Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-12-10
RESPONSIBILITIES OF CITES.

The typhoid epidemic at Butler. Pa.
4 where more than 1900 cases have de.
veloped, is attracting much scientifi,
/ and general interest. The city is help.
| less under the scourge and larger de
i pendent upon outside assistance. Many
! deaths have occurred and of the army
! of sick, many more are certain to suc-
| cumb. The horror of city laid by the
| heels and helpless in the grasp of q
| virulent disease is of itself sufficient
TO attract wide attention and arouse
comment and Investigation.
One of the questions brought up by
| the Butler epidemic Is the responsible
| itv OF the corporate city to its indi-
viGral residents. Buffers water supply
Is drained into a central stream from
tie tributaries of a comparatively ex-
tsnsive watershed. It is charged that
the municipal authorities turned into
the pueiie water supply water which
was known 10 be contaminated. That
the city proper should be held respon-
sible in money damages to individuals
who have acquired infection from con-
tanlinatet water thus supplied, is ar
gued by the Independent which says:
Cities undertake the duty of sup
plying water to their Inhabitants or the
municipal authorities grant franchise
for this purpose to some private cor
poration. In either case 1t seems very
clear that IL water is provided con-
tanning the germs OF disease when by
the exercise of due care and vigilance
this danger could be avoided an action
in damages should lie against the city
itself, or the holders of the franchise.
The municipality or corporation thru
whose neglect of such safeguards as
are well recognized to be necessary for
the protection of drinking water from
contamination by disease germs citi-
zens are subjected to the danger Of loss
of life. or Of precious time with the
worry and emotional strain incident to
long illness, cannot shirk Its civil re-
sponsibility any longer. A great change
has in recent years come over the state
of public feeling with regard to the
assessment OF damages for bodily and
mental suffering inflicted by the negli-
gence of corporations and their en-
ployes. The principles of law that have
been developed as consequence Of this
feeling must hold with its consequent |
suffering, thru any Of the great public
as the water or milk supply |
Of large cities
That city official who knowingly |
admits the contamination of disease |
INTO the public water supply should |
be severely punished, none will deny.
To make the city liable for money dam
age in each particular case of infection,
a horse of somewhat different color.
IN cases like the one under consider
ltion, 1t Is manifestly impossible that
he city of Butler could hope to pay
he damages which might be assessed
against 1t by juries swayed in their
judgment by popular clamor or thru
sickness in their own families. Minor
.pidemics would open gate to endless
litigation, some Instituted In sincerity,
,ut much in the spirit of graft. 1t
would offer an opportunity to every
ihyster whose business is barratry and
whose income is contingent upon con-
ingent fees. The conviction of officials
# criminal carelessness or on more
erious charge If possible, in cases liks,
he,on at Butler is public duty If
he charges are well founded but to
pen the courts to flood of litigation
UGH as the recommendation OF the
would let loose if adopted,
.ppears radically unwise.