The Saint Paul globe., 1903-09-04
OHAGE REBUKFS
THE ASSEMBL YMEN
Accuses Them of Hamperlng
Health Department by Hold
ing Up Bills.

Health Commissioner Ohage had the
temerity last night to rebuke the as
sembly
His letter, in answer to a request to
attend the meeting and explain several
bills which he desired to pay, with a
transfer of $4,000 from the general to
the quarantine fund, was couched in
diplomatic language, but it stirred up
his opponents. 1t was addressed to the
city clerk and read as follows:
Il have received your communlca-
ton of Sept. 1, in which you "a tify me
that my request for the setting aside
of $4,000 for the quarantine fund was
held up by the committee on streets
of the assembly, and that l was also
ordered by said committee to appear
before them and explain in regard to
these expenditures.
Some of the members of the COM
mittee on streets are probably una
ware that 1 have the right to eXpend
any amount of money whichT1, in good
Judgment, should deem necessary for
the public health, and that these bills
must be paid. They should further
know that the department of health Is
managed as economically as it's eff
cheney allows.
The repeated holding up of such
bills probably is to convey to the pub
lie at large the impression of scrutiniz-
ing economy, while in reality 1T has the
opposite effect. If creditors Of the city
have to wait six or eight months be-
fore they get their money, they will
not supply the city as cheaply as if
they were promptly paid. IT, instead
of holding up bills and hampering the
work of the health department con-
tinually, these gentlemen had taken
the pains and had gone to the comp
troller's Office, where every bill is item
lied and on file, they would have gain
ed all the desired information, instead
of placing this department in a posi-
ton to do its work inemciently and
less economically"
Assembly Wheeler was the first to
receive recognition from the chair.
Resents the Letter.
That's a nice letter, isn't it?" said
Mr. Wheeler, his voice rising.
while | never questioned DR..
Ohages honesty or integrity" contin-
ued Mr.. Wheeler, ''yet 1 think I have
a right to know what am asked to
vote for. Seems to me it would not be
beneath the dignity of DR.. Ohage, who
is paid by the public, to come before
this body, which is not paid for its
work, and explain. 1t would not hurt
him." -
You get a salary. don't you? What
QO YOU w Will SOQI 5000 d 4lAO4iSh
interrupted Assemblyman Schurmeier.
1--WE have a right to know about
these bills" said Assemblyman Arnold.
"Some of them do not look right to
me-"
ooh, as long as they are outside of
London what do you care, ,hslaughingly
interrupted Assemblyman Doran,
Assemblyman Arnold took no notice
of theslaugh that -efollowed,z but con-
H. A
torney Michael asked him what au-
thority DR.. aOhage had to incur bills
without the councils sanction.
''Well, for your information" an
swered Mr.. Michael, 81 will say his au-
thority is practically unlimited. In
case of an epidemic or q threatened
one his license is unbounded. The
charter practically gives him free
hand. OF course, his expenditures
must be within reason, but the charter
has placed no check on him."
Give him the money he wants. He
would not ask for it if it was not need
ed" said Assemblyman Haas. 81 move
that the transfer Of $4,000 to the quar-
antine fund be approved
Whitconb Speaks for Ohaae.
eyes, he needs it," said Assembly
man Whitcomb, the next to catch the
knew little more about smallpox and
the cases st. Paul has had, you would
not fight the DOCTOR. It takes money to
fight that disease. You were told that
st. Paul. did not have an epidemic of
the disease last Spring, but it was so
close to an epidemic there was no joke
about it," 80 F..3
Assemblyman Arnold insisted that
the matter be sent back to the streets
committee until the information de-
sired was secured, and Assemblyman
Haas was as equally insistent that the
transfer of the money be approved.
Comptroller Betz, who was present,
tried to explain that the bills and
transfer were all right, but his ex-
planation was of no avail, and the doc
tors request was lost by tie vote.
Assemblymen Arnold, Wheeler, Rosen
and President Schiffmann voted in the
negative. and Assemblymen Haas, Dor
an, Whiteomb and Sehurmeier in the
affirmative.
Seeing that nothing could be done,
Dr. Ohage's friends finally agreed to let
the matter go to the committee on
streets.
DR.. Ohage's request for money for
his quarantine fund was received sew
eraI weeks ago and Immediately sent
by the assembly to its committee on
streets. The members of that body re-
fused to act and asked that DIR. Ohage