The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-06-03
City Commission Voted Against
tuberculosis Camp.
Instruct Attorney to Start In
junction Proceedings.
ONLY PORTER STOOD FIRM
He Wanted Time to Select New
Site.
But Others Preferred AnnihiIa-
ton of the Hospital.

By a vote of four to one the city
commission this morning ordered City
Attorney Ralston to bring an injunc-
ton suit against the Society for the
Study and Prevention of tuberculosis,
charging that the camp opposite Gar
field park is a nuisance and a menace
to the public health.
The action. of the commission was
the first taken in the tuberculosis. camp
row, and was rather unexpected under
the circumstances, members of the So
ciety appearing and declaring that in
few days arrangements may be COM
pleted to move the camp to location
where it will bother nobody. The one
dissenting vote was cast by w. L. Por-
ter, commissioner of parks and SANTA
ton, who declared he would rather see
the camp remain where it is than to
scatter the inmates all over the city
where they must necessarily become
greater menace to public heolth.
Some of the commissioners. after the
meeting expressed themselves pretty
condemned the society for refusing to
accept the citys offer of a site on the
pest house grounds.
Il think everybody knows where
stand,' Commissioner Tandy remarked,
without going into it any further.
and don't know that We can win the
suit. But l am opposed to the camp
where it is
DO you mean you would rather see
the camp annihilated than to remain
where it is?" Tandy was asked
That's about what it amounts to-"
he replied.
DR.. E. S. Pettyjohn, vice president of
the society, made a strong plea for
little more time in which to secure
location.
Il believe we will be able to secure
a place in a few days" he said. I'VE
have location near the cemetery,
where nobody will object, in sight
After the action of the commission
was taken DR.. Pettyjohn left the room.
licity over this action he said. 1T
makes me ashamed that I live in To-
peka.''
Representatives from the North side
told the commission they not only
wanted to be rid of the camp, but that
they did not favor its existence any
where. They will not give cent, they
said, to help move the camp away from
North Topeka, insisting that they do
not want it -shouldered upon someone
else who did not want 1T.
When the motion to instruct the city
attorney to file suit was pending Porter
made his protest. eIt
Mr.. Mayor" he said, "I am opposed
L d
place for the camp and if one can be
found that is satisfactory I will hire
a team myself to help move it. do
not believe the present location is
good one, and am not favoring that.
But do not want to see these patients
scattered over the city where they will
be a greater menace than ever to the
health of the people,"
When the motion was put everybody
but Porter voted aye" Answering his
name Porter, all alone, responded with
a vigorous no"
I'VE will hope that a place may be
found for the camp rather than it be
put out of business explained the
mayor after the meeting. But 1 don't
feel that we can afford to permit it to
remain where it is
IF 1 had the power would have it
moved into your back yard" declared
Tandy to a reporter for the State
Journal who attended the meeting.
Then you wouldn't like it any better
than anybody else-''
But will it be necessary to move it
into anybody's yard demanded the re-
porter.
Il don't know" responded the COM
missioner. You've got a big news
paper. Go argue your case to the pub
lie and let me alone.
During the discussion DR.. Pettyjohn
made it clear that the society does not
expect to stick on legal technicalities.
But the action of the commission this
morning, if the society fights the suit,
may mean that the camp will remain
in North Topeka for, another year or
of being moved in the near future, as
DR.. Pettyjohn promised would be done
if a location can be found, and he be-
lieves it can.