The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-12-15
CARING FOR THE POOR
Takes Up SO Much of City Ply
stefan MitchelFs Time
That He Has Had to Have an
Assistant.
Councilman Decide That it is an IN
necessary Expense and That it is
the County Physicians BUSH
ness to Look After the
Poor.

The question of whether the city
physician shall be allowed a clerk or
not precipitated a fight in the council
last night that was more exciting than
anything that has occurred in several
months.
When Sanitary Officer Allen was
discharged several weeks ago the Ques-
ton of man to take his place on the
force came up and the council decided
to allow the city physician a clerk at
S25 per month instead of a regular
sanitary officer at $50.
There has been some dissatisfaction
since over the employment of the clerk
and an effort has been made to have
Mr.. Allen reinstated. To do 50 it was
necessary to dispose Of the assistant
to the city physician. Councilman
Stephenson brought up the matter last
night by introducing resolution to
dispense with the services OF the clerk
City Physician Mitchell was asked to
make a statement concerning the mat
ter He said. 1T is absolutely es-
sential TO the proper conduct OF my OF
hce that some one be in attendance all
the time Numerous telephone calls
are received daily which must be an
swereds the poor of the city
icine and treatment am COM
PEELED in the performance OF my
duties to be absent from the Office
nearly all the time. / regard it as en-
tirely inexpedient that the office should
be closed SO that the simple question
is viii you provide me with a clerk
who viii keep the Office open and DO
all the work of a man Tor so per
month"; or viii you require me to take
a man from the force and put MN
into the office at $50 per month, thus
still further reducing the Held force.
There is another consideration which
Nrrr1 NoEaGl
the custom of city physicians to carry
on a general practice so far as posi-
BILE, and I am doing SO, so Tar as my
time viii permit This clerk is help
full to me in my private practice 1
think it is nothing more than fair to
me that she should be permitted to re
main in the employment
Councilman StephensOn-Nr. Mayor,
the employment Of this lady in the city
physicians Office is against all prece-
dent is an unnecessary and Wasteful
spending of the taxpayers money. No
other city physician ever asked Tor
such assistance, no other one ever re-
ceived it, 1t is simply setting q prece-
dent that Will return to plague sue
ceeding administrations. The next city
physician may, and probably viii say,
Il need an assistant" and win en-
force his demand by citing the action
of this council in giving the city ply
sician a clerk I assure the council
that I have no other motive in offering
this resolution except to serve the in
tereSts of the people have no hos
tility to the doctor or the lady, but as
/ have said, Il regard the expense as an
unnecessary and Wasteful one. w hat
we are doing is increasing unneceSSar-
lily and ridiculOusly the medical de-
partment at the expense Of the sani-
tary department. Complaints are null
tiplying every day about the filthy con
ditiOn of our streets and alleys: moth
ing is being done but to care for the
sick and it is high time that the ener-
giles of the department were diverted
from the Office to the streets and al
leys.
Councilman Eluott-Doctor. who told
you to attend to all the sick in town?
Dr. MITCHELL don't know that there
has ever been any formal direction
from the mayor and council. but have
been repeatedly requested by the
mayor and various cOunclmen to give
services and to furnish medicine to de
Councilman EIliott-Where is our
county physician2 Why don't he take
care of the poor2 1t is his business to
do so.
DR.. Mitchell-Wen. I don't know any
thing about that, but L do know that
a large part of my time is given up to
attending the poor.
Councilman Skinner-In my opinion
this motion ought to prevail I have
been examining the statement Of ex-
penses of running this sanitary depart
ment for several years back. and I
find that they have been steadily in
creasing and L think it is time to call
a halt.
Councilman Drew-Nr. Skinner. You
have apparently forgotten to add to
the expenses of the sanitary depart
ment during the last administration the
S420 per annum which the city then
paid to the free dispensary for medi-
cines for the poor. That was always
carried as a separate item and is not
included in the figures which YOU have
examined. If you will add that to
the statement of the preceding years
you viii find that the expenses have
not increased.
Councilman Nettels-When the mayor
reported to the council that he had dis
pensed with the services of Mr.. Allen
and asked the advice of the council IN
/ respect to the employment of another
officer, the question of allowing the
force to remain at four men. and to give
to the city physician a clerk. as he had
frequently requested, was fully discuss
ed. and it was the almost unanimous
( opinion that the doctors request should
! be acceded to- and by formal resolution
/ the mayor was directed to make the EN-
! plOyment. The reasons for that action
] have lost none of their cOgency, but
have rather gathered strength since
that time Certain gentlemen here are
never SO happy as when playing the
! role of refOrmers. The gentleman from
Z The First ward who shares with the
/ gentleman from the Second ward the
] honor of leading all others in fidelity to
/ the interests of the taxpayers. seems to
/ have evolved a most mysterious and ex-
4 traordinary resentment against this la
1 dy; but the h0llOWness of mis- pretensa
/ that his opposition to her comes from a
/ desire to save money is uncovered BY
/ his admission that he viii if it is neces-
/ sary, vote to add another man to the
! force at salary Of $50 per month. 1t is
4 beyond cavn from the doctors state
ment Fhat the lady is performing the
/ work Of a man, and it would be absurd
! economy to dispense with her
Councilman Warner have heard q
| good deal throughout my life of the old
\ saw of Penny wise and Pound foolish. r