The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-08-04
WOULD NOT TAKE 1T.
DR.. Dykes Explains the Position Of
the Board Of Health.
DID NOT MEAN TO USB THE $4,000
Unless an Immediate Necessity tx
listed for ft ny tlEe Presence or ChOA-
era IA Tails COunfry.

The following communication is re-
ceived from DR.. Dykes. secretary OF the
state board of health:
To the Editor Of the state Journal
SIR-The opposition newspapers Of
this state and of Kansas City have been
n-,king much in recent issues about
what they character4ze as steal by the
state board Of health, Of the sum Of So
0Jl "a order tIal the public may know
TIE exact truth If the matter, 1 shall give
a full rel ort OF the entire prOce edlngs
Or the Both day Of June. 1894, l pre-
sented To The executive council the fol-
lowing petition:
TOPEKA, Kas., June 1. 1894
'sTo the Honorable Executive Council:
10 ESrLEMEN-Th mem bers Of the
Kansas State Board Of Health in execu-
tive session assembled. hereby recon-
mend aud request that your honorable
body will act IN harmony with our secre-
tary, II. A. Dy <es, in case he deems It
wise and proper at any time to expend
any part Of the unexpended cholera ap-
preparation for the prevention OF cholera
or other contagious or infectious dis
eases.
lowing to the epidemic of smallpox at
Atchi5On and tile prevalence of scarlet
fever in various localities, we hereby
recOmm end thai, a certain amount OF the
special cholera prOpriatIOn (the amount
to he estimated ~ the secretary be used
for paving expenses of the board, in
bringing our towns and cities under bet
ter sanitary conditions. In case the sec
rotary feels at any time, that our state Is
threatened with an invasion of cholera,
the state board prAys that your honorable
body Will heed his advice and act in har-
mOuy herewith.
.It is further recommended that every
county IT'D the state be visited by a mem
Der Of the board. or the secretary, be-
ieVinQ this to be- the best way to arouse
10. Int..4I hpar11 of hnHffh ~ rho r.re,r,ar
sense Of their duty. For this purpose
the board expended $1,000 last year
without any criticism from the intelligent
class Of people, who are Interested in the
general health Of our commonwealth.
lowing to the fact, that Dr. Dykes, is
called upon to investigate epidemics at
various places, we recommend that lie
be allowed a clerk in his Office from
the first day Of July. till the last
day of November of this year, to be paid
from the special cholera appropriation.
"1Ours respectfully, j. p Stewart
president; Tnos J. Kirk, Jr.. J. w. J en-
ney, H. w. Rohy, +. Swartz, P. D4ugh-
erty. A J. Anderson.
And to support the petition l present
ed, the following evidence of the threat
ened approach Of cholera and other in
fectiOus diseases. the following cases of
cholera have been reported to my Office
w the supervising surgeon Of the Marine
hospital service:
Washington, D c.. May Is, 1894
Russia, 4, 7O6 cases and 1.515 deaths: Iur-
key. 2.43g cases and ], 391 deaths; Austria,
60 Cases and 173 deaths; Belgium, 13I
Cases and 40 deaths; France. 135 cases
and ~ deaths; Germ any, q cases and III
deaths; Portugal. pa Cases."
On the said Both day of June the exec
utlve council made tile following order:
"ResOlved. That the executive council
gives their consent to the secretary of the
b ard "a health to use what money out
of the unexpended cholera appropria-
ton, that in his judgment may be neces-
sary. This we DO by request Of the state
board Of heal:h, knowing that it is ia
their province to be posted in such mat
ters. We also consent to the secretary Of
the board EN- ploying a clerk in his Office
as recommended by the said board.
Nv. II. Biddle, Ii. n. Gaines, r S
Osborne, Van B Prather"
Governor LewelIing and Attorney Cen
eral Little not being present when this
order Of the council was made
On the 2lst day Of July thereafter, the
council at special meeting, requested
the secretary OF state TO instruct he sec
retary Of the board Of health not to con-
tract any Jude Dtedness or authorizes any
expenditure from SAID fund until further
notified by the executive council, and to
appear before said council on the 9th of
July next. On the following 9th Of July
the cOuncil met and the following pro-
ceedings we're had. The board of health
was Represented by the following named
gentlemen: Dr.. Stewart, president of the
state board Of health, DR.. Swartz DR.. An
dersOn and Dr. Dykes
Van b. Prather introduced the follow
ing resolution: ~Resolved that the exc
cutlve council reaifirm their action in
regard % the cholera appropriation fund
as passed June 5Oth, 1894, by said coun-
Gil"
The governor called for the yeas and
nays with the following result: l. d.
Lewelling, no; John I. Little, yes; H. n
Gaines yes; r. :. Osborn, yes; Van b.
Prather, yes; w. II. Biddie. no.
Mr. BIddle gave reason for voting
no, that in his judgment from the state
ments Of the board Of health does not
warrant any expenditure. The govern
or desires 10 enter his protest against
passing the resolution. lie was Of the
opinion that no part Of the fluid could
be expended unless cholera was report
Cd ia the United States, as it was last
year did not ask for expenditure Of
the $sOOO, but as the petition says. in
case the secretary Of the board Of health
feels at any time, that our state il threat
enei with an Invasion Of the cholera
The use Of the fund was not contemplate
ed by the board Of health, unless in case
OF necessity, aud then only such sum as
the necessity Of the case demanded.
he executive council took it for
granted that the board Of health was an
honorable body. and except in case of
necessity, would not make out an esti-
mate and furnish it to the council for al
lOwance. Not a dollar Of this money can
be expended, unless an estimate is made
out aud presented to the council for al
lowance. and II IN the judgment OF the
said council, any portion of the fund
shall hn ~ md 1f