Perth Amboy evening news., 1918-11-20
Health Officer Admits Neglect
and Asks That Blame be
Placed by Taxpayers
WANTS MORE COOPERATION
Says Greater Funds Are Need
ed if Duties Are to be Car
ried Out

Plans are being rapidly completed
for the public mass meeting to be
held in the council chamber at City
Hall Monday night next at which
time the taxpayers will have a chance
to tell the Board of Aldermen what
they think about the request of the
Board of Health for an appropria-
ton of $4,000 for safeguarding the
health OF the city during the year
1919.
The aldermen feel that as the
people must foot the bill they should
be heard on the matter. II it is felt
that the taxpayers favor giving the
health board the money. the appro-
priation will be forthcoming in the
next city budget.
The meeting Monday night will be
called to order at s o'clock. 1t is
probable that some of the state
health officials will be present.
Due to recent exposures of insan-
itary conditions here, the Board OF
Health plans an extensive campaign
to clean up the city provided the al
dermen furnish the funds whereby
the program can be carried out. That
the city is far behind in health affairs
is pretty generally recognized and
there is every indication that at least
something will be done toward a
more aggressive health policy here
after.
Health Officer Willsey, today, made
a statement regarding the situation as
IL exists In this city in which he de-
clares that conditions are not what
they should be and admits that there
has been negligence on the part OF
city officials. If the public desires 10
place the blame on him he Is willing
to assume his share of the RESPONSE
bility, but he points out that satisfac-
tory work cannot be done without
sufiicient funds. Mr.. Willsey's state
ment Is as follows;
ITO the Citizens of Perth Amboy:
Many Of you are asking why this
would merit the criticism made by
DR.. Wolfram OF the United States
Public Health Service who said II was
rotten hole" Looking at IL from
the standpoint of sanitation, we must
admit the truth of this statement,
our methods of garbage disposal, the
open sewers on our bathing beaches
are glaring testimonials to this fact
We stand accused and convicted as a
whole. The health officer, the Board
of Health. the Board of Aldermen ana
the court acknowledge their COM
plicity by their actions, If not In
words, but the blame for these condi-
tens has not. as yet, been placed
squarely up to any one person or body.
As the health officer, 1 should like to
discuss this matter with you and lei
you Judge.
Let us consider the health officer
first. What is he and what are his
powers and duties? He Is the execu-
tive officer licensed by the State De-
partment of Health, and appointed by
the local board as their representative.
He has power to enforce the state
health laws and the sanitary code
adopted by the Board of Health of
this city. His duties are to enforce
the laws and use every other means
possible to prevent sickness and pro-
mote the health of the people of this
city. But how can the laws be en-
forced II warrants are not served and
health case is treated as joke III
court?
'The duties of a health officer re-
quire the expenditure of a larger sum
priated for this work, although the
records show good results from the
small amount expended. The records
are open for inspection.
The successful carrying out of
these duties depends entirely upon the
willingness of the members of the
Board of Health to pass ordinances
and in their ability to secure funds
required to pay the salaries of officers
to enforce them. The Board of
Health has requested and demanded
larger appropriations for this purpose
year after year These requests have
either been ignored or possibly. IL the
demand was insistent enough, a small
increase was granted. The reason
given for not appropriating more has
been that the city is already in debt
and that the people would not stand
for the increase in their taxes. If
this is the only reason, why are NO
such excuses made when additional
appropriations are made for police
and fire protection? Is 1t because
wealth is more highly valued than
healthf Is 1t to be wondered at that
the mayor finds II difficult to find men
who will accept an appointment as a
member of the Board OF Health?
Now. who is to blame for these con-
ditions? Is the health officer. the
Board of Health. the court or the
Board of Aldermen? Next Monday
evening, contrary to the usual custom,
the Board OF Aldermen have invited
you to public meeting at City Hall.
You will then have an opportunity to
answer this question. You will also
be given an opportunity to decide
whether this city is to regain the
name of the Pacemaking City or
whether II Is to retain the one recently
applied 70 IT,
IT. your health officer. am very de-
sirous of having the aid OF DIR. VOL
fram during his brief stay In this city
and also OF ALI public spirited organi-
zations and individuals actively and
frequently expressed with the object
OF making Perth Amboy a pacsms hine
city. especially In cleanliness and
heaI<A-s