Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-03-23
THURSDAY. MARCH %, 1922.
POLITICS AND CLEANLINESS.

POLITICS AND CLEANLINESS.
At a meeting OF interested citizens
held in the Public Building, Tuesday
afternoon. to discuss II program for |
the proposed Cleanup Week." a |
lively diversion was caused by an al
legation that partisan politics inter-
fered with the purpose OF the Board
OF Health 10 maintain cleanly and
sanitary conditions throughout the
city. President Handy OF the Board
Of Health resented the allegation. and
laid the blame for the failure Of de-
sired effectiveness to poverty AS TO
money and lack OF sufficient authority
In law.
with all due respect to President
Handy. however. It IS certain that
partisan considerations interfere ma
terially with the operations of the
Board OF Health, especially with ef-
forts by the executive officers to en-
force sanitary regulations. Also. there
II ample authority I'm law for the
Board OF Health. through Its author
ired agents, TO enforce regulations re-
lating to prevention OF nuisances on
public or private property.
II Il doubtless true that much good
work is done by the Board OF Health
through IL. agents. but # is equally
true there has not been a time during
the last twenty years when partisan
influences have not seriously inter
fered with the work. For instance.
say q nuisance is reported 20 exist IN
the yard Of a careless resident. 1t is
reported 10 the Board Of Health. and
an executive officer makes an inspec-
ton and notifies the owner or tenant
20 apply prompt remedy or suffer
prosecution. The culprit knows a
thing OF two" especially II he has had
any active connection with political
work among his fellows, and of ne
posts TO the members Of the Repub-
/. l,can committee Of his ward and states
hi. case. The committeeman calls on
the executive officer and gives him or
der. TO '1et that matter rest where II
is." and there the proceeding ends.
This has been the situation for
years. due 10 the fact that the Board
O, Health has long since degenerated
into a mere partisan agency. instead
OF being what II should be. and was
intended 20 bean effective agency
O, the city administration. to work
for the benefit OF the people. 1t is
now just forty-one years since the
change was made that converted the
Board OF Health from a cumbersome,
ineffective body OF two members from,
each ward, 10 its present compact and
promising form. with what was sup
posed al the time would be a complete
severance from partisan associations
The late DR.. Lewis P. Bush. at that
time one OF the city's leading physi-
clans, was It's first president, and foI
several years. under his capable guid-
ance, the Board OF Health did excel
lent work. hampered only by poverty
IN resources.
But along came a change IN the city
administration from a Democratic tt
Republican regime, and Republican
politicians seized upon the Board o.
Health as they did upon every othel
agency OF the administration that fel
under their party control. Partisan
considerations dictated the selection
OF the officers OF the board. and als'
controlled their official conduct. Ant
since that evil day the Board OF Healtl
has been much more a partisan thar
a public agency--a Democratic ma
chine under a Democratic admins
tration. and a Republican machin
when Republicans were IN control.
II Is useless to talk as DR.. Hanb.
did. about a director OF the Board O
Health with larger powers and highe
compensation. The Official who &C
cepts Office at a small salary and fail
60 DO his duty is not likely to do an,
better at an increased salary. Th
fault Is In the system. And as lon
as the Board Of Health is continue
AS = partisan body, the evil OF par
tisan administration Will continue
and will seriously interfere with ef
fective public service.
Meanwhile, despite this seriou
handicap, let US proceed with the al
yangements for Cleanup Week
Let us all Join sincerely and cheer
u