The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1920-07-31
CARRIAGE DISPOSAL IN TULSA.

In the judgment OF this paper the city ad-
ministration can easily make very serious
mistake In the health ordinance matter In gen
erai and the garbage disposal feature OF It in
particular II affords Tho World no pleasure
TO discover itaelf out OF sympathy with some
OF the proposals being put forth by the health
department. but that cannot deter It from dis
charging what It conceives to be It's duty to tho
public.
A subordinate In the health department is
urging the city to become its own scavenger.
purchase expensive equipment and lay a toll on
the home owner for the emptng of the gar
bago can. urging among other things, that the
city can mako money out OF tho business.
II need only he pointed out that this ia re-
action of the most pronounced type, Most pro-
gressive cities have gotten away from that
method long ago, because Il has been proven
tremendously expensive and altogether unsatis-
factory Such a method would. II Is true, call for
quite n staff OF employees in the health depart
ment Quite government could very easily
be created there through the operation OF such
u system. But II would not be TO the advantage
OF the city TO do II. And far as such n de-
partment resulting In profit TO the city is CON
cerned-welI. experience proves that such is
not the result. and reason easily demonstrates
that form OF government is set up for the
purpose of engaging In business and making a
profit off OF those who maintain It In order
That they may deserved thereby
The contract system OF garbage disposal has
been found by much experience and experiment
ing to be the most satisfactory method yet en-
ployed, II the contractor who engages TO haul
the garbage fails In any respect the blame In
directly on the city officials and cannot be shift
cd through any prctext unless It is boldly argued
that the device known contract s worth
less and non enforceable.
This is disproven instantly by the sum Of
human experience: also by tho fact that other
cities. are experiencing only normal difficulty
In having their garbage disposed OF under the
contract system
In the specific case Of Tulsa. there seems no
good reason why the contractor should not be
required. under proper penalty. to empty gar
bage In the resident districts regularly
say twice a week The proper office OF the
health department would be TO that the
terms OF the contract are compiled with. and
housewives could be advised 70 report To that
department instantly any infraction OF the rules
The further proper office of the health depart
ment would be to see that garbage cans arc
maintained in a reasopahie sanitary condition.
lids kept on. etc.
The result would unquestionably be a service
fully as satisfactory as cityowned scavenger sys
| tenn with a great number OF political appontees
| with the costs sadded onto the long suffering
| taxpayer,
The city administration can IL II chooses
| comply with the suggestions of the health de-
partment employe. repudiate the contract under
which the city s securing It's garbage hauled free.
and begin charging the cost 10 the taxpayers
even, as tho health department employe suggests,
] collect from them three months In advance In
order to accumulate capital sufficient to set up
| In business'--but 1t must understand that 1t Is
oourtng a tornado OF destructive and Just critic.
ism.
Once again we wish to assert--if the present
! method Of garbage disposal which does not cost
/ the taxpayers a penny Is not entirely satisfac-
! tory; II 1t does not result In an adequate and
satisfactory service to the resident districts
the blame lies with the health department.
For the health department can make It satisfao-
| tory.