Albuquerque morning journal., 1910-12-28
COMMERCIAL CLUB
TO INVESTIGATE
CONDITIONS
COMMITTEE OF FIVE TO
MAKE A DETAILED REPORT
DR.. Robert Smart Defends His
Position Last Night and
Points Way to IAN Albuquer-'
que Healthful."

regular health conditions which are
alleged to exist in Albuquerque and
immediate vicinity, recently brought
forcibly to the attention OF the pub
lie in several articles written by DR..
Robert Smart, was taken at a we'll
attended meeting of the Commercial
club last night when a resolution was
adopted by unanimous consent pro-
viding that q committee OF five club
members be appointed to look into
sanitary and health matters. and
make a report containing such sug-
gestions as the committee may deem
advisable
The resolution was adopted after
the health and sanitary conditions OF
Albuquerque had been discussed for
three hours. DR.. Robert Smart, Felix
Fl. Lester and city Physician ;. H.
Burton being among those who took
a prominent part In the discussion,
Dr. Smart read lengthy paper
in which he defended the position he
had taken with reference to correct
ing health conditions in Albuquerque
In addition. to quoting figures and
stating what he eIteclared TO be actual
and absolute facts. DR.. Smart demon-
strated by the use of map OF the
city. the manner of Infection, and
pointed out the sections of the town
in which scarlet fever. diphtheria and
typhoid fever had existed and exist
at the present time. DR.. Smart said
that he had been criticized because
he had undertaken to Indicate to the
A nd ha mn
bers of the board Of health, that the
city is not as healthful as II might be.
He declared that he was not criticis-
ing any one man or any set or men.
He believed that certain things had
been done with reference to stamping
out contagious diseases, but THAT
TIE EFFORTS HAD BEEN MISD1-
RECTED AND HAD NOT BEEN
FRUITFUL OF THE RESULTS
WHICH MIGHT HAVE BEEN OBJ
TANNED WERE THE EFFORTS
EXTENDED IN THE RIGHT d.
RECTION. DIR. Smart said that he
could illustrate his position in the
matter by saying that II man Went
to a physician with the boil on the
back of his neck, the surgeon would
he required to use n knife on the
boil. and hurt the man, to remove
the 'pus. But in hurting the man,
good is done and the result Is good.
And 50. Or. smart said. II is with Al
buuuerque. There are condiions
here" he said, (which can be cor
rected. 1t may hurt some one to cor
rect them, but in the end II VIII pay
and pay well"
Before the resolution had been
voted upon asking for the appoint
ment of committee Of five to lnves-
tigate conditions and report sugges-
tions, Mayor Felix II. Lester made
few remarks in which he called at
tention to the fact that the city or Al
buuuerque is not in a position finan-
cially to carry out any extensive sus-
gestions which may be made py tne
committee Mr.. Lester said that ne
was in favor of doing everything pos
sible to correct unsanitary conditions
If they exist but believed that the
practical side of the matter should
also be looked into. The mayor call
ed the attention of the club to the
fact that many of the contagious as
ease cases attributed to Albuquerque
are in reality outside OF the city Inn
it's.
DR. de la Vergne, who has an ex-
tensive practice in outside precincts
said taht the county health otficlais
are not as vigilant by any means as
they should be, in the matter OF en-
forcing 'quarantines and stamping
ont contagious diseases. DR.. de Ia
yergne said that tuberculosis, when
was unknown to the Mexlcans and In
dams until the coming of the white
man, is slowly and fatally grlppihk
the native 1ndian. IHe declared 'nat
the natives contract the disease be-
cause the splitting ordinance ana
equally important health laws are not
rigidly enforced within the city nm
its.
The resolution calling for the ap-
pointment of committee of i've 10
investigate conditions and report TO
the club was finally adopted without
a dissenting vote. President Schweht-
ker announced that he would appoint
the committee after he had given the
matter some thought, as he wished |
to appoint men who would look at II
in a practical light, as suggested by |
Mayor Lester, and for the best IN
terest of everybody concerned.
city Physician $. l.. Burton re-
ported 10 the club that he had at
temnted to enforce the splitting or
dinance. but intimated that he had
not been given all the assistance or
"backing up" he needed in this d.
rection. the person arrested generally |
heine either warned not to repeat the |
offense. or II fined. the fine suspend
ed DIR. Burton also stated that he
had fumigated the public library,
and had notified the Santa Fe sta
tion and the Commercial club as well
az other buildings in which public
cuspidors are located. TO observe the
sanitary conditions required by the
city.
Attorney Julius staab caused
laughter when he said that the pub
lIcation Of articles by DR.. Smart had
already resulted in activity on the
part of the health officers. remind
ing DIR. Burton that DR.. Smart had
been arrested soon after the publica-
ion of tht articles in question, on a
charge of not complying with q GER
lain health law relative TO the report
Of tuberculosis cases.
In the carly part of the evening