The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1911-01-10
A TART LETTER
From DR., A. S. Reisor of the Board of
Health.

In the afternoon and morning papers
there appears letter from DR.. A. S,
Reisor of the Board of Health, in which
the explains what this board has done
and accomplished towards the good
health of Shreveport. He declares that
this board has received little help from
the city and has had limited attention
from the State Board. This board is
doing good service without funds from
the city, is dependent on its own re
sources. In referring to DR.. Dowling,
president of the State Board of Health,
DR., Reisor says:
with all due respect to DR.. Dowling,
| wish to say that he has never honored
Our office with a visit or discussion of
its work. He is always aboard a health
car or writing letters, But we can't
blame him, as we see by the papers that
his time is worth SIS per minute, which
would aggregate little over $4,000 per
year, and a little, insignificant board of
health could not presume upon his val
liable time But the president of this
board OF health, city or State whichever
| it may be, has never at any time failed
to obey his orders or instructions with
lprOmptnesS. Dir. Downing is either ig-
fnOrant of the law, or he tried to do Our
board a grave injustice. | would rather
believe the former. This board is on
solid business basis; we pay all of Our
bills, the laboratory supplies, for all of
the chemicals for disinfecting, every at
tachc of the board, even to Our sanitary
officer, who is not allowed even street
car fare. | wish to say that | do not
|censurc the present council for its small
allowance to this board, because, at the
solicitation of Judge Fullilovc, l had
agreed to it in order to help him in
crease his police force, and I think from
our present outlO0ko VIC can make this
board self-sustaining without one cent
from the city. But for the last two
months our mayor has lost several |
nights sleep because Of the finances of
our board. He wants us to be audited |
and bonded. We are willing to be exam
ined by any one, as we have no business
secrets. Our books are open to the pub
lie. We render an annual account of our
work. You ask if there is no chance
for graft | answer yes, but we are
above it so far. Our present system,
when perfected, after paying all ex-
penses, will still leave a surplus which
will be turned over to the credit of the
city This will not be right, as we should
be allowed to work ont this system and
ascertain the actual cost and serve the
people at cost, as they are as a rule on
the outskirts of the city and get no ben
efts from the trash carts This board
would like to invest their surplus, if any,
running carts for their benefit. Our
board is called upon daily for carts to
remove the trash, but the present admin
has assumed all responsibility
for the condition of the streets and al /
eys, so we have no right to order carts
for their relief. {
"To finish, I will state that this board (
las notw orked for notoriety, buncombe
or advertisement; we are solely for the
BEST interests of the city. We realize
he present city administration have bit
off more than they can chew, conse-
Iuently they are trying to chew the lit
le wads first. Gentlemen of the City {
Council and Chamber of Commerce, {
wake tip and busy yourself with graver
questions than the Board Of Health, {
which is trying in its humble way to do t
IS duty. Look after the finances of the q
ity. See if you can cancel bonds that :
he Cupreme Court of the State has pro- b
bounced valid see if the present city '
government can issue constitutionally !
aid bonds, and, if they can issue them, c
invest them in a water supply fer the
ity-we can wait. for the paving, but
lot for the water. Let us do away with t
etty politics and spite, join hands and t
II pull together for the good of the city. c
finally, I wish to say that the will of
he people is my will and if they wish
o demonstrate their wish by vote for
ealth officer, I will gladly submit to it,
egardless of the Governors S commits
ion. Respectfully yours,
A. S. RETSOR, SR.,
City Health Officer q