Los Angeles herald., 1907-10-12
PHYSICIANS CLAMOR
TO STOP REDUCTION
URGE MAYOR TO VETO CUT IN
HEALTH INSPECTORS
Measure to Drop Seven Employees Will
Doubtless Be sheIved Today In
Difference to Medical
Profession

Last nights meeting of physicians in
Blanchard hall, which expressed fervent
opposition to cutting down the health
department list of employees. will doubt
less result in Mayor Harper today Veto
ing the salary ordinance requiring a
discharge of seven health inspectors.
This is the last day on which the mayor
may consider the measure which is be-
fore him for signature and he extended
of unanimously opposing the cut If the
doctors choose to put themselves on rec
ord.
DR.. N. X. Foster of Sacramento came
to Los Angeles expressly to address the
city council Thursday. urging that the
sanitary force be increased as all north
ern cities were spending thousands of
dollars In exterminating rats, in enforc-
ing strict garbage regulations and in
cleaning up the filth without any excep-
tions or without brooking any delays.
Representative Men There
Automobiles were lined up on Broad
way and on Hill street last night indicat-
ing that the attendance at Blanchard
hall was large and influential.
Health Officer Powers and members of
the health board were on hand by virtue
of their membership in the association
and when called on gave their views.
Outside of the medical association and
in their arguments with councilmen pri-
vately members of the board of health
have stated why 1t is inadvisable to cut
down the force.
To illustrate the work of the sanitary
inspectors, the fifteen days from Septem-
ber l to September 15 were cited. Dur
ing that time 1852 inspections were made,
an average of more than 100 per day,
and an average for each inspector of 191.
Their Districts Large
Taking into consideration the districts
which these men must cover, IL is appa-
rent that it will be impossible for any
smaller force to meet the demands, actu-
ally made by residents of Los Angeles,
for inspections, as each of the eight in
spectors employed in this work covers
district greater than a ward, and the
districts are laid down to conform as
nearly as possible with the ward lines
and give each inspector, at the same time,
approximately the same amount of work
The Fourth and Fifth wards of Los
Angeles are the more recently built up
sections The majority of the homes and
other buildings are new and apparently
cleanly kept, but these two wards re-
quire almost the constant attention of
two inspectors, who attend to the COM
plants made by the residents to the
health department regarding conditions
detrimental to the general health, of
the various neighborhoods.
In the sections where the houses and
other structures are older and where
there are hidden accumulations of re-
fuse ontagious diseases frequently
originate as the attention which the
Fourth or Fifth warder gives to such
matters is lacking.
This makes it necessary to inspect
oftener and more thoroughly, and for
this reason more men are required to
cover small territory.
Some on Special Work
OF the eleven inspectors now employed
in the health department one is on special
work with the housing commission, an
other is detailed a greater part of the
time to Investigations of smoke nuisances,
of which there are many, and q third,
who receives only $40 per month. is de-
tailed to Janitor work ana the care of
the annex at night, and a fourth has
charge of the detention hospital
Los Angeles is advertised the world
over as city OF healthful climate, and
many people come with limited means,
seeking relief from all kinds of commu-
nicable and contagious diseases.
These persons must live within their
means, and to do this they must live
in hotels and lodging houses. where
moderate rentals are charged.
Many of these health seekers are tuber-
cular, and others have contagious dis
eases, which are easily communicated
from bedding and other furnishings.
Before theeir conditions are discovered,
these persons have occupied beds and