Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-07-10

"
be sincere and anxious, but Is lacking
in energy and grasp Of the situation
while Council is Indifferent, hostile, &c
centric and incompetent, but IS, per
haps, no more so in this matter than IN
others.
The health situation occupied large
share of the attention of the Second
Branch, last night.
CITY Solicitor Boyce submitted an
opinion upon the claim of the Health
Officer for extra compensation to the
amount Of $3.50 for attending smallpox
patients. He quoted Sec. S of the ordl-
nance. giving the Health Officer power
to employ a physician, and then set
forth the fact that the Health Ofhcer
did not employ another physician, but
attended to the patients himself. Inc
Solicitor said there was no doubt put
that all necessary expenses incurred IN
the treatment of the cases should be
Daid by the city, and if any other physl-
clan was employed, his fees should also
he paid. 1t was a fact, however, that
the Health Officer had employed no one
else. and this being so, the Solicitor
thought the claim should be disalloWed,
under Sec. 10 of the health law.
Mr.. Hamilton said the Health Oihcer
had not only been employed by the
Health Committee, but his compensa-
lion had been fixed by that body, and
DIR. TAYLOR made a further explanation
of the situation, demonstrating that II
another physician had been employed,
his bill would probably have been $40
~, 500 a day. whereas the Health Oil
GER had agreed to do the work for So
and had been told to go ahead. lie
also pointed out that the patients were
NOT citizens of Wheeling, and that the
citv had a claim of about $3.50 pending
against the general government, IN Jhe
very same cases. If the city Health
officer was to treat all strangers free,
there would probably be no lack OF
natients. There was a good deal Oh
talk over the matter, during when
motion to refer to the Health Commit
toe was lost. A motion to endorse the
Solicitors opinion was then made
when Mr.. Hamilton asked if that meant
not to nav the Health Officers Dill. lie
was told that was the situation Wheh
he asked what predicament the CITY
would be in if the Health Officer went
to law. and the Health committee
came into Court and swore IL auJhCr-
lied the Health officer to proceed at
the rate of S. a visit. On roll call, MT.
Habne said he would vote yes and sus-
tain the Solicitor. "And / shall vote
NO and sustain the Committee,
said Mr.. Hamilton. When Mr..
Warehouses; name was called he
said. Il want to vote to pay the blll;
how shall vote?" QaughterJ lie
voted no. The motion to sustain the
Solicitor. which means the bill Is not
IN he Daid without a law suit, was
adopted, ayes 9, noes 8.
The Committee on Health submitted
an ordinance amending section or the
Health Ordinance so as to authorize
the immediate removal of all smallpox
patients to the city pest house. Accom-
panying it was a note from the Solicit
or saving the section as amended was
in conflict with section 19.
Mr.. Hamilton moved to refer the mat
ter to the Ordinance Committee, and IN
the course Of his remarks said that be-
fore the session of Council he had seen
a former smallpox patient at police
headquarters, asking for food, and
short time ago a person from inside the
quarantine limits had also been at the
City Hall.
Mr.. Hahne said he had seen the per-
son at the police headquarters last
night. and to him it looked as though
the Health officer was not attending
to his business.
motion by Mr.. Waterhouse to refer
the matter to the Committee on Ordl-
nances and the Solicitor, brought forth
the enquiry from Or. Stathers: What
will become of the disease and patients
in the meantime?" The Doctor said the
situation called for prompt action on
the part of the city and warned the
Come il against the danger of delay.
The matter was sent 10 the Solicitor
TO be fixed up, and later 1t came up
oqain when MIR. Wills asked if Sec.
was enforced, if it would not NIL the
hill. This section calls for quarantine
of each house placing Of a flag, etc
In reply to this. DR.. TAYLOR saId IL
would be a help If 1t could be surety
enforced. but it could not be.
MIR. Potter did not approve Of the COM
DnIsorv. removal Of patients and said
no member Of his family should be re-
moved to any such pest house as they
maintained about here.
Dr Stathers said 1t looked like a
hardship to carry out the proposed or
dinance. but it was for the public good,
and its moral effect would be good.
Not over one-half the people Of the city
had been vaccinated, and there were a
good many who would not mind hav-
p. ~ sraIl-nox if the city had to