Waterbury Democrat., 1902-04-05
STRUGGLING WITH BILLS.
Board of Finance Had Very
 Busy Morning.

Health Officer kilmartin's Bill Held Up for Present, Also Bills From Burrall x Co and Rice x Mackie-
 Members of Board Trying to Find a
 Way to Meet All the. Smallpox Bills City Attorney Kellogg Was Pres
 ents and Says All Bills Contracted Must Be Paid
 The board of finance held an adj iourned meeting at 0 clock this morn 1 inc and indulged i'll q long chat about smallpox and big bills. Mayor hilduff presided and all the members were present.
 All the bills presented were ap- proved with the exception or the health officers. Rice < Mackies and two from J. M. Burrall < Co.
 There was a long debate on Health Officer Kilmartin's bill of $1,0O4 for thirty-three days service. All agreed that the health officer is performing excellent work and that he should re- ceiye good compensation for his ser vices, but the opinion seemed to be general that his fees were excessive. MT Goss said he should be pleased 10 vote to give Dr Kilmartin SlOO a week for his services during this epidemic. and such assistance as he needs. Of course,'' said the commissioner, there are two way of looking at this matter. pr Kilmartin nas to lose all his prac- tice while this is going on and when it is over he will have to begin anew, but it should be borne in mind that the experience he will gain during this epidemic will be valuable asset. In other places such service is<Tet out by contract and municipalities find no trouble in securing excellent service at reasonable prices~ Physicians ana nurses are anxious to do that class of work for the prestige it gives them. 1 think Dr Kilmartin has done re- markedly well from a professional standpoint but 1 am not prepared to sign his bill as it now stands. It is unreasonable for him to ask dollar each for vaccinations while they are doing it for fifteen and twenty cents in other places"
 Chairman Lawlor of the board of health was asked to throw some light on the matter, but he said that all he pretended to know anything about was the supplies. These bills were considered reasonable and when they came before the board Mir Goss said that the management of the health board in this respect was fit subject for commendation.
 Mayor KiIduff said he was not pre- pared to sign Dr Kilmartin's bill and suggested that he be paid $500 on ac- count. Mir McEyoy wanted to pay him $500 now and let the matter be strengthened out later. The former sum was agreed upon. It. was then voted to appoint a committee consist ing of Mayor Kilduff, Comptroller Russell and Commissioner Lord to confer with the board of health relative to smallpox expenses, with the understanding that the profession al service be awarded by contract. It was also voted, on motion of Mir Me Evoy, that owing to the smallpox epi- demic that the board of public safety be requested to defer action regarding the erection of a new engine house ill the Brooklyn district.
 Commissioner Lord talked at some length upon bills of W. E. Thoms for office furnishings and expenses for moving from one place to another. Two of them were for expenses in- cured ill moving safes. amounting to about $40. These were ordered paid. Three, one to Rice & Mackie of $3913 for repairs in the collectors new of flee in the city hall building, and two to J. NJ. Burrall amounting to about $23, were laid on the table, the for mer until MT Thoms submits the form blank of his insurance of office furni- ture so that the board may see how much there is in his office belonging to the city.
 During the discussion much was said regarding reuGisitions and judg- ing by the remarks of the mayor and other members of the board, the man who buys anything on behalf of the city from this time forward without a requiSition from the comptroller will pay for it out of his own pocket.
 City Attorney Kellogg was present and advised the board that no matter whether the health appropriation was exceeded or not, the bills contracted during this epidemic would have to be met according as they became due. MT Kellogg was requested to reduce this opinion to writing and that the same be made a part of the minutes of the meeting.