Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-02-04
TWO RE|NSTATED
BY HEALTH BOARD
Plumbing inspectors Had Been
Suspended for Testimony in
Health Code Suit.

Two suspended plumbing inspectors
of the Board of Health were rein
stated at the meeting of the board
last night. John L. Whealan and Ed
ward P. Coulson were the men rein
stated. They were suspended after
they had testified in behalf of firm
of contractors. The firm was being
prosecuted for an alleged violation of
the health code in the installation of
plumbing fixtures at the City Hos
pital nurses home.
The inspectors appeared before the
board and admitted they had done
wrong. They asked the mercy of the
board, and were allowed leniency.
The health authorities had been
particularly vexed over the testimony
the inspectors offered. for the de-
PENDANT firm was exonerated. The
case was tried before Police Judge
Simon Hahn in the First Precinct
Court. Jaehnig & Peoples were the
defendant contractors.
Before summoning the two inspect
ors Commissioner Meeker, chairman
of the sanitary committee, proposed
that the board receive them in ex-
ecutive session, but such course was
opposed by Commissioner Mclean,
who declared he did not believe in
secret sessions, and, besides, 1t was a
useless effort, anyway, he said, since
the proceeding of such meetings al
ways appeared in the newspapers the
next morning. Commissioners Foyle
and Wrightson expressed similar
views. DIR. Meeker explained that his
idea was not to keep the proceedings
from the public so much as to spare
the inspectors any humiliation in
case they should be asked pertinent
questions. The motion when put to a
vote was lost, and when the men
were called in President DIR. H. c. III.
Herold placed DR.. Meeller in charge
of the inquiry.
The attitude of both was so plainly
penitent that instead of expected
reprimands several of the members
expressed the opinion that the in
ished, and Health Officer Chandler
asked that they be reinstated, eX-
pressing his belief that there would
be no more cause for complaints
against them
Commissioner Foyle asked whether
the plumbing work in the nurses
home had been rectified according to
the boards idea. This, Mr. Chandler
said, he did not know, but understood
that two inspectors had been trying
to have it corrected. 1t had not been
decided, he said, whether an appeal
would be taken from the decision of
Judge Hahn. Whatever action to be
taken would depend upon the result
of another similar case now pending
The present code, he said, was one
he had drawn fourteen years ago but
that q revised one was contemplated,
and in that connection he had ar
ranged for a conference next week
with representatives of the master
plumbers and journeymen plumbers.
Another suggestion he said he had in
mind to make soon was the appoint
ment of one of the inspectors to act
as supervisor to whom the other
would appeal for information.
That dozens of windows had been
broken in the new health building,
storm steps broken and torn up, be-
sides other depredations committed
by boys in that neighborhood, was
stated by Mr. Chandler. He was au-
thorized to apply to the police board
to detail an officer permanently to
guard the property
Arthur F. Warren, who it had been
reported unofficially headed the civil
service list OF ellg1bleS Tor the posi-
ton of second assistant pharmacist
at, the city dispensary, was appointed
to the position temporarily at a
salary of $85 month His services
will begin today.
| Commissioner Wrightson and Health
| officer Chandler were delegated to
| represent the board at the conven-
ton at Atlantic City February 20 and
| 81, of the county mosquito extermi-
majors of the State.
Preparatory to enforcing the new
milk ordinance, the Board of Health
decided last night to have its food
| inspectors score the diaries from
which milk is obtained for consump-
| ton in this city. The ordinance is
drastic, and when it shall have been
put into effect the board believes it
will improve the milk supply ma
| terially.
/ The decision to have diaries scored
was made on recommendation of the
food and drug committee. Another
recommended by this committee was
that the third floor of the health
| building be finished as soon as pos
sible and used for a chemical lab
oratory. This suggestion met the APP
prevail of the commissioners.