Evening journal., 1922-03-22
BLAMES POLITICS
FOR DIRTY CITY

Continued From First Page.)
discussion OF plans for a Cleanup
Paint-up Week" for which the con-
ference specifically was called.
Nearly forty citizens attended the
conference. which was held in the
Street and Sewer Department room
Of the Public Building.
Mayor Harvey was elected chair
man OF the conference, and in OPEN
ing, the discussion. expressed appre-
citation OF the public-spiritedness
OF Mr.. dupont. in employing the
squads now at work cleaning up -al-
leys and back yards OF the city.
"And now that Wilmington Is
clean, we want to keep It clean. and
that Is why you have been Invited
to come here this afternoon" the
Mayor concluded.
Cooperation was pledged by
heads OF the various city depart
| ments, representatives OF Kiwanis.
Rotary and New Century and other
clubs. in carrying out the proposed
cleanup week program, which was
presented by Charles f. Ernst, di-
rector OF Community Service.
The Board OF Health came into
the discussion when Mr.. Francis was
called on by the Mayor.
Mr.. Francis said the city had been
in a filthy condition menacing pub
lie health, and displayed a num-
Der OF photographs taken by him
of back yards and alleys filled with
~
yards shown were back OF grocery
stores or poultry houses. he said.
These things SHOULD have been
attended TO by the Board Of Health,
said Mr.. Francis, who added that
he understood on good authority
that when the inspectors reported
such conditions to headquarters the
matter stopped there and that there
was too much politics in the Board
Of Health"
DR.. Charles NJ. Handy president
OF the board, demanded to know
the source OF Mr.. Francis informa-
ton. Mr.. Francis said the state
ment had been made TO him by
Nevin NJ. Clowney. an inspector Of
the Board Of Health. in regard to a
grocery store in Maryland avenue.
DR.. Handy said the utterance was
a crazy one; that the inspectors
had police power. and could see
that the cleaning-up was attended
to without applying to him for per-
mission.
DIR. Joseph H. oden asked the
Mayor II there was not some city
ordinance by which citizens could be
made to keep their property in or
der and prevent the city from again
getting into a condition which
% would make another cleanup cam
paign necessary.
Peter J. Ford said that in his
= opinion the question OF DR.. Odel
: should be answered by the Board
of Health and asked. in particular
II there was not some method by
which persons could be forced to do
their part in keepIng up division
fences He said that there was M
doubt that there had always beer
too much politics in the Heaith De
partment
President OF Council. Howard N
Ward, said that there was a boar
OF fence viewers, on which he ha
once served, and that he knew q
one case in which action had bee
brought against a man for failing
keep up a fence. But the part
bringing the action died, he sail
before the case came to trial.
DIR. Handy. in response to III
mayors request that he answer III
question raised by DR.. Oden, sal
that the Board OF Health could brir
action against a person guilty
creating a nuisance but that Il WI
not worth while TO do so since Il
fine usually amounted to a dollar.
The Board Of Health cannot
what Il should do" said DR.. Hanb
because 1t has only five inspecto
and those are not appointed by Il
president. The head OF the boa
should have $4,000 year. and q
power to appoint all inspectors. al
should have a laboratory here in 4
Public Building"
tn Frank ". Pierson, Street Cor
ar missioner, disagreed with the stat
ne ment OF Mr.. Francis that W1lmin
ee ton had beer IN a filthy conditic
saying that ne had recently visits