El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-05-06

element from Mexico who needed some
place to sleep and who just laid down
on the floor with their blankets.
DR.. j. A Rawlings, OF the board of
health, testified that the place was the
worst he had ever seen and should be
Immediately destroyed
jose Lagunas, Who erected the build
fngs, which are Of stone, brick, adobe
and various other material which he
had picked up from time to time at diff
Ierent places, had cost him $780, He
said that he had nowhere else to live
and no other means Of making a Iiveli-
mood than by renting out the place.
He paid, he said, $40 per month rent
Tor the ground on which the houses are
built
Refuse to Wreck Buildings
Then he declared that he had no de-
fence to make, but would not tear down
the buildings or move out unless ne
was paid to do so.
1t was moved by alderman CLAYTON
that the buildings be destroyed; the
motion was seconded by McGhee and
carried
Then BlumenthaI said: While I be-
lieve these buildings should be Destroy
ed. yet it will work a hardship on this
man, and he should, think, be recon-
pensed in some way"
-'-1y 1NOO1ASOn IopneOs do not
think we should give him a cent. He
built these places in violation OF the
law and has been maintaining then,
IN violation Of the city ordinances II
ne has been permitted TO stay there
Tor long time, it has been our fault
and the fault of former administrations
or city health officers"
McGhee said: He is a hard working
man. an honest ignorant Mexican. who
came here from the interior Of Mexico
several years ago, and, this being his
only means Of livelihood, I think we
should make some provision for him"
To Watch Movers.
Clayton recommended that watch
De kept on the people moving out by
the health officers in order that tbs dis
ease may not be communicated to other
parts OF the city.
LagunaS said that he would not move
unless they took him to Jail, as he had
no place 70 go.
that alderman McGhee be appointed TO
visit the premises, investigate condi-
tons and determine what recompense
the man might have and report back 20
the council
Blumenthal made motion to this ef-
feci, which was seconded by Clayton
and carried
Immediately thereafter alderman
Hewitt said: That might look like
paying men who have been violating the
city ordinances TO move"
BAD Precedent.
Robinson replied: That is the whole
thing; it will not stop there: you cannot
tell where ii viii stop. If we pay him
cent we will have to pay others
Blumenthal said: The stand l take -
simply for humanity and out Of charity.
Smallpox patients have been taken frO.-s
the hotels, but their property has not
been destroyed That is all he has:
We cannon throw him out into the street
without a penny or loaf Of bread, law
or no law"
Alderman Clayton replied: TT seems
to me- that the destruction Of the build
ings is q charity to humanity; it Is the
greatest good to the greatest number"
Lagunas was notified that the build
ings would be destroyed on May IA, and
alderman McGhee Informed him that he
would consult with him at o'clock
Friday afternoon relative TO his claims
for remuneration.
Following the reading of the water
resolutions and their adoption. a recess
was taken until Saturday morning at 10
C-clocis-