St. Paul daily globe., 1888-02-10
NO SPECIFIC CHARGES.
So the SMALLPOX Committee is at
Somewhat of Loss.

So the SMALLPOX Committee is at
Somewhat of a Loss.
The committee recently appointed by
the city council to investigate the al
legged carelesSneSs on the part of Health
Officer Kilvington in removing the
smallpox patient, John Ryan, from the
Chicago house to the pest house, met at
the city hall yesterday afternoon. Aid.
Gibson, of the committee on health and
hospitals, and Aid. Cooley, of the board
of health, were also present, while
Thomas ii. Lucas represented the
Trades and Labor assembly. There was
d deep silence when the meeting was
called to order, broken only when Aid.
Cooley wanted to know if there were
amy specific charges. If there were
none he could not see, he said, what the
committee was to investigate. Chair
man McArdle did not think there was
any need of specific charges, but Aid.
Clark and johnson did. 1t was expected
that Mr.. Lucas would make charges,
but he did not, saying he knew nothing
OF the matter except by hearSay. He
did not much like the idea of the COM
mittee not investigating the 'chargeS,"
but did not appear TO realize that no
charges had been made. 1t was the
duty of the committee to investigate, he
continued. and then he went on to tell
what he knew about legislative bodies.
Aid. Cooley stated that the board of
health was perfectly satisfied with the
action taken by DR.. Kilvington in re-
gard TO the matter. DR.. Gibson, who
was present when Ryan was taken
from The Chicago house and sent to the
pest house, gave an account OF how
Ryan was taken out, showing that it
was done in the best possible manner.
He said that he had started out to the
pest house with Ryan, but while he
went to drug store for some medicine
the man driving the patient had taken
another road from the one he should
have taken. suppose" he continued,
THAT the men who are making this kick
would have taken Ryan out in hack,
which would have been impossible"
That's just what should have been
done" said Chairman McArdle, as Lucas
nodded his head. ut seems to me that
the city should have a covered rig on
purpose to take men out to the hospital.
L think that competent physician
should have accompanied Ryan out, in
order to see that he arrived safely.'
An animated discussion followed in
regard to the man who drove Ryan out,
Mr.. Lucas holding that he was bad
character known as whisky Jack"
and that he was under the influence of
liquor at the time. This DR.. Gibson de-
MED, saying he had seen the man when
he started and when he returned, and
he was not drunk then. Aid. Clark,
Cooley and johnson wanted to know
what they were to investigate, as they
did not propose to begin at the bottom
and build up, without having any fOun-
datiOn to build on. This aroused Mr..
Lucas, and once more he hurled an ava
lanche of words at the committee and
telling what congressional committee
would have done under similar circum-
stances.
Il am sure" said he, "that if all these
stories had been told about me, should
not only want an investigation, but
should demand one, and thorough one,
too.'
1t was finally decided to adjourn until
2 O'Clock this afternoon, when all who
know anything in regard to the matter
arc expected to be present and tell just
what they know. This action again
brought Mr.. Lucas to his feet, and lock-
ing scOrnfully at the committee he said;
"A fine investigating committee you
are, when you don't investigate. Well,
sir. shall report your action to the
trades and labor assembly, and let them
see what they think of your conduct in
this matter. We shall see." With this
he left the room with his trusty lieuten-
ant, and as the two went down in the
elevator Mr.. Lucas remarked to DR..
Gibson, who was present:
You can't get us up there and make
| fools of us labOring men that way. Ne,
| sir. This is just a whiteWaShing
scheme and YOU know it, tOO''