The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1912-02-29
DR.. C. A. Harper Shows Up
Shortcomings of Local
Officials.
STATE READY TO TAKE HOLD
DR.. Harper Declares That Unless Ken
osha Acts at Once to Stop Spread of
Disease State Board of Health VIII
Take Charge in the City.


Dr.. G. A, Harper of Madison, seere-
tary OF the state board of health, bit
teriy arraigns conditions in Kcnosha
IN letter sent to the special com
mlttee in charge of suggesting to the
common council some new plan for the
organization of the health board The
state official has declared ti,at he will
give of his time and energy to aid
kenosha. He has gone farther, for be
states that even at the present time
the state board of health is planning
to take care Of Kenosha and charge
the expense to the city. There us but
one alternative and that is that the
city shows itself able to provide for a
/ proper enforcement of health laws.
The state board of health and vital
statistics has been kept fully advised
! of conditions in Kenosha. The facts
that have been Communicated to the
board are reflected in the letter Of
DIR. Harper which is IL part as fol-
lows:
We are pleased to learn that there
lis a chance for the city of Kenosha
to waken up and re-organize the
health department. for that city. The
state board of health has endeavored
from time to time to get the health
laws applied and enforced in the city
of Kenosha. We have endeavored to-
do this for the past four or five years.
Most of our efforts have been in vain.
In other words, the sickness and loss
lof life in Kenosha, due to inefficient
public health officials has been very
large and is certainly disgrace to
your growing and prosperous city.
We have just determined to take
charge of the situation ourselves at
the expense of your city, unless your
city officials and citizens get down to
good active work. We realize at all
times that when public health work
| is in politics, that efficiency in such
work is absolutely impossible. We are
afraid that this has been one of the
troubles in the city of Kenosha.
We, therefore, recommend, First:
That you take the health department
entirely out of politics and organize
board of health separate from your
city council in its entirety; that is,
as far as an elective Office is concern
led. We would suggest that you have
five members of your best citizens as
an unpaid non-partisan advisory COM
mission. Each member of this commits
sion to hold office for period of five
years, unless removed by certain pre-
scribed authorities and the appoint
ment OF this commission should be for
term of one, two, three, four, and
FIVE years. This commission to select
health commissioner who will de-
vote his entire time to the work; and
pay him salary of $4,000 or $4,000
year, and make his term of Office
either three or four. years, urless
sooner removed for proper cause.
There should be two of your most
public spirited, conscientious, hard
working physicians on this commits
sion and, as before stated, this con,-
mission is to select the health com
missioner and make him report to the
commission rather than 10 the city
council. Undoubtedly, the appoint
ment Of commission should be made
| by your city council and in conjunc-,
ton with your special health commits
sion: and when such commission is
appointed and confirmed by your
council, the ordinance should provide
| that in the selection of a commissioner
Of health. the commission should, first,
send the names Of the proposed health
commissioners to the state board Of
health for the consent of that board,
before the health commissioner is ap-
pointed by your local commission; the
aprointm emit of the health commission
er to be illegal unless such appoint
ment has been ratified by the state
board of health.
This procedure is provided for by
statute in many states, and the only
/ object in doing this is to obtain the
services of an efficient man and make
his position as free from partisan
politics as possible.
BY having your health commission
composed of five men, one going cut
of Office each year, you have cor
tinuous working force constantly IN
command and familiar with the condi-
tions confronting you. 1t would make
no difference then what local issues
might come up pertaining to ether city
affairs in the city of Kenosha, with
possible change of political situation;
the commission would be entirely ex
empt from any of the local disputes
and this most certainly, when life and
health is at stake, should be the con-
scientious endeavor Of every city.
Kenosha is ore of the most rapidly