Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-07-08
LIGHT ON THE SITUATION

ing the conditions of the health department Of the city and some OF
the things that it has to contend with. The statement throws light
on the situation and enables the public to get nearer the source OF
the trouble that has been apparent for some time. We trust that the
matter will not be dropped until something has been done to rid the
health department Of the noxious influences which, we believe, is
entirely to blame.
In the first place, DIR. Silk lets it be known that the increased ap-
preparation for the Board of Health had strings to it 1t seems that
the additional money was given only on condition that the board
get rid of Mr.. Wisey, who was then health officer. This was en-
treIv contrary to the spirit of the mass meeting in the City Hall last
fall 1t is not the business of the Board of Aldermen who occupies
the position of health officer. 1t is their duty only to furnish the
money for the Board Of Health to spend as the board sees ht. Ii ne
board is wasteful or extravagant then the aldermen may cut down
the appropriation another year, but it has no jurisdiction over the
workings of the health department whatever.
AS well might the aldermen attempt to dictate to the school
board as to the hiring of teachers and superintendents, to the library
board as to engaging a Librarian or to the water department IN re-
gard to its superintendent as to attempt to dictate to the health board
in the manner til accused of doing. 1t is a pernieious interference
that smacks mean, petty politics, and only goes to emphasize the
need Of a thorough house cleaning IN the whole plan OF cHy gov
eminent, giving the taxpayers a commission form OF government
where responsibility is so concentrated that there can be no saeh I'M
derhanded work as has brought the health department into dsrepute.
We car readily understand why there was such a desire on the
part of the politicians to get rid of DR.. Willsey. He refused to play
the game as the politicians would have it. Ward heelers could not
manipulate things so that the favored ones who controlled a lew
votes could escape their just punishment. While things were not all
that they should be under Mr.. Winsey, when it is realized now what
he had to contend with, it is a wonder they were as good as they
were. :.
Then, too. Mr.. Wilsey refused to permit a certain coterie of
physicians to run him. He made rules that physicians had to live
up to and which some of them objected to most strenuously' Mr.
Wil1sev had to fight almost continuously these certain physicians
who wanted to do as they pleased regardless Of the laws OF the state.
This coterie of physicians was continuously working to undo Mr..
Wilsey and they brought all the influence possible on the govern
ing body Of the city to have him ousted. ~
But not only did the Boara-ef Aldermen perniciousy interfere
m the w5fKins OF Tic Board of Health by demanding the official
head of Mr.. Winsey in return for an increased appropriation, there
by playing into the hands of the little coterie of selfish physicians,
but the same influences, according to DIR. Silk, were brought to bear
against the engagement of an out of town man for health officer
As MI. wilsey was the best equipped man in the city for the posi-
ton, both by knowledge and experience, the aldermen, still playing
into the hands of the same selfish physicians who desired to get con.
troll of the health department, placed themselves in the position OF
ousing an efficient man and putting in his place an Inexperienced
and unski1ed man at an increased salary and this, too, IN the lace
of the popular demand for an improved health department that would
clean up the city with the best man to be found to head the depart
ment regardless of where he came from.
That the aldermen did not want the city cleaned up is now APP
parent. They were afraid, it would appear, that some of their politi
cal friends might get their toes stepped on. And so, while Mr.. Will
sey had to go, the bars were put up against getting a more efficient
and capable health officer in his place. Thus, as the EVENING
NEWS has maintained, the health department of the city, in the
face of a great popular demand for Improvement, has gone back
ward instead OF forward, although twice the money is being spent
on it today than was spent heretofore. But instead Of blaming the
Board of Health it now appears that it was the Board Of Aldermen
that IS to blame for putting into something that was none of their
business and playing politics to the limit.
The only blame that is to be placed upon the Board of Health
hinder the circumstances is the fact that the board submitted to such
humiliatng treatment on the part of the aldermen, Rather take no
increase at all than to have been dictated to in such a manner.
But DIR. Silks letter gives the public other interesting facts
which we have already referred to. 1t seeems the proposed clinic
was killed by the hospital managers backed by this same coterie of
physicians whose hands have been seen in the manipulation of the
health affairs of the cgity. 1t is a serious reflection that is placed
upon the physicians of the city. They are put in a position of being
opposed to clinics because someone might get free treatment there
who was able to pay. In other words, the almighty dollar is placed
before health and possibly life itself. Rather than have a few who
are able to pay a physician get treatment for nothing, the doctors
would have hundreds of poor deprived of the service of a clinic such
as every progressive city has.
It's a horrible indictment, yet no other meaning can be taken of
the action at the East Jersey Club when the clinic project was aban-
doned. The physicians certainly have their good name to clear. 1t
looks as if the aldermen, judging from their attitude in the matter,
were still playing into the hands of this same coterie of physicians
As for the hospital board, it is pretty well controlled by the physi-1
clans and can usually be counted on to back them up in whatever
they do.
And thus we begin to get some light on the working thai. have
been going on beneath the surface in regard to the Board of Health
DR.. Silk blames the general public for apathy and lack of co-opera-
ton. We think the doctor is mistaken. The general public is only
too willing to back him up in his good work and if he will but take
them INTO his confidence, as he has done in his letter published yes
terday, we are sure he will be able to put through his program. The
Influences that Oppose him do not renresent the nenaral nuhIic TAarl