Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-12-10
RASKOB EXPLAINS
HOW FLU" FIGHT
WAS FINANCED
Says it Was Necessary to Act
Quickly and Defence Council
Stepped IN.
HELPED THE AUTHORITIES

Tnhn ]. Ra>kob. chairman OF the health
subcommittee OF the Wilmington branch
Of the State Council Of Dviense, today
explained. when asked about The matter
I,y a rcrrcscutativc OF Every Evening,
how the influenza fight IN the city, during
October and November, was financed.
The State Council Of Defence having
sent sic, 900 worth tf hills 10 Council,
with the request thst that body pay them,
the incident has caused a stir among the
ynembers Of Council, IN view OF the fact
that IL did not authorize the expenditure,
and as the obligation, rs they appear TO
have understood il, was assumed ty the
Council OF Defence. there seems TO he
some hesItency on the part OF Council
in doing as it has been requested by tho
S4atc body. CITY Council has not said
Il will rot pay the bills, hut some Of the
members have voiced the above scnti-
nlent. However, the uatter will sfc con-
sidared at the committee meetings to-
morrow night, when some declslon may
he reached Really, Council has had no
time To act in the matter, IN view at the
fact that it has not had time 10 examine
the bills
When Mr.. Raskob Was asked today
as to his understanding OF the matter,
and as To what he personally did and adj
vised. lie made the following statement:
The mayors committec-jhat Is, the
Wilmington branch of the State Council
of Defence.-l had been informed, had
called on City Council while ] was IN
Detroit, asking for funds with which 10
finance the fight against the INF -enza.
but without success. ! returned q day or
so later, and on the following day, be-
licve it was, the mayors commit tee had
a meeting IN the Street and Sewer DE
partment offices 10 consider plans Tor
financing he fight ] was asked TO attend
it and did 50 II was then that | Was
told that Council had declined TO guarantee
funds. and when | was asked for my
opinion as TO how the committee should
rroceed. | told the committee that
believed il should go ahead and make
an aggressive fight IF YOU cannot get
the funds from City Council ! added.
the State Council of Defence Will pro-
vide them or they can be raised by sub
scriptions from individuals. ! felt,
though. that Council would pay the bill
However. IT, fight progressed. funds
were necessary and the expenditures had
10 be made That Is why the bills wer c
incurred.
Mr Raskob said he believed the city
ought 10 pay the bids, u they arc right
and correct. Il feel sure that all q tie
bills ;.rc correct. ne stated, for they
have been a7y Jved bv Charles Iopkis.
chairman r the Wilmington Council Of
Defence. Chester C. Wells, the expert
sanitary engineer who was in charge Of
the uorl: dcne ~ the Council, and ty
myself
n saw ~ other course than the one We
followed. be further explained. = b.
leved il vas tie province of the state
Council Of Defence, in emergencies q TINS
kind. to supply whatever dcEcIenclcs
there wcrc in tho Law, and rs neither tie
Ci;y Board Of Health, nor the state
/ Board cf IIcalth had much funds, i was
necessary - give asstuanrr that the cx-
! penecs would be taken care ri
The $4,000. Mr. Rasko5 explained
] does not represent the entire Influenza
bill. The Bethlehem ShpbuIlding Cor
poration took care Of its own.