Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-05-15

the cOm0ltCce W WllOu IL Hdu ucel IelcIIeu,
occasoned considerable debate, and required
the reading of the following communication
ALEXANDRIA, Va, April 9th, 1872
DEAR SIR:-l wish to call your attention to
Sec. Al, page 81, Corporation laws, in regard to
compensation for services as physician to small,
pox hospitals La accordance with Instructions
from Board of Health, | endeavored to secure
the services of physician for the hospital es-
sablished by the Board, but each physician to
whom / offered the position dccl'ued 1t. Be-
lieving that the interests and welfare of our
citizens demanded prompt action in this matter
and to prevent any spreading OF The disease, re-
luctantly took charge of the case myself, andh
so doug have, to great extent, been cut off from
nv ordinary practice. [ should be glad to know
what the Common Council will deem "a rea-
sonable compensation per day for my services,
as my continuance 10 charge OF the case must
depend upon their decision.
| would respectfully suggest that the Coun'
Gil make some provision tor the gratultouS vac
cination of the poor. The scarcity and high
price of reliable vaccine matter render 1t I'M
possible for the physicians to the poor to vaccl-
nate all who apply gratuitonsy, but if the
Council will allow some snail sun for each vac
clnation I think that the money would be well
expended. would simply suggest that each
physician to the poor keep au account giving
the name, age and color of each person vaccl-
mated by them, and that they be allowed tweny-
five cents for each vaccination.
Very Respectfully, &C.,
RoBT. G.. POWELL, NJ D..
Health Officer.
6. r. SHINS, ESQ Prest. Common Council.
Mr.. Neale said the Doctor had tried his best
to get other doctors to take charge of the case,
but they had all refused, and that the Doctor
had to attend it himself, and by doing so had
give up all of his other practice leave his
boarding house and burn up suit OF clothes.
MIR. Hopkins said he was always IN favor OF
paying man for his work, but he thought
$40 day pretty stiff figure. lie Inquired
what we're the provisions of the law requiring
attendance upon infectious diseases. and moved
that $50 be given instead of SlUu and his mo-
ton was seconded by MIR. RshieIi. 1t the Cor
poration, he continued, were rich he would not
object to paying it.
Mr.. Hughes said he thought it was small
BILL The Doctor had to lose a suit of clothes,
which alone would cost him the bill, and NOT
only that, he had to give up his practice aud
home aud live at a restaurant.
MIR. Hopkins was here to leglslate Tor his
constituents. and was unwilling to pay man
more than SIS a day. Suppose the Corporation
had to employ DR.. Lewis, and had to pay hlm
the loss OF his practice, what would be the
amount of the bill?
MIR. Wheat suggested $75 instead Of $50.
When Dr. Powell. had accepted his Office as
physician to the poor he had done 30 with
full knowledge Of the conditions 1t Imposed.
Suppose he was called upon to treat scarlet te-
yer, also an infectious disease, would he charge
extra for that?
Mr.. Beach wanted to know whether physi
clan to the poor had to attend poor people all
over town, or only at the P,ors House.
Mr. Wheat explained that they hrd to at
tend the poor Of their respective wards and
the President read a section OF the law upon
the sui jet.
Mr. Hughes was opposed to asking DIR.
Powell or any other man to work without pay.
and if we didn't pay him the result woud be
that tie next case of sualI-lox won have to
take care of itself. Tor no doctor would go near
it,
Mr. IIopkins said. to close the debate. he
would state that the bill was made of IN his
store, aud that the Doctor had said when draw
ing it that SI5 was enough, but that as he sup
posed Council would want to take OFT some
thing, he would make it 800 and allow Tor de-
duction.
This had the desired effect and s775 was sub
stjtu,ed for 500. and the report was adopted.
Mr.. Hopkins called up his bill to prevent
bands OF music paradng the streets on Sun
DAYS and on its second reading Mr.. Wheat
moved that IS be substituted for $40 as the
miuimnn fine, on account of the possible occur
renee from want of knowledge of he law, as IN the
case Of bands in transitue through the city. Ills
amendment was adopted, and the bill was pass
ed. the representatives Of the 18th Ward alone
voting soidIy against it.
On the bill providing that the term OF officers
elected by the Council shall commence on the
lst of August and terminate on the 3lst OF
July, which was called up by Mr. Hopkins, MIR.
Wheat thought it would be better to let them
hold over until their successors were appointed,
The President said suppose their successors
are not appointed until September or ater,aDd
then said that the present law provided that
thew should hold over until their successors
were appointed. The bill was then withdrawn.
The President introduced resolution Tor the
cleansing of what is known as the Ian yard ditch,
drain running through the LIST and 4th Wards,
and what is known as Yates Garden to Hunt
ing Creek. 1t had heretofore been the yearly
habit of Council to make an appropriation TO
have it cleaned, but of late this had not been
done aud It's condition was now such that Its
stencil was almost uDbearable and when hot
weather came it would certainly breed disease
The resolution was adopted.
Mr.. Hopkins introduced the following reso-
luton:
Reso7red, That the Committee on Gas. be
and is hereby requested to inform Council
whether they allow their clerk an increase Of
salary over last year. if SO how much; also where
they receive their authority for so doing. ;,
Mr. II. said that if actuated by personal
feelings alone he would not offer the resolution
He did not blame Mr. Bryan for getting as
much as he could-he was an estimabe gentle
mau. but that had nothing to do with the sub.
iect. Where did the Committee on Gas get
their authority for increasing his salary. II
one committee of Council had power to appro-
nriate money why not all? Hence the enquiry.
and he hoped it would be made, The resolu-
ton was adopted nem con.
Mr.. Pinn proved that the Superintendent OF
Police have authority to repaid certain pumps,
especially that Que on MIR. Smoot' corner.
The President said he not ouly had authority,