The Detroit times., 1917-03-19
c. c. DRAKE
ENDORSES
SCOTT BILL
Health Board Should
Be Abolished, Says
Member
BLAMES BODY FOR
FEVER SCOURGE
Says Its Efficiency Is
Seriously Impaired
By Politics

SO incensed was Charles G.
Drake, a member ~ the Detroit
board OF health, over the conditions
which caused Or. william r. Price
10 resign as health officer, that he
has written a letter 10 Senator
George G. Scott OF the ffth district.
warmly supporting me Scott bill 10
abolish the health board in favor
OF a commissioner az public health
There IL suflcient precedent for
making the change" writes Mr..
Drake. "An other large cities have
done away with honorary boards of
health. and centralized administra-
tion IN one executive. Executive
sfsciency neccssitatss the placing Of
responsibility upon one person.
Administrative visor expedition and
certainty az action are possible with
one executive. the correctness ot
which theory when applied TO prso-
tee viii be afirmed by all business
men. Tue key TO eficiency and
economy In Administration lies In
individual responsibility.
with advice on all subjects avail
able the trained sanitarian should
not be subject TO and hampered BY
board OF health composed OF men
who know relatively little Of the
science OF public health. which IL
advancing so rapidly that only the
professional administrator can keep
up with IT,
The dissension arising out OF the
ustem OF the Detroit board Of
health has embarrassed and weak
ened the very plans 10 which the
public must look for the prevention
OF disease. The very predicament
In which Detroit now finds itself.
and from which by vacillating pol
icies II IL Historically attempting TO
extrScxte itseif--the scarlet fever sit.
uation--4s typical OF the extremes TO
which dissention and lack Of vision
on The part OF an honorary board
II health can carry the people OF
great city.
The state law creating the board
OF health specifically states that the
health oficer shall have authority to
appoint and dismiss all subordinates
end employee yet certain members
Of the board perSistently violate
this statute by assuming control Of
appointments and employees 10 the
detTiment OF the gervice.
The health interests OF the people
OF Detroit are OF SUFFICIENT import
ance 10 he administered by an I'M
hampered commissioner OF training.
experience and discretion. The sit
uation at present IL intolerable and
relief should be given at once.
AS a nlember Of the Detroit
board Of health. l arm in a position
20 know whereof speak | approve
OF your bill and trust that n may
be enacted into law disapprove
Of a counter bill which would re-
move the medical requirements for
the position Of health ochcer 10 en-
able an engineer TO be appointed 10
that position
Mr.. Drake declares that friction
In the health department Leading to
tho recent urn over resulted direct
~ from the demoton OF a brother %
a board member. Tor failure TO at
tend 90 HE duties
Ny motion 20 refer this matter
OF authority over employees 70 the
corporation counsel tor opinion on
the statute failed To secure support
from any member o. the board. he
adds. One member wished 20 per.
sonally watch the interests Of his
brother the others TO guard their
personal and political friends. I
have seen Gfhdavits showing the for.
mer health officer vas excluded
from board % health meeting two
and-one-haf years ago when a large
number Of appointments we're be.
ing made. notwithstanding that the
statute holds him responsible fol
these appointments such methods
would not De tolerated in the buEi.
ness world