New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-09-20
Fixing Up the Law


eral prominent citizens, physicians, law
vers and clergymen, who were profoundly I'M
pressed with the revelation that there were
no laws under which such glaring violation
of the simplest principles OF health, and
even common decency, could be at once cor
reCted-
In conference II was decided To attempt to
seek proper legislation through the Citizens
Association, 4 powerful voluntary organ1za-
ton to secure municipal reforms, the president
OF which was Peter Cooper Under the aus
piceS Of that body a complete Inspection OF the
city was made, extending to every tenement
room and its surroundings, including census
Of the people and the sickness rate. The IN
spection was made by corps OF young phys1-
clans and the results were subsequently pub
liShed in a volume Of more than five hundred
pages vt the session of the Legislature 81
New York in 1905 this report was presented,
together with the draft of health law, the
ioint production of the ablesJ physicians and
lawyers OF the city. The hearing was at a
ioint meeting Of the Committee OF Cities OF
both houses, Senator Andrew ID. White pre-
siding The report created so much interest
that the bill would have been reported favor
ably IN both houses had not the city inspector
secured delay for another hearing. This gave
him the opportunity that he desired OF defeat
ing the bill.
But the public, and especially the medical
profession, both Of the city and the state, had
become so interested III the measure that At
and led TO the defeat OF seventeen candidates
who had voted in opposition
1t IS said that epidemics are the best pro-
motors Of sanitary reform, and very oppor-
turely cholera made its appearance III Europe
late in 1905 and from It's rate of progress 1t
seemed likely 10 visit our shores early the next
vear These favoring conditions led to the
passage of the metropolitan Health Law
among the first measures of that Legislature
Triumoh al Last
THE struggle and final triumph OF the people
L of New York in their efforts to secure
adequate health protection were national III
their influence. And this influence was empha-
hoard. Scarcely had it organized when cholera
made its appearance in New York. There was
the usual alarm among the people and large
numbers left the city. But the new hedith
laws and ordinances administered Dy an III
te1Iiqent. scientific authority demonstrated
the 11;Sou d 6tre Of their existence. The flTst
case of cholera was promptly isolated, tne
bn,,sa and its surroundings cleansed and DIS
injected and rigid supervision establshed NO
other case occurred IL that vicinity. Inc SET
ond case which appeared IN announcer pau y,
the city, was treated IN similar manner Iiiu
with the same results. y third iourth hth'
and finally many cases appeared III dllieleI 81
parts Of the city during the season, apparent
brought from localities IN the NlCiliIy Witt
th. endemic prevailed with It's usual severity
b,,t IN New York no two cases occurred III tie
same place 50 effectualy was each case tredle'i
Within one month public confidence IN me
power Of the board to control the spread OF lLe
disease was firmly established; people VINO
had fed returned to their homes; business III
commercial districts, which was at fTst sus-
pended, was resumed; and the health depart
n,ent became the most popular branch Oh tIe
city government, a position which 1T mas MAN
tanned rninterruptedly for nearly hall cen
tury. 1r,
This popular triumph of sanitation IS largely
due To the perfection of the original MetroP1I-
Tan Law, which has been declared oiilcldily
and judicialy to be the most complete piece tl
health legislation ever placed on the statue
book From that fountain Of legal lore the
whole country has been supplied with b9th tIle
principles and the details OF sanitary le9Iita
tion 1t is only justice to the memory OF t tile
Ian, Dornan B. Eaton to state that to INN the
rnnptry is indebted for this valuable law
An Anomaly in Law
ONE feature of it deserves mention lor II
~ IS an anomaly in legislation and apPar-
.ntIv violates the most sacred Prmclpie Oh JUS
tire the power Of the courts to review the pro-
,eedinqs Of a health board. Mr.. Eaton con,
trntjoIl, was that a board which was authorized
to ab,te Duisances dangerous to HE ana Diet