Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-03-01
VACCINATION DEAD.
Board of Nd ucatiOn Voted 1t Down at
 MeetinG Last NiSht.

AoC UT UuslueSS. A full board was on hand and Mayor Elton presided. Starting off, the life was knocked out of the vaccination rule and it is no longer compulsory for children to be vaccinated in order to attend the pub lie schools of Waterbury. This matter was Commissioner Woosters. It was to repeal that rule that he was elected to the board and it was the first thing he undertook after the organization of the board on the first Tuesday in Jan ua1y. But for various reasons the board was not able to get to 1t until last evening. The rule also provided Ethat all officials and employees of the school should be vaccinated. Speak ing on the motion to repeal the rule, Commissioner Wooster said he had very little to say. Nevertheless he made quite a speech. He said Ill part that it was no longer necessary to be vaccinated to become immune from smallpox; that medical authorities Of the first caliber disagree on the alleged merits of vaccination as preventative of that disease. And he knew in his own immediate circle Of friends young man who has not recovered from the effects of vaccina- ton and who must see a physician every week or so, and yet before he was vaccinated he did not know what illness was.
 l It was necessary to take two votes on the motion to repeal the rule, the nrst having been considered doubtful, as only two voices were heard for 1t. Wooster and Phelan; but on the sec oHd vote Commissioners Wooster, Phe- Ian, Lawlor and Mcdonald voted for 1t and Commissioners Chapman, Gr1ggs and Larkin against 1t. Thus was the rule making vaccination com- pulsory among the pupils and employees of the schools killed.
 Elmer A. DooIittle was appointed school carpenter at $3 day, and when necessary he shall be allowed to en- gage another carpenter. The position of school painter was created and Will liam A. Hebert Of Grove street was appointed to it at a rate of $2.50 a day. In reply to Mayor Elton. Comn1is- sioner Larkin said 1t would take the painter about two years to go over the schools, and Commissioners Mcdonald and Phelan asked him if they would have no use for the painter after that time.
 It was decided to buy no fire extin- guishers for the present.
 All of the above was brought before the board by Commissioner Griggs as chairman of the committee on school houses and hygiene. And he further brought up the matter of installing private telephone system for the schools. He considered, it would be economy. He talked the matter over with Superintendent Sperry of the local telephone system and the idea was to install switchboard in the high school office which could be taken care of by either of Superintendent -nker's clerks The city now pays $6O0 year for eighteen telephones, and 1t has not the best of service at that. The telephone company would install switchboard, and also install more telephones at BIO each. Com missioner Griggs figured up saving of $120 a year, besides better service and more telephones, and the aaa1- tional work thus thrown upon the em- ployes of the superintendent's office Of Commissioner Chapman 1t was voted to allow the committee to go ahead with the idea
 Commissioner PI4elan brought up the question of storm flags for all the schools and to have them large enough SO that one could see the colors at least. It was voted to purchase storm flags and to fly flag from every school building every school day. storm tags are only smaller than the fair weather flags. In that respect only do they differ.
 Commissioner Chapman revived his motion made month ago to discon- tinue the name of Crosby Grammar school and to name the high school the Crosby High school. This matter was v>,,y.nxros 0e opd t.na- lan's idea to have the proposed school on Elm street called Croft school was approved. Mayor Elton suggested to Commissioner Phelan that 1t be called the Margaret Croft school, which was received by Commissioner Phelan, and 1t was voted to call the new build- ing by that name. When completed it will absorb the present Crosby Grammar school.
 Name plates will be placed over the doors of the main entrances of the above named schools.
 A bill from John w. Burns for $1OO salary as treasurer of the sinking fund may be the means of wiping that of flee out of existence. The bill seemed to excite surprise, and 1t was ex- fin the incubator the consolidators over- looked the treasurer of the school sinking fund, or rather the office. Commissioner Griggs re- laerked that 1t would be well to get the opinion of the city attorney on the bill and oQ the office as it may turn out that it may go to the treasurer's heirs.
 It was voted to have the Mill Plain school district build a school house on the site of the present school, if no better one can be procured. There was discussion regarding the school situation on Bucks Hill, but no def mite action was taken, after which the board approved the bills and pay rolls and then adjourned.