The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-11-07
ATTACK MADE ON
SMALL POx BILLS

Chairman Masters of Common Coun-
Gil Tells the Joint Finance Commit
tee That DR.. Malaun's Claim of
$500 for Attending Thompson
Family Is Excessively High-Bill
Referred to Select Council-Mr.
Mannion Defeated in Attempt to
Gust Newspaper Men.
The Joint committee of councils last
night discussed with spirit the claim or
DR.. NJ. T.. Malaun for professional SER
vices in connection with the cases OF
smallpox in the Thompson family on
Hospital street several months ago.
The claim amounts to $500 for twenty
two days treatment. and for the pro-
cess of fumigating the premises. :.
Chairman Masters, of common cotln-
cil who leads the obstructionsts as 1t
were. attacked the bill on the ground
that IT was too high under the crcun-
stances. supported by Chairman Davis
ot select council. Mir. Masters claimed
that Dr. Malaun made but eight visits
to the Thompson home; that is. he saw
The other visits during the Siege ended
at the threshold of the house. where
inquiries were made az to the patients
progress. Under these circumstances.
,ontended My Masters. with the APP
prova and support OF Mr., Davis. the
physician should be satisfied with re-
munerat ion for eight visits, or $3.50.
An effort was made by My. Masters
TO have the committee recommend the
payment of Si6O but the motion was
defeated by thu members Of the COM
mittee on the other side. Mr.. Humph-
reg. who iS chairman: Mr.. Mannion
and Mr.. Thompson. These took the
position that Mayor O. Neill, who. in the
emergency Of the board of health being
out of business. engaged DR.. Malaun
al a fee Of so per day. should be suS-
tanned as he was hy the joint action of
councils. Finally the latter, being on
the majority, won out. and The claim
will he referred to select council for
final disposition.
Wouldn't Exclude Reporters.
A feature of the meeting. with Il wee
bit of spice attached thereto. was the
defeat of the attempt Of Mr.. Mannion
to have th" newspaper men excluded
from the meeting. Before the last
meeting. Mr.. MaIEion went on record
as saying that the press had no bust
ness to be represented at these COM
mttee meetings and that If he were
present he would move for their eN-
clusion. Last night he did make such
a motion. and the motion was being
considered when one of the newspaper
men entered the counc! chamber. Per-
II, tl,. ti,,, ,,ft VA
or of the press by the entrance of this
reporter that caused the vote on the
motion to be carried against Mr.. Nam
nion. Perhaps il wasn't. but at any
rate the motion was defeated by Il vote
of " to >. II was tie at first. Mr.. !
Mannion and Mr. Thompson. of COM
mon council. voted in favor of the
question, and Mr.. Masters and Mr.
Davis against Chairman Humphrey.
who had the deciding vote. leaned to
the side of the press. and east the de-
Gliding vote, which permitted their be- |
ing present at the deliberations.
One of the newspaper men expressed |
his Appreciation for the press, of the |
consideration of what he believed We're |
the rights of the newspaper men. He |
pointed out that ii was not q spirit of |
curiosity that brought the press rep |
resentatives there. merely the though. |
of duty in the interests OF publicity of |
the proceedings for the benefit of the |
public.
Even after the motion he made was
defeated and the committee showed by |
Its vote that ii recognized the rights |
of the newspaper meh to be present.
Mr Mannion made another short
speech about the rights of the commits
sion To hold secret session He en-
phasized the right the committee had
as committee of the whole
The position of the newspaper men
In this matter is that they have the
same rights at these committee meet
inss as are accorded the press in other
cities operating under the cities of the
tnird-rlass act. In Scranton before. the
'ripnel' change, no committee meet
Ing was denied thu press. and III the
'ripper" act 1t declares positively thar
committee meetings "mUsr" be opan
to the public. The legislature aimed to
Civ" due publicity Ia such sessions No
reputable newspaper would care to
publish any of The deliberations of
committees thar would compromise