The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-03-22
DIT. Crumbine Will Secure Vital
Statistics or Know Why.
Sends Out a Warning to County
Assessors.
THEY ARE CARELESS.
Neglect or Refuse TO Make Up
Reports.
Law Requires That They Shall
Perform These Duties.


DIR. S. ]. Crumbino Is sending out
notices today to The county commits
Eioners of each county In the state, notl-
flying them that they are forbidden by
law from paying the salaries of asses
Bors until the assessors have compiled
with the law requiring them to send In
vital statistics concerning the popula-
ton Of the state. This means the facts
and figures about Births deaths, mar
riages. etc.
DR.. Crumbiue aIso encloses an opinion
from Attorney General Coleman that
such a law Is mandatory. and thatevery
county in the state must comply.
There has In the past been much diff
Guilty "a getting this class Of statistics.
Many Of the ag5egBoEs refuse to carry the
books which the law specifies, and some
are careless ia making their returns. DR..
Crumbiue's letter and Mr.. Coleman's
opinion says:
81 desire to call your attention to the
performance Of certain duties imposed
upon assessors, as provided in section
$685. Of the general statutes Of 1901 This
board has had considerable trouble in
getting complete returns from asses
gors IN compliance with this section OF
the law. An opinion Of the attorney
general was asked concerning this mat
ter, and the following reply received
II beg leave to say that the duties
prescribed by said section are man
+ datorv and the assessor has no more
right to say that he win not perform
those duties G1an that he viii not per
form any other duties imposed By the
etafuts upon his office. He might with
lust az much reason refuse to list Ger
tain kinds Of property, because 1t would
take too much time, as TO refuse TO per
form the duties prescribed BY said sec
tlon.
q 1T rnaIzos no difference whether the
county commissioners are inclined TO
nav or not. They have no discretion In
the matter. The county is absolutely
liable for the services Of the assessor
and VIII have to pay him for his ser
vices whether the county commission
ers are inclined to do so or not me
statutes prescribe the duCes 70 pc PEE
formed by assessors. 1t is their duty
to perform those duties faithfully and
properly and no discretion is repoSed
In the assessor to determine what par
ticular duties he VIII perform and what
&C. c. COLEMAN,
Attorney General
"Tt would seem from the above that
assessors are not entitled TO their paw
until these duties are fully performed,
and I trust you win be 50 good as to
refuse payment to seven assessors VINO
do rot make these returns in full
VIII Meet In june.
The letter also gives notice OF the
June conference OF the health auLnor1-
Ties Of the state, and invites the board
of county commissioners to send rep
resentatives to that conference. Al
this meeting the general discussion OF
health subjects, quarantine regulations
and other matters concerning public
sanitation are discussed Dr. Crum-
bine says in his letter:
THE third annual conference of the
state board Of health with county and
municipal health officers will be held
ia the city Of Topeka. some time IN
June.
LAS you are aware. the law provides
that the board Of county commission
ers together with the county health Of
Ger shall constitute the county board Of
health. AS such board you are cordial
ly invited to attend this conference. ]
desire to urge that If your board can
not attend in a body that it be repre-
and one member Of the board, if pos
sible, and that you appropriate a sufh-
Client sum to cover the expenses OF
these representatives to attend the
meeting.
the purpose of the conference is for
discussing sanitary and hygienic mat
tiers, disfnfection, vital statistics. and
ways and means for the control and
suppression OF epidemic diseases. The
I programme for the meeting has not
yet been completed, but you are ad-
vised at this early date by reason Of
the fact that after the meeting Of
boards Of county comrnfssio ners in
April many counties do rot have the
second quarterly meeting until after
this conference.
Most Of the progressive states in the
union have these annual conferences
Of the health officers Of the state, and
upon inquiry I find their actual travel
ing expenses for attending these meet
ings are paid There can be no Ques-
ton that it is money we'll spent as
such meetings are calculated to in
aEuct health officers in matters per
tanning to their duties, and bring them
abreast of the times in preventive med
icine. I trust you viii be 50 kind as to
give this your favorable consideration.
Indicating to this board your action in
che matter, that delegates may be ac-
credited %