The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-07-07
Citizens Who Are Interested In
Future of Pensacola Urged
to Be Present.
AMENDMENTS CONDEMNED
Public Health Service Rulings
Are That Ordinance Must
Conform to Standards.

| A mass meeting of all citizens in
terested in the growth and future Of
Pensacola has been called to meet at
the city hall this morning at 1890
O'Clock. The call was issued as re-
Isult of Pensacola business people
calling at the city hall yesterday after
noon in regard TO the passing of the rat
proofing ordinance.
| The need Of the immediate passage
OF the ordinance to exterminate rats
in the city was pointed out at the meet
ing yesterday afternoon and a
| thorough explanation of any misun-
derstood points in the proposed or
dinance will be given this morning.
The meeting will be held 'under the
combined auspices of the health au-
thorities. the city commissioners and
the citizens committee appointed sew
eral days ago to confer with the health
officials.
The ordinance was presented to the
city commissioners nearly a month ago
drawn by Surgeon General Cummings
and Assistant General Creel. of the
Public Health Service. Objections ia
certain paragraphs in the proposed
Il
ence between the health officials and
committee appointed by ths5nayor
was held.
AT that conference the officials con-
ceded certain amendments as proposed
by the committee. but insisted upon
the passage of other sections The
amended sections were again present.
ed TO the commissioners but other rec
ommenda were made by the cit
izens committee. which were directly
conflicting with the demands made by
the health officers.
When comforting with the committee
General Cummings stated that unless
the food warehouses were made rat
proof by means of concreted floors
that he would be compelled TO quar-
antine Pensacola against incoming or
outgoing shipping.
The officers stated that any build
ing wholly over water would not come
under rule for concrete floored build
ings. The committee AZ citizens rec
commended to the commissioners that
changes be made in the proposed or
dinance as agreed to by the health
officers. especially the two provisions
in regard TO concrete floors and the
buildings completely over water.
Their recommendation was. that the
provision be inserted that any build
ing pronounced temporarily rat proof
need not be repaired with a concrete
floor and that buildings partially over
water should he held to he immune
from rats.
DR. Creel expressly stated before
leaving that the federal authorities
would insist upon buildings used as
food warehouses having concrete floors
and that no deviation from this ruling
would be accepted. II the city did
not pass such an ordinance and did
not enforce it following passage then
the United States Public Health Ser
vice would be compelled 10 establish
a quarantine against this city.
A delegation Of business men called
the statement published by
Dr. Green, State Health officer. 10 in
quire why the ordinance had not been
passed and who was responsible for
delaying its passage. Commissioner
Pou met the delegation and stated
that the recommendations made by the
committee had been given DIR.
Spencer.
DR.. Spencer was powerlegs TO allow
the recommendations as the surreoT
general had stated so positively nsE
the concrete flooring would be il
ed upon. The doctor. however. AIRED
to forward the recommendatiol ~
for a ruling and the ,oHt-
missioners were awaiting reply rm
before further consi s
ing the ordinance. DR.. Spencer " -
again yesterday morf
and an answer is expected by the
Of the meeting this morning.
In a statement last night DR.. CT
said that the last conference he -
held with the federal surgeons bef
they left for other plague infested
tricts was that either the cOncrf
flooring ordinance would be enforc
or a quarantine ordered. The on
thing that Pensacola can do in the fa
Of that statement is to pass and
force the proposed ordinance. said the
DOCTOR. Without the passage Of the
ordinance the city would he quaran-
lined and the commercial death OF the
,ity would be assured.
The residential district will be af-
'ected only slightly, continued Dr.
Green. Homes are not required to have
r.