The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-31
City Health Officer Gun ningham Declares Better
 to JeOpardize Education Than Health of Children
NOT A MATTER OF DOLLARS BUT OF
 HEALTH AND LIFE
Commissioner Weatherly Holds Informal Meeting to Discuss Proposition and Have Bids Submitted

In a vigorous protest against
 the city commission contracting
 for collection of the garbage of
 the city by private individuais, Dr.
 R. M. Cunningham, city health of
 ficer, yesterday made the state
 ment that protecting the health of
 the children of the city was of
 more importance than schooling
 them and that the commission-
 CTS should cut deeper into the np-
 propriation for the schools rather
 ation for the collection and dis
 pOsaI of garbage.
 Dr. Cunningham's protest was made at a meeting held yesterday in the office of Commissioner James Weatherly, who had invited a number of persons, some of whom had rendered bids to the city for the collection of the garbage of the city, to meet with him and discuss the proposi- tion.
 Informal Meeting
 On opening the meeting Mr. Weatherly stated it was purely informal, and that the city commissioners had not decided on any policy as yet for the collection and disposal of garbage and that he had called them together for the purpose of looking over the bids submitted and to discuss the situation with a view of work ing out the best possible plan to carry out this work.
 number of propositions were read in which offers to collect the garbage at different sections of the city at prices ranging from 70 cents per house per an- mum to 75 cents per house per month were made, these amounts to be paid by the householder.
 At the conclusion of the reading of the bids, Dr. Cunningham made his protest. As health officer he protested against the collection of garbage by private con tract, stating it would prove less efficient and less thorough than when done by the city. and as citizen and taxpayer he have garbage removed from his premises. He stated that under the present system the sanitary conditions in the city were excellent and attributed it to the efficient inspection of milk and foodstuffs and to the prompt collection and disposal of the garbage of the city. In this. connection he paid high tribute to Street Commis- sioner Frank Gafford for his work in this regard.
 Not Disturb Present System
 He begged the city commissioners not to disturb the present system of collect ing garbage, and said it was not a mat ter of dollars but of human health and human life, and that any other depart ment of the city's government should be cut rather than that which affects the city's health He dipicted the ravages of the deadly fly and it's multiplication through uncollected garbage, and to the statement that the cut had to be made in order that the city might live within its income said. "Then cut some other department. Let us take care of the lives of the children even if the money has tc be taken from the schools!'
 He also advocated the return of the street tax to aid the revenues of the city. He also stated he was opposed to paying any sum whatever either to the city or private individuals for the collection of garbage as he paid fair share of taxes, for which he was entitled to this service from the city
 You admit that the city must have more revenue to meet its growing de- mands?" asked MT. Weatherly.
 'I do,'' replied Dr. Cunningham.
 You admit also that our only visible course of increased revenue is from ad- ditional taxation"
 Yes"
 "Then why oppose this small sum for the collection of garbage?"
 Paying Enough Taxes
 Because, as I stated. am a taxpayer and I feel I am paying enough already for the service I get. Beside, why not enforce the payment of street tax? You could get enough money from this source to pay for collecting the garbage"
 That has been tried and proved unsat- isfactory. Besides. street taxes can only be applied to work on the streets and rot for general purposes.
 Dr. Cunningham stated he could not understand why a private concern could collect garbage cheaper than the city missioners acknowledge themselves in competent"
 Commissioner Weatherly stated the city commissioners had not admitted such was the case, but what they were trying to dc was to make the best contract for the city with the least cost to the citizens, and that they had not outlined any policy but were trying to evolve practical plan to care for the city's garbage until hnan- cial relief came to the city. He stated that the city commissioners would gladly entertain any and all propositions to col