The times., 1899-04-28
DAMAGES FOR D1s1NFEcT1or.
The District Compromises With Mrs.
william II. sIye for $40.

Some time ago the agents of the Health
Department visited the home of Mrs. WIZ
liam H. Slye, at 142 Street northeast,
where Ida Mcpherson, colored cook, had
been found suffering with smallpox and
began to disinfect the premises The
dwelling, which was used as a boarding
house, was quarantined and continued in
that state from the early part of Febru-
ary until the midnight OF March g. Mrs
Slye now claims that her furniture was
damaged during the dsnfecting opera
tions, that she was inconvenienced by be-
ing quarantined, and that her boarders
refused TO pay for gas which they were
forced to use for cooking purposes while
they were quarantined.
She asked the District to reimburse her
to the extent OF $50. The Health Depart
ment recommended that only IS be allowed
but the claimant persisted with the result
that the Commissioners offered TO compro-
mise the matter by paying her $40. An
important precedent was thereby estab-
iished inasmuch as other quarantined per-
sons may submit claims to the Health
Office.
The Health Department has been con-
sderng the claim of Mrs. Slye for some
time A medical inspector was dispatched
to the boarding house to ascertain the
extent of the alleged damage. He re-
ported that several articles of clothing
had been damaged 10 the extent OF S. and
that an oak hallrack. valued at $l2 had
been damaged 10 the extent of having its
varnish destroyed, but could probably be
repaired for So.
Mrs Slye informed the Commissioners
that table cloths, napkins towels and lace
curtains had been destroyed because they
had been rotted so badly as result of
soaking in corrosive su6finate solution
that they were no longer useful. The
damaged carpet was valued by her at S21.
After a thorough examination the Health
Department placed the actual damage at
S13, while Mrs. Slye fixed 1t at $50. She
said this amount would not cover the
entire damage.
One of the inspectors of the Health De-
partment expressed himself as follows re-
garding the trouble: AT the request OF
the Health Officer ! called on Mrs. Slye
and endeavored to find out what amount
of money she would accept in settlement
OF her claim. She would not name figure
but held that as the Health Department
had established the quarantine it was re-
sponsible and should reimburse her for
all losses resulting therefrom, including
the destruction of her business, the injury
done her carpets and furniture while con-
stantly in use by her eight boarders. who
occupied the second and third floors, also
gas bill OF $25 caused by her boarders
using gas Tor COOKING, ana lor Whlcn ihey
refused to pay, all of which claims are
evidently unfounded, as the establishment
of the quarantine was not an arbitrary
act OF the Health Department, but was
done in accordance with an act of Con-
gress."
The question was referred to Attorney
S. T. Thomas, who ruled that the principle
by which municipal corporations are re-
lieved of responsibility for property de-
! s,royed TO prevent the spread of fire ap-
piled TO the case in question. He held
that the disinfection Of houses from which
! persons suffering from infectious diseases
have been removed, does not render NUM-
| cipal corporations liable in damages at
common law unless it is done carelessly,
and In such manner as to result in unnec-
essary damage. After futile attempt
TO induce Mrs Slye accept s. the Com
missioners agreed upon the recommenda-
ton of Commissioner Wight TO pay her $50.