The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-08-30
City Board of Health Is Still
Eager to Get From
Under.
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
REFUSE TO TAKE CHARGE
Final Disposition of the Case
Will Be Watched With
Interest.

City Health Commissioner Or. S G.
Paul is In q deep, dark-broWn Quandary,
The county commissioners have refused
to accept John Kokas, the Greek leper,
and DIR. Paul Is much in the position OF
the man OF the song who didn't know
where he was going, but was on his way,
While DIR. Paul Is saying little, there is
something ominous about his silence. He
has gone so far, however as to make the
assertion that he is willing to put down
a tent one bet that Kokas will not be
a city charge q week from now and IL
should not surprise County Pauper Clerk
James Sabine TO come down to his office
some morning 10 find kokas chained to
his desk.
Kokas, in addition TO being leper, Is
pauper and as such the county, 1t is
said. is bound to accept, and take care OF
pendent by the city health authorities
when they found and Quarantined him
but had been dependent upon friendly
countrymen for three or four weeks pre-
viously, but tho county authorities. espe-
cially The commissioners. are carefully
lodging this point.
Work of City Board.
The city health authorities hunted Ko-
kas out at tho request Of the state board
Of health and actuated by the desire to
remove him from the peoples midst. took
him UP City Creek canyon two or three
miles and placed him undor quarantine
without dilly -dallying TO make inquiry as
to his pauperism, whether his disease
was In the contagious or infectious stage,
and other like technical points. The first
intention was to deport Kokas, but 1t was
found that he had been In this country
too long-more than three years-to be
subject to deportation. Kokas. however.
removed this obstacle by agreeing to re-
turn to his native land, but transporta-
ton for him could not be arranged.
Inesmuch as he had been dependent in
other words, a .pauper for three or four
the city health authorities notified the
county authorities that It was their duty
to talse care Of him. Acting upon the
advice Of the county attorney the com
board that they will refuse TO accept the
Greek. ignoring the law in the matter.
but this Is not tho first time that the
commissioners have done this so there
is no occasion for surprise. The commits
sioners also violated the agreement be-
tween the city and county health boards,
arrived MT some time ago; Whereby the
county is to take care OF INDECENT Ill.
Rests on Technicality.
The county is attempting to hide be-
hind the technicality of whether Kokas's
disease has reached the stage of conta-
gion or infection. About this there is an
Beatty, secretary OF the state board OF
health, gives 1t as his opinion that Ko-
kass disease will not be either contagi~
GUS or Infectious for a few years and DR..
Paul himself is in doubt,
II DR.. Beatty is right: the city is not
bound legally to maintain and take care
OF kokas. AS matter OF fact II is ex-
tremely doubtful II the city could holf
kokas II application for writ of habeas
corpus should be made by him and mas
much as Kokas is extremely dissatisfied
with his situation 1t would not be sur
prising II he should apply for habeas
corpus writ. which undoubtedly would
create some CONSERVATION In court cir
cles. It is highly probable that the dis
trict court judges would take n hurried
vacation until the case blew over.