The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-04-19
B. H.LEVY & BRO.

had been found in that district only
short time before. The work was begun
before the Mayors proclamation, allow
ing six days of grace, was Issued his
directions to the physicians were to vac
climate everybody who had not been vac
cinated. and to take the mark OF Vaccln-
alton only as evidence There might have
been a stretch of authority in TINS ne
said, but in emergencies of this kind 1t
was not well TO stick too close to the let
ter of The law. He had hoped that busl-
ness men and others, understanding the
81 ate of affairs, would not throw any OBJ
staces in the way of the work. knowing
Mr.. Krensou well, he said he supposed
that perhaps he was hungry at the time
or he may have been rushed with Dusl-
ness, else he would not have taken the
visit of the city physicians so i'll. Had he
Just had a good dinner he was
satisfied he would have acted off
ferently. 1t was true, he said, that Ut.
Levi did not have a nice way OF express
ing himself but he was moi a formidable
looking man and he was satisfied that he
had no intention Of giving onense Ut.
Levi had been under his supervision for
seven months he said, had discharged his
duties fairly wen ana had always shown a
willingness TO do everything he was
ordered to do. He was acting under his
orders and instructions at the time. lie
did not think Mr.. Krenson would have
lost any dignity by barring his arm to DIR.
Levi.
In reply to a question by Mr.. Clay, DR..
Drummer said that he was acting at the
time under the general law providing Tor
compulsory vaccination. In such cases
health authorities could not afford 10 be
guided simply by the letter of the law.
BY Interpreting the law freely in carry
ing out the vaccination wo'k fully 5000
dino tod nv 81
private physicians, of which number 90
OO0 were primary vaccinations. In sup
port of the position he had taken in the
matter Dr. Drummer said that smallpox
prevailed in forty-fiYe states of the Union
and hardly town of 5000 inhabitants or
more had escaped. In the neighborng
city of Brunsw wick there had been ever 800
cases Had Savannah, with a population
eight times that of Brunswick, suffered in
proportion there would have been a direful
state of affairs. BY the prompt ana
thorough manner in which the work Of
vaccination had been carried on such
state of affairs is now impossible.
Mr. Clay said that he had not intended
to discuss the case, but he thought DR..
Rrunncr's statement called for some COM
ment. He took issue rather strongly with
DR. Rrunner as to his position on the law.
and asserted that no official had right
TO put free Interpretation upon the law,
no matter what the occasion. Ii should
be the duty of every official, he said, 10
know the authority conferred upon him
by law and the rights and duties of the
citizens. and that he had no right 20 go
beyond the law After the statement made
by Dr. Drummer, he said, 1t was plain
that DR.. Drummer and DR.. Levi were both
wrong He contended that DR.. Lewis ac-
zion in refusing 40 accept Mr.. Krenson
word, or TO recognize the Mayors proc-
"a a 1T ,1fr In M
bragg which he had taken, and that II
was only surprising that he had not re-
sorted to more extreme measures.
The Council seemed somewhat at loss
what action to take in the matter. Mayor
Myers said he was satisfied that no dis
courtesy had been intended by Dr. Levi
He was not fluent IN expression and his
manner might have Seemed abrupt, but 4ie
was only carrying out orders. The steps
taken by the city authorities We're rem
dered necessary he said, by the grave
danger which threatened.
Alderman Doyle inquired II Council
could not reach its decision in private.
This did not meet with favor, however,
and a resolution by Alderman Thomas to
the effect that Council regretted that Ia
the discharge of his duties, under the in
struction of his superior officer, DR.. Levi
allowed his zeal to carry him beyond his
legal rights There was some discussion
as 10 whether the phrase, legal rights
exactly expressed the idea intended. The
resolution was. however. adopted prac-
tcally as offered, the wording being as
follows:
Resolved, That having heard the evil
dence in the complaint OF Mr.. w. d.
Krenson against DR.. Levi for rudeness in
demanding visible evidence of vaccination,
Council regrets that in the dis
charge of what he understood 10 be
his duty, under the instruc-
tons of his superior officer, DR. Levi all
lowed his zeal to carry him beyond his
legal rights"
This concluded the matter. and after re-
fusing 60 hear Mr.. Saussy argue the Nc
lntyre case, Council adjourned.