Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-02
IF LAW WILL ALLOW
Commissioner Warner Says
Leper Should Have Pension.
BUT TECHNICALITIES EXIST
If He Gets It. Must Pay His
Board.
so SAY DISTRICT OFFICIALS
Judge Advocate of War Department
Is Examining Into John r.
Earlys Peculiar Case.
so SAY DISTRICT OFFICIALS

If there is any way of obtaining for
John r. Early. the leper, d pension of SI2
month he will get it. Commissioner
Warner of the pension bureau said so this
morning. and in spite of the diff1cultles
presented by the case. which is without
precedent, tho authorities arc striving To
find way by which Early may legally
receive the amount stated.
If Early receives So month he will he
in the class of totally disabled pensioners
requiring constant attendance. Commas
sioner Warner said today that the matter
was now up to the judge advocate, ana
that the next move would come from him.
Early cannot under the law appoint an
attorney to receive his money or execute
his vouchers. If ne could the way would
he easy. He cannot handle the money. III
he is taken into the grounds of the Sol
diers' Home it may be that the board VIII
appoint some one to receive the money
1t may require congressional action
At any rate every official who has any
thing to do with the case is very anxious
that the maximum pension should ne
granted The law will be twisted into all
kinds of contortions III order To get tue
pension. 49,,
Should Early receive Il pension OF 80
a month from the government. in pay
ment for disabilities lie received Whlie
in the army service. it * said 10 ne likely
that the health department of the DIS
trict will call upon him to pay part
of the expense of his maintenance.
Costs $14 Day.
The cost of keeping the leper is heavy,
and the authorities say they see no reason
why he should not contribute to his sup
port in proportion to his means. He will
at least be expected to pay for his meals
The District will continue to pay for the
three guards that are required through
out the twenty-four hours of the day to
maintain strict quarantine and to at
tend to the wants of the lone patient
officials of the health department say
it is costing the District about Sl4 a day
to keep Early. Each of the three guards
receive 81 day and his food and cook
ing are costing about So. The remainder Is
for laundry, medicine and other miscel-
laneous things in connection with such
camp.
The authorities are anxiously waiting
for some word from the authorities of
North Carolina Early'S home state. When
1t was discovered that Early had leprosy
and he was hurried off to the banks of
the Eastern branch. where tent was
put up and a modern isolation camp eS-
tablished. the authorities of North Caro-
lima were notified and asked to make ar
rangements to receive him there. The
president of the board of health ac-
knowledged the information and inform
ed Harry Clay Mclean. the acting health
officer, that the matter had been referred
to the attorney general of the state to
determine the question of transporting
the leper to that commonwealth.
Eight days have elapsed since this word
was received. The situation is not par
ticularly to the liking of the local de-
partment from the fact that additional
cases might arise and that there is GER
tain possibility of this city being con-
fronted with irregular leprosy camp.
In this connection the physicians of the
health department are keeping Mrs. Lolita
Early. wife of the leper, under strict OBJ
servation. They have a certain apprehen-
sion that from her association with her
husband up until few weeks before his
condition was determined she may be-
walton and treatme are being shown the
eleven-m onth-old child Mrs Early has
with her.
Prodding North Carolina.
Acting Health Officer Mclean said to-
day he expects to hear from the attorney
general of North Carolina. Mr.. Mclean
sent him the following letter yesterday.
the contents of which clearly emphasize
the feelings OF the local authorities:
Dear Sir: DR.. c. G. Thomas, president
of the state board of health. has advised
me both by letter and telegram. dated the
18th ultimo. that he has referred TO you
for advice my letter OF the I'D ultimo
relative to The leprous patient. Mr.. John
r. Early, who is d resident of your state
You Will readily appreciate my anxiety
To know what your decision Is in TINS
matter in order that steps may be taken
at the earliest practicable date to relieve
the District government of this RESPONSE
bility and expense if such is possible.
Trusting that your decision may be
reached at a very early date and this de-
partment promptly advised.
IL was stated at the War Department
today that the board of commissioners of
the Soldiers Home in this city will hold
it's next regular meeting the 18th instant
and that if the case of the leper Earle is
presented it will be officially consid-
cred at that time.