The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-08-22
Claim Made He Was Dere-
lict in Duty in Report
ing Polio Case
HEA 4 COMMITTEE
i TO INVESTIGATE
Cha ) IS Made to City Coun-
C The Street Railway
Franchise Up Again

pio"ihS out OF charges maze at the
city council meeting last night, an inves-
tigation started to-day by the aldermanic
health committee is designed to ascer-
, tain whether a member of the board of
health was derelict to his duty in the
matter of reporting poiomyelits case
on Division street some weeks ago. Ac-
cusations made by George Murray, jr.,
and Manuel Johnson, who are seeking
compensation for lost time and the for
mer for doctors bills, too, involve the
claim that Charles oliver, member of
the board of health, refused at various
times to summon a physician when a
case of poliomyelitis was suspected and
that the board of health Disseminated in
the matter of enforcing the quarantine
by permitting one of its own number to
enjoy the freedom of the city while other
citizens residing on the same street were
required to stay at home
Messrs. Murray and Johnson got the
ear of the council by using plain words
and before leaving the council chamber
they had so far established their case as
to gain an extension of time in which to
| pay their taxes. Mr.. Oliver, the member
who was the target for the charges, and
Secretary J. W. Stewart, who was crit
icised for alleged discrimination, were
pp IN. at,b, %1o;r - L. ~f Al
case. The question of whether Mr. Muir
ray and Mr.. johnson are to be recon-
pensed for loss of wages and doctors
bills is held in allegiance pending the in
vestigation. Both men have been asked
to testify, with others, at hearing to be
held next Tuesday evening, or possibly
on an earlier date.
In his statement before the council,
Mr.. Murray referred to bill OF SIS 80
for wages and physicians fees, which he
had submitted to the clerk. Turning to
his experiences in the early days of "po-
los appearance, the complainant said
that if Mr.. Oliver had done his duty at
the beginning of the week in which the
Ross child developed the disease, the NAL
ady would have been confined to single
house in the south end. He quoted Health
Officer OLIVER as saying that he had done
enough when he finished notifying people
in that locality of conditions in the Ross
home. Continuing, he charged that the
health officer even delegated this work
to others. When interrogated by Alder
man Alexander, Mr.. Murray stated that
two of the Ross children were with the
oliver children on the evening before the
quarantine was established, although the
health officer and his son were not shut
in as were others who had not been ex-
posed in this way. In the rejoinder, too
he told of calling on the health officer at
his stoneshed and asking him to call
loctor for the Ross child in order to es-
.ablish the nature of its illness.
He further quoted Mr.. oliver as refus-
ne and credited to him the statement
hat he was afraid the neighbors would
augh at him if he called doctor and the
uspicions were not confirmed After his
asst appeal to the health officer Mr.. Muir
ay said, he called DR. Stewart by tele-
hone, made an appointment with him,
nd had the satisfaction of seeing the
ecretary of the board start at once for
he Ross home, after he had ascertained
hat no word of conditions in the Ross
ouse had reached his office. Alderman
Iilne quoted Mr.. oliver as saying that
e sent Mr. Murray to DIR. Stewards Of
ce, but this was denied by the complain
Mt
Mr. johnson, in opening his remarks,
hid he had been led to believe through
statement in The Times that quarsn
ned persons would have an extension of
me in which to pay their taxes. He
$50 asked that he be recompensed for
ages lost during the quarantine period.
{ this iuncture Alderman Healy moved
II an extension and it was granted, a
otion extending the same privilege TO
r. Murray carrying later.
Alderman Alexander asked Mr.. John
N to repeat the statement made to him
e night previous. Mr.. johnson con-
nted on-the Wednesday of the week
in Mr.. Murray's complaint, he
id, he returned home to find his wife
irred up over rumors concerning the
ndition of the Ross child. To settle
nfiicting doubts, etc, he sent his wife
the ward Of the Ross home 10 inquire
lring her absence. he went on, Health
fcer oliver called at the johnson home
d asked the complainant il he was not
are that there was infantile paralysis
the Ross family. To which Mr.. John
1 replied that his wife had just gone
sr 20 inquire. Hereupon Mr. johnson
Sed the health officer to notify DR.
,wsrt and he quoted the health officer
saving that Il ought to be done, but
II he wouldn't do Il. The conference
led. according 70 AIr. johnson. when
oliver asked him not 70 tell anv-
lv that he called on his iJohnson'sl
misses.
" closing. Mr. johnson cited the cases
Mr.. oliver and his son and Mr. Nc
arv. who were not Guaranteed and
that he had been 10 more exposed