Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-12-06
Gssu'as'e1 GSsuns Yatsrday asS[y 1906
FRIDAY, DECEMBER e, 1918.
CIV Council and the Charges for the
Influenza Epidemic.

CIV Council and the tHaRts sui ''S
Influenza Epidemic.
II IN not at all surprising that the
members of City Council should he some
what perturbed over the bills they arc
now asked to pay IN consequence OF the
recent epidemic of Spanish influenza IN
our city. But it is fact that large eX-
pcnses were incurred in fighting that
terrible infection, and some agency must
pay the bills.
II has been asserted that the State
Council Of Defence had offered 10 meet
all the expenses imposed upon the city
in fighting the epidemic. But by what
authority this claim is made We do not
know. Nor do WE know any reason why
the State Council of Defence, or any
other body, should be called upon to
nav the cost Of fighting malignant
endemic in the city Of Wilmington. II IS
manifest that the city Of Wilmington
should psy the bill II is we'll able to DO
this.
So far as City Council rs concerned. it
NAV make provision for paying these
CHARGES in accordance with the provisions
of the city charter relating 70 oxtraor-
dinarv appropriations sudden e1nergen-
cics calling for expenditures Of money after
the regular appropriations for the fiscal
yesr arc made. Certainly, the invasion
Of that terrible epidemic was an extraor-
dinarv occasion, one not contemplated at
the time the regular appropriation ordi-
nance was passed. In respect OF meeting
the charges now presented, the City
Council may lawfully psss an ordinance
making an extraordinary appropriation
for the purpose, the amount OF the ap-
rronr,stion to be mes from the proceeds
al the next fiscal year, as authorized by
the city charter.
B,,t il does not seem to be so much
matter OF arranging for payment, as the
charges for the service that Is disturbing
the members Of City Council. In addition
TO their claim that the State Council OF
Defence should meet the expenses in
CURED. they object TO certain details Of
the charges, especially the allowance to
doctor from another State who was called
upon TO come here and take charge Of the
fight against the epidemic. As livery
Evening has said, this objection is almost
puerile: for who OF all our capable ply
sicisns could have been expected to
abandon all his clientele, who were de
pending so much upon him in the terrible
emergency, even for the purpose OF TAX
ing charge of such an important campaign.
The fact that o physician from another
State, where the epidemic was not raging
as it was here, WAS available for the pur-
nose. should be considered az q very for
tunate occasion.
And as to the payment OF all the just
charges incurred IN fighting the Influenza
epidemic, the City Council should not be
either capricious or penurious. No mat
ter what understanding presumed or
established-there might have been with
the State Council of Defence-it stands
as a fact that the city OF Wilmington IS
responsible for all the charges incurred
in fighting the influenza epidemic, and
should pay them 1t Is incumbent upon
the City Council, therefore, TO perform
this duty. AS We have shown, it may
lawfully make provision for ralslng the
money by passing an ordinance of extraor-
binary appropriation. And this It should
do without delay.
The members of City Council should
not forget the awful ordeal through
which our. community passed while the
dreadful epidemic laid It's devastating
hand upon us. 1t was the worst visitation
of affection that ever fell upon our city.
1t took its victims by the hundreds
nearly q thousand In few we Ks. 1t
laid the hand of death upon the very
flower and youth Of our community,
shaving them faster than they could be
buried by the ordinary conyeniences for
burial service. 1t was Q visitation from
which VIC may all give sincere thanks TO
a Divine Pro violence for our final de-
iverance And we cannot afford 10
now SIT back and cayll over the cost oi
the fight against such terrible Scourge.
And so, our advice to City Council is
10 accept all the bills for service Of fight
ing the influenza epidemic; to scrltinize
them carefully, and to approve all that
seem to be night. TEen TO introduce and
pass an ordinance making an extraor-
dinary appropriation for the purpose Of
meeting the total cost. TIE city can well
afford to do this, and it il the duty Of the
city to do it In reflection Of the awful
experience through which we were COM
PEELED 70 pass, We may well congratulate
ourselves that We did not have 70 pay
higher penalty in human life-aA4d surely
We paid enough-and resolve to pay the
mere sordid cost of the campaign without
question.