The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-08-24
The AA1ITOX|A BILL VETO.
STATEMENT FROM MIR. CARY ON
THE SUBJECT.
Some Correspondence and Facts
Showing the Truth of the Whole
Matter.
Anderson NJ all.

AnOeTSOn NJ all.
There has been not a little misun-
derstanding as to the veto of the
governor on the item making appro-
! priation to pay for antitioxin used by
the State board Of health. The Daily
Mail has heretofore tried to impress
its readers that this was not an ap-
preparation to buy the antitoxin, but
to pay for what had already been
used. This antitoxin is preven-
tive and a cure for the dread diph-
liberia. 1t is very expensive. The
children of parents whocanaffordit m
children of parents who can afford it
are not the ones who suffer from the
need of it, but the poor people who
cannot afford it have been protected
by wise and liberal legislature. We
are informed that some mill people
in Anderson county were beneficiar-
les of this very shipment Of antitox-
in. Of this we cannot speak except
by hearsay.
Mr.. F. NJ. Cary, a member of the
last legislature which passed this
item over the veto of the governor
and paid a debt incurred by the State
in saving the lives Of it's little ones,
has requested exact information
from the State board of health and
the following correspondence is self
explanatory:
Mr.. F. NJ Cary; Seneca, S. C.
Dear Sir: Your letter Of Aug. 10.
duly received. The sum Of $3,2S9.20
was asked for by the State board of
health to cover money due the Ma
tional Vaccine and Antitoxin Co., for
antitoxin which was distributed free
to all citizens of South Carolina up
on application of their physician, ac-
cording to the law: also money due
the National Vaccine and Antitoxin
Co., and H. K. Mulford Co., for vac
cine virus furnished free to all per-
sons in South Carolina who applied
for same to be used for the stamp
ing out Of smallpox.
According to the law the State
board of health is required to furnish
antitoxin free to all citizens when ap-
piled for by their physician, and also
to furnish free vaccine virus to any
person applying for same. 1t was
impossible for the State health officer
to regulate the amount of antitOxir
and vaccine virus consumed, as the
law requires him to furnish antitoxir
to physicians and vaccine virus to
citizens upon request, and the amour,
exceeded the sum the legislature ap-
propriated for 1911 for the dstribu.
ton Of antitoxin and vaccine virus
and this deficit was submitted to the
ways and means committee of the
house and to the finance committee
Of the senate. They agreed to make
up this deficit and appropriated $4,.
1884. This was appropriated under
section II, health department, Item
6. This item was vetoed by Gov
Blease. The veto of the governor
was not sustained by the general as
sembly. The governor did not veto
the appropriation of SIS, 900 for 1912
for the free distribution Of antitoxir
and vaccine virus and for the sup.
preston of contagious diseases, bu
by his veto of the deficit he placed
the state in the position of having
distributed antitOXin and vaccine vi.
rus free and yet not being willing to
pay for same. Yours truly,
James A. Hayne,
Secretary State Board of Health.
Mr.. +. NJ. Cary, Seneca, s. c.
Dear Sir: AS the state board OF
health is not in politics and it's sole
object is for the betterment of the
health of all the people Of South
Carolina, l would prefer as State
health officer, that the board be not
drawn into a controversy about this
matter. The facts, however. are as
stated in the enclosed letter.
Yours truly,
James A. Hayne,
Secretary State Board of Health.