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 licensed was Charles G.
Drake, a member ~ the Detroit
board Of health. over the conditions
which caused Dr. William n. Price
10 resign a. health ofneer. that he
has written letter TO Senator
George q. Scott Of the NTH district,
warmly supporting he Scott bill 10
abolish the health board IN favor
OF a commissioner OF public health.
There 10 sufficient precedent for
making the change writes Mr..
Drake. -All other large cities have
done away with honorary boards Of
health. and centralized administra-
ton In one executive. Executive
efficiency necessitaies the placing OF
responsibility upon one person.
Administrative wigor. expedition and
certainty of action are possible with
one executive. the correctness Ol
which theory when applied to prac.
tice will be afarmed by all business
men The key TO effsciency and
economy In Administration lies In
individual responsibility.
With advice ON al subjects avail
able the trained sanitarian should
not be subject to and hampered by
a board OF health composed OF men
who know relatively little ~ the
science OF Lublic health. which Il
advancing 80 rapidly that only ths
professional administrator can keel
up with II.
The dissension arising out Of tbs
System OF the Detroit board o
health has embarrassed and weak
ened the very plans to which tn
public must look for the prevention
Of disease. The VERY predicamen
In which Detroit now hnds Itself
and from which by vaeiIlating pol
icies Il Is Historically attempting Il
extricxte itself--the scarlet fever sit
uation--ls typical OF the extremes q
which dissention and lack Of visior
on the part OF an honorary bear,
Of health can carry the people OF I
great city.
The state Law creating the boar
of health specifically states that TIT
health ofseer shall have authority q
appoint and disniss all subordinate
end employees yet certain member
OF the board persistently violai
this statute by assuming control q
appointments and employees 10 tn
detriment OF the eervice.
The health interests OF the peopl
Of Dvtroit gre OF suficient import
Ance 10 be administered by an uI
hampered commissioner Of training
experience and discretion. The sit
uation at present IL intolerAble an
relief should be given at once.
AS a member OF the Detroi
board Of health. am In q positio
70 know whereof I speak / approx
OF your bill and trust that IL ma
be enacted into law. I disapprov
Of counter bill which would ~
move the medical requirements 10
the position OF health oficer TO en-
able an engineer TO he appointed q
that position
Mr.. Drake declares that friction
in the health department leading u
the recent turn over resulted dirsc,
~ from the demotion OF brother o
q board member, Tor failure TO al
tend TO his duties.
MY motion 20 refer this matte
OF authority over employees 10 tn
corporation counsel tor opinion OF
The statute failed to secure supper
from any member o. the board. h.
adds. One member wished 70 pei
sonaliy watch the interests Of hi
brother. the others TO guard tbei
personal and political friends.
have seen afidavits showing the for
mer health Officer was exclude
from a board OF health meeting Two
and-onehah years ago when a lsrg
number OF appointments were b.
ma made, notwithstanding that tn
statute holds him responsible 10
these appointments. Such method
would not be tolerated In the bust
4 ness world