The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-06-15
WILL IMPEACH THEM
DIR. w. f. BRUNNER's CHARGE
AGAINST COUNTY commissioners
BEFORE GOVERNOR GAMBLER
AS CULPABLE AND RESPONSIBLE
FOR SMALLPOX CONDITIONS.

This Action VIII De Taken by the
Health Officer as al Citizen, Unless
What He Considers Proper Meas
ures Are Taken at once for
the Suppression of the Disease
Within the County Beyond the
Jurdsdi ction of the City-Chairman
j. j. Dale is Held Chiefly Account
able by DIR. Brunner-COunty Com
xnissioners VIII Probably stand
Pat.
Chairman ]. J. Dale and the other
members Of the Board of County Com
missioners may be impeached. Impeach-
ment proceedings will be brought by DR..
W. f Drummer unless what he believes
are proper measures are taken for the
suppression of smallpox in the county be-
yond the city limits and beyond the ter
Titory within two miles of those limits.
The two-mile limits territory is now
under the supervision of the city author
titles, the county having refused to ac-
knowledge responsibility for cases Of
contagious disease within it, and having
passed up such cases to be attended by
Aiit NAlNs II dNNSilhGu NJ all hC matte
will soon find it's way into the courts,
and DR.. Drummer. health officer of the
city, has bill of rapidly increasing pro-
portions against the county for smallpox
patients that have been cared for at
the city pest house, and to whom he has
rendered professional services at charge
of 500 a case He will have to sue to
get it, having a precedent in which he
was the plaintiff. If the suit of the city
against the county to settle the question
of responsibility should go against the
county, DR.. Drummer will file his suit for
compensation for professional services.
"A representative of the Morning News
was told that it was part of the pro-
gramme in the smallpox controversy be-
tween the county authorities and DR..
Drummer for the latter to bring impeach-
ment proceedings against the County
Commiss ioners If the state OF affairs that
DR.. Drummer claims exists in the county
is not speedily corrected. DR.. Drummer
was asked if this report is correct He an
swered that it is. He said he will most
certainly impeach the commissioners I'M
less proper steps are taken 10 stamp out
and prevent the spread of the disease.
This, be said, he will do as citizen, not
as health officer or as secretary of the SEN
itary Board
Proceedings will be instituted before the
Governor. DR.. Drummer has found that
the County Commissioners are amenabe
TO the chief executive alone, or to the
Legislature, when in session. The MEM
bers of the board, besides Chairman Dale,
are Mr. A. Vetsburg, Mr.. A B. Moore,
Capt. Jacob Paulsen and Mr.. f. S.
Lathrop. DR.. Drummer, however. holds
Chairman Dale as chiefly responsible for
she alleged neglect of the situation. This
was shown by his published arraignment
of the commissioner, in which he recites
that practically nothing in the way of
intelligent action has been taken for the
suppression of smallpox within the coun-
try districts of the county.
If DR.. Drummer finds that his making
public the alleged condition of the county,
infected with smallpox, has not had the
desired effect of stirring the commission
ers TO some action he believes adequate
and impeachment is made, it will be the
first case on record for Chatham county.
The County Commissioners seemed con-
cope with the smallpox situation. If this
content is not disturbed by the publica-
ton of DR.. Brunner's intention, ii is safe
TO say that the impea chment proceedings
will be instituted.