sacriic-
ing devotedness. Membership In boards
OF health too generally consists Of physi-
clans. II might profitably include san
| itary or civil engineer. or. IL not avail
able. then a progressive architect with
some knowledge OF sanitation. An able
| lawyer can render valuable services in
health protective work.
| (2) Politics and the fear of njuring
business interests by insisting on sani-
| tary milk on good plumbing, on proper
| sewage, garbage and refuse disposal. ana
on heaHhful dwellings and workshops. are
| responsible for the iueffciency OF many
| local boards OF health
| (3) The sanitary ignorance Of large
| majority Of the citizens of most com
muntleS is a great obstacle To effective
health work and a direct means or
! spreading disease.
60 Executive health officers are not
chosen for fitness. on account of either
ignorance or politics on the part OF APP
pointing bodies. The salaries offered are
almost invariably too low TO warrant able
and efficient men giving their whole time
to the work-and I'm health work. as IN
other fields OF activity. one cannot serve
two masters well.
go Health boards fail i'm some com
munities because they appoint plumbers,
masons or carpenters as health inspect
ors. when men of broader training should
be selected; or far worse yet, through
pity or politics. appoint men who have
made failures in other walks of life.
(6) The work of most health depart
ments suffers through lack OF funds. but
there would be less financial starvation
OF health boards If they gave better ac-
count Of their stewardship. sought more
cooperation from doctors. plumbers,
milk dealers and civic organizations, and
took the public generally into their con-
fidence.
CD Finally, the deporable deficiency in
the vital statistics OF most cities and
towns. and the failure to secure prompt
reports of every case OF communicable
disease and TO investigate the origin and
the chances of the spread OF the same.
result in state of ignorance as to the
effect of local sanitary conditions upon
sickness and death in the community,
which is simply appalling.
Following the address of Mr. Baker. a
resolution was introduced by the secre-
tary, Mr.. Woodruff. for George Burnham,
Jr., OF Philadelphia. who was unable To
rems4H to present ID ifinfseif. The resoiu-
tion Is as follows:
II. sV~f-.
National Municipal league and the
arrived when experts in public health and
sanitation should be placed IN charge of
Municipal Health departments"
RESOLUTION OF THANKS.
Mr.. Oliver McClintock of Pittsburg then
offered resolution OF thanks to the
hosts. which was carried. The resolu-
tion is as follows:
Resolved. That hearty thanks OF the
of the National Municipal lea
que and the American Civic association
assembled In joint conference in the city
Of Providence. be given for the very gen
erous, elegant and sympathetic hospitall-
ty OF our hosts, namely:
THE governor of Rhode Island, the
mayor OF Providence. Brown university |
Public Park association, Board OF Trade, |
University club. Providence Public lib
y L.,
Business Mems association, Federation Of !
r. T. churches, and the r. /. League OF |
Improvement societies
I'VE would make individual and special |
mention of the indefatigable and palms. |
taking efforts of President Faunce Of
Brown university. Of Mayor Mccarthy
and his executive committee on arrange
ments. and OF w. A. r. Brown. and his
reception committee who have untedly
provided I'm every way for the personal
comfort and enjoyment of our members
and have greatly promoted the success
cf the conference. We would also make
of our great indebted
ness To the public press of Providence for
their extraordinary Journalistic achieve
mcnt I'm their intelligent and complete re-
ports of the proceedings and their appre-
citation and sympathetic editorials. which
have interpreted the objects and work OF
these meetings TO the public at large
Their wide publicity has contributed a
large element to the success of our con-
ference.
we have found a glad and sympathetic
hospitality I'm tho hearts and homes of
the people Of Providence while the mem
bers OF these two association will depart
to their respective section with renewed
courage and increased wisdom 10 grap-
pie with our own local difficulties I'm the
WY VI b'AAfl anu lllpft DtdullIul lnUnlC1-
pal conditions We hope that the people
OF Providence will return the pleasant
rccclloctions OF our visit and also receive
the blessing vouchsafe 20 him who
giveth "A cup OF cold water 10 a dis |
ciplc.'"
OTHER SPEAKERS.
Dr. G. q. Probst Of the Ohio State |
beard Of health was next introduced and i
spoke on Municipal Sanitation and It's /
Relation TO state and National Govern !
ment"
DIR. John / Cronin Of tho New York 1
health department then spoke on medical
INSPECTION I'm schools
Or w. &. Woodward ~ Washington
was next introduced and after presenting
which showed a decrease In tho
death rate for the District of Columbia.
spoke I'm part as follows:
Nowhere is there I'm operation reason
ably efficient machinery for the accurate
determination OF the effect Of such sani-