Evening journal., 1919-05-06

George T. Lyon President
City Council.
Wilmington. Delaware.
Dear Mr.. Lyon -
Referrong TO my telephone CONVERSE
tion OF the other day the health com
mittee Of the Council Of Defense OF the
State OF Delaware request an audience
with the Mayor aud Council OF VIII
mlngton TO discuss informally the ques-
ron Of what steps should be taken TO
correct The bad sanitation conditions In
the city.
A preliminary survey OF tho health
situation in our city has been made by
the Bureau OF Municipal Research IN.
New York at our request a copy or
(which has been sent 10 you.
II Is the desire Of 'he Council OF De-
fense TO do everything possible 10 Ia
cilitate your honorable body, the mayor
OF Wilmington and the city Board OF
Health. In the work Of correcting the
many troubles that exist. We prefer
that this work be done by the city
Board OF Health through having City
Council do those things necessary TO
vest the city Board OF Health with
such additional authority as may be
found necessary for them 20 possess In
order 10 satisfactorily accomplish re-
suits and 10 the extent that Il Is not
within the power OF Council TO give this
authority the Delaware Council OF De-
fense may be able 10 supply same. 10
Is unanimously the opinion OF the
personnel OF the state Council OF De-
fonse that wherever possible the Coun-
ell should accomplish the results in
tended 10 be accomplished az the
time the Legislature enacted the law
creating the State Council Of Defense
through comforting on already existing
public bodies and servants any powers
which they do not now enjoy that are
necessary 10 enable them 10 expedite
their work. Should we meet opposition
on the part OF any such public servants
IL would then become necessary for the
state Council 10 undertake TO do that
work either directly or through COM
Wandering such machinery. / am sure
that we will have no such trouble.
however. with the local Board OF
Health. as We have had Informal dis
cussions With them and they seem ex-
ceedingly anxious 10 do everything pos
sible toward curing existing wrongs
and thus facilitating The winning of the
war, which forms such an important
part Of the work Of the National Coun-
Gil OF Denfense. with which body the
state Council OF Defense Is working In
close touch. Very truly yours.
STATE COUNCIL OF DEFENSE.
JOHN J. RASKOB.
Chairman Health Committee.
Wilmington. DEL. April 30. 1918.
Stenographic Report
Excerpts from tho minutes OF the
Wilmington Council Of Defense meet
ing held In the Street and Sewer De-
partment Offices. September q. 1915:
Or. Ellegood stated that the funds OF
the Board OF Health were entirely in
adequate 20 handle the situation and
that the City Council refused 70 do
anything in the matter. stating that In
their opinion 10 was a war measure and
should be handled by the Council OF
Defense.
The chairman stated 10 Mr.. Raskob.
who had just arrived at this time. the
reasons for calling This meeting. and
asked his advice as 90 how 10 should
be handled. tie replied that We should
go ahead and handle the situation
through the city Board OF Health and
10 send an bills for expenses incurred
10 the state Council cf Defense, as he
considered this a war measure.
Mr. Sparks. together with Mr.. Bas-
kob, presented the following resolu-
tion;
Whereas. An epidemic OF Spanish in
nuenza prevails throughout the coun-
try and many persons IN the state OF
Delaware are stricken thereby; and
Whereas, The hospitals Of the city or
Wilmington are already crowded and
lacking In nursing force; and
Whereas. The matter has been called
TO the attention OF the Wilmington
Council OF Defense; therefore be 10
Resolved. That the Wilmington Coun-
Gil Of Defense recommends 20 the
health committee Of the State Council
OF Defense that they confer on the State
and city Boards OF Health, respectively.
all the powers necessary 20 success
fully cope with this situation. and as
sumo the expense in connection there
with. and that The city and state Boards
OF Health be advised that the VIII
mington Council Of Defense stands at
all times ready 20 assist in cO-operat-
ing with them in every way possible in
handling this problem.
on motion Of Mr.. Sparks, duly sec
onded by Mr.. Topkis. same was adopted
by the Wilmington Council OF Defense.
Mr.. Raskob stated that It was the
intention OF the state Council Of De-
Tense to give the Wilmington Board OF
Health the services Of the sanitary
engineer. c. II. Wells. in order 10 as
slst the local Board Of Health In hand
ling such matters as il 1nds necessary
to protect the health OF this COM
munity. as u Is one Of the war meas
ures, and he heartily endorsed the reso-
luton referred 70 above.
Mr.. nsskob also suggested that the
city Board OF Health should entirely
handle this matter, and should call
upon the Wilmington Council OF De-
fense for all the help that they deemed
He further stated thst IN
his opinion the Wilmington Council Of
Defense sould consider any other prob
lem which mieht come before 70, and
formulate a plan OF action.
Attest: c. s. TAZEwELL.
Secretary.
The following members were present:
Hon. John w. Lawson. Hon. David T..
Marvel. Benjamin F. Shaw, Ernest s.
Taite. Charles G. Kurtz. Edgar L.
Haines. Col. George w. Sparks. Col.
Weller z. Stover. Col. George A. FL
lott. William +. Metten. Charles Top
ks. Charles s. Tazewell.
Extracts from minutes OF meeting OF
the State Council OF Defense held at the
Hotel dupont. November 25. 1913. atsp.
m. at which George T. Lyon, president
md James w. Robertson. chairman OF
The Finance Committee respectively of
City Council OF Wilmington, Delaware.