The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-10-03
SITTING CLAIMS
AGAINST CITY
Barre Councillors Held Session at Which
About 80 Persons, Quarantined for
Poliomyelitis, Presented Their
Statements.

The city council kept open house las
night to some 80 persons who were quar-
antined during the summer and early fal
as the result of the poliomyelitis epi
demic. Appearances were made in re
sponse to written notices sent out b,
, the charity committee in its effort to sif
the good claims from the bad. Mayo
Glysson presided, although the examina
} tion of each claimant was in charge o
Chairman Henry Alexander of the char
ity committee, who was assisted by Al
derman Rossi. All three members of th'
board of health, DIR. j. w. Stewart
Charles l.. oliver and Forest r. Chaples
were present, as was City Atty. Wishart
For nearly three hours there was q
steady stream of persons passing from
the corridor into the council chamber
Once the more even tenor of the pro.
ceedings was interrupted by heated
colloquy between Health Officer OLIVER
and George Murray, and the two argued
in a lively fashion until the lie was
Ipassed and then the council called a halt
on the tilt.
just what will be the outcome of the
hearing is a-matter for conjecture. In
4 formally, the council discussed the stua.
tion before adjournment, but it was de-
cided to defer action, although one of the
aldermen expressed his opinion that
many OF the claims would be rejected
| The procedure included series of ques-
tions propounded by the chairman of the
charity committee, and after they had
been answered by the claimant, the al
dermen, health officers and city attorney
were privileged to examine further
Nearly every claimant was asked if he or
she desired to 60 on the books as a city
charge, and while many of them baked
at such proposal, Others appeared anx-
ious to get what they considered was
due them and did not care how the entry
is charged in the city's account book.
The proceedings were shot through and
through with interesting sdelights.
Three women were questioned before
the oliver Murray clash Mrs Grace
Morgan said she had been quarantined
four weeks, that she had her daughter
and herself to support and was willing
TO be considered as recipient of charity
if the city would make good her loss
Mrs. j. MeKernon, who followed Mrs
Morgan on the stand, said she wanted
anything that was coming to her, but in.
tended to pay all of the small bills in
CURED while she was detained during
quarantine. Mrs. Umberto Spineli was
quarantined 40 days and said that her
husband, now absent from the city,
claimed wages, as he has five dependents.
NJ. II. McAlister was quarantined three
weeks, made no claim for compensation, |
but suggested that convevances be pro- |
vided for children whose parents are un-
able to take them before the nurse who |
visits Barre bi.weekly. Mr.. McAllister's |
timely suggestion was noted by the clerk. |
Alex Ross, with four dependents, wanted |
a sum equal to his wages if the Others
were to get it, but didn't consider that |
he should be an object of charity.
Here is the set of questions asked by
the chairman of the committee as each
claimant appeared:
Were you quarantined?
How many persons were dependent
upon you for support?
Do you consider that you have got any
Just claim against the city on that ac-
count?
What is the claim?
Is there any reason why you shouldn't
Day your own bills!
Briefly replying in the affirmative to
most of the questions, Mr. Murray ex- {
blamed that he was qusrantined three
weeks, that he had two dependents and
hat he had asked for compensation of
wages and doctors bills He based his
lain on the allegation that if the first I
ase had received attention from Health q
)flicer oliver his child would not have I
the disease. He plainly said !
hat the health officer was dereict to his
uty, else the malady would not have Q
pread. In the reioinder, Health Officer !
Illiver disclaimed knowledge of the case t
4 the Ross family until Wednesday t
light mentioned in Mr.. Murray's testi P
lony. He characterized as lies the state
rents made by Mr.. Murray and chal $
,nged him to prove them. Mr.. Murray Z
sked him why he kept his children at l
ONE from Sunday to Wednesday if he o
as not afraid of the disease, a question A
hich the health officer answered by
iscaiming any knowledge of such a Il
,ndition. The latter accused Mr. Muir II
" of having his child visit the Ross eI
lmily, to which denial was entered. In Il
final question the health officer init in
ated that the company had already al
lid the claimant for his lost time, but b.
making reply Mr. Murray said it was fl,
,ne of the health officers business. Re m
limitations came thick and fast until a'
,iections We're raised to digging further fo
TO the controversy and the mayor 81
He'd it off Before leaving the cham ca
r. Mr.. Murray said the council could ca
II it charity if it wished; he was de- in
-ous of being compensated. to
other cases were heard as follows: OF
Emmanuel Johnson: Quarantined a Al
eek; II dependents, including visitors no
om Worcester; asked for weeks wages an
grounds Of discrimination, but didn't WI
re for charity. 10
John Johnson: Guaranteed a week; sh
ked for weeks wages; five persons de- tel
ndent. he
Frank Fraquelli: Quarantined 10 m,
vs.; two persons dependent; made no WI
i'm for compensation. WI
Joseph Rieciarelh: Guaranteed two WI
eks; three persons dependent; claimed He
o weeks wages and doctors bills and 10y
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