New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1914-01-17
TO THE PEOPLE OF NEW
IBERIA.

For some accountable rea-
son, or through some mlsun-
Outstanding, DR.. Bowling failed
to call on myself, the Mayor, and
Health Officer. and the two Trus-
tees of the City of New Iberia,
who are acting as a Board. We,
as Health Officer, and Trustees,
certainly regret that the Doctor
did not extend his courtesy to
the extent of calling on us, as we
were well prepared to ask him a
whole lot of questions tending to
help us to keep the City in a
sanitary condition. Had we had
the pleasure Of his visit, | would
have taken pleasure in showing
him something not in the State
of Louisiana, or i'll any other
State, where a public official
would give all of his time acting
as Chief of Police. Mayor OF the
City, Health Officer and lnspec-
tor without any extra compensa-
ton but the salary that the
Charter allows him, and the same
Of the other two Trustees acting
as a Board of Health filling two
or three offices to accomplish bat
one end-the benefit of the City,
the betterment and uplifting OF
the City, and to stop glaring ex-
travagancies with the people S
money, conditions that exist all
over the country.
I hope that DIR. Bowling has
not been misinforned by outSld-
ers in this matter, and he can re-
fer to the records for the truth
Of my assertions. | regret that
DR.. Bowling takes the position
that we have no right to act as
Board of Health, and | have no
right to be Health Officer, not be
inc a practicing physician.
Myself and the other two Trus-
tees intend doing nothing IN vio-
lation of the laws. Had he read
the Charter, which is a special
one, enacted by the Legislature,
giving us full power and repeal
inc all laws in conflict with our
Charter he would be better
posted.
Our CITY can compare with any
City in the State in sanitary con
ditions, and in sickness. We
have less sickness in any City OF
its size in this State. In one
year we have only had six eases
of diptheria, which were properly
fumigated and quarantlned; and
every time, when we thought 1t
was necessary a physician has
been employed by the City, and
one case of pellagra in an isolated
part Of the Town, the premises
were thoroughly fumigated ac-
cording to the State laws.
This Charter was written by
the leading lawyers and citizens
of our City. We have the well
fare of the City at heart and one
purpose in view: to cut out all
possible graft that does exist IN
alb municipalities. A Board OF
Health in our City would give
these gentlemen the power to. fix
their salaries to suit their pleas
ure, thereby creating a great deal
of expense which the people
would have to pay and getting
no better result than from the
Trustees now acting without any
pay at all.
In conclusion I wish to state
for myself, and in the name OF
the Trustees, that l recognize no
authority and obey orders from
nobody but the people Of the
City of New iberia. I am their
servant and am willing to abide
and obey all Of their demands;
and if the people of New Iberia
think that the conditions would
warrant one or two or three ex-
ira physicians to preserve the
health and prevent sickness in
our City, all they have to do is
to lift one finger and their wish
will be obeyed.
Myself and other Trustees
have made up our minds to act
as a Board Of Health, recognize
ing no other authority but that
of the highest Court in the
State.
ALPHE FONTELIEU,