Evening journal., 1919-05-06

INANANNNIf W AllN ONAti iDNNn III IL" t'tNhN
to pass their bills over TO the Defense
Council as for the city Of Wilmington.
We had hoped. or course, 10 have the
mayor present with us, but we have
the president OF the Council and the
chairman OF the finance committee
with US.
A Member: The object IN calling this
meeting Is simply 20 meet the members
OF the Council in connection with this
matter2g
Governor Townsend; The members OF
the Council and The mayor.
A Member: What expense Is being
borne by the state Council OF Defense
In connection with this matter?
Governor Townsend: None whatever
/ that ! know Of. No bills have been
paid as yet would like 20 have the
opinion OF the bentlemen present. We
can express ourselves frankly.
Mr.. Raskob: Mr. Chairman, st the
time the spanish "Flu' broke out,
was out OF the city and the mayors
lcommlttee, which Is the city committee,
I understood. were before the City
Council and asked for an appropriation
for funds 10 cover the cost Of ilghtine
this epidemic. And for some reason
not known 20 mo az the time Council
refused assistance which Is as ! under
stood it. And the next day they had
meeting In the Street and Sewer de-
pariment room, think Il was. and they
called me over. Within tweniy-four or
for,y-eisht hours the epidemic had
reached an alarming state, so | told the
mayor and the members OF his commit
tee there was no time 10 quihble over
the matter Of paying the bills, that n
the City Council didn't pay the bills
they would have 10 be paid BY someone
else. but. n they wanted some authority
10 go ahead, 10 90 ahead, and that ]
would see that they were relieved or
any personal responsibility In H. so
they Immediately formed their sub-com-
mitiees and went ahead and fortunately
acted very quickly and lost no time IN
eetting the thing under control In
FACT. the Government officers who came
hero LATER were very high In their
praise Of Mr.. Lawson's committees, par
/ iieuiarlv that headed by Mr.. Topkls,
and they thought the Wilmington SIT
uation had been handled better inan
that Of any other city OF the country
/ I Immediately asked Mr.. Wells, whethor
In conjunction with the Board OF
Health. he wouldn't help Mr.. Topkis 10
Keeping as close a check as possible
10 keep In a thoroughly practical way
the expenditures necessary 10 be made.
And the bills. aggregating about $1,000
have been presented through Mr.. Wells
and Mr. Topkls' report 10 the mayor or
hoyy fhe situation was handled. Person
auv I think there Is no question but
tbst The CITY Council should pay those
hills. and think the people arc unani-
nous In that. a..
understand the situation. The mayor 5
letter 10 the governor does the Council
an Injustice.
Mr. Raskob: don't mean TO criticize
the Council, Mfr. Robertson.
Governor Townsend: Then u Is your
feeling that the City Council should moi
pay the bllls7 ?
Mr. Robertson: Yes, for The reason
that we pay our share into the siate
treasury and into the county treasury
II we have 10 pay for the cost OF tni'
endemic in the city Of Wilmington ane
the state Council Of Defense pays th'
cost out OF the state treasury FOR inc
expense OF the epidemic in the Other
parts OF the state, Wilmington VIII not
only have paid her own In full, but she
viii have paid three-f0urths OF the
other as well.
Governor Townsend: But suppose
Won nut II this way: II the State Coun-
eli of Defense has not paid The expense
In any other part Of the state, then
would YOU SIN think that the state
Council OF Defense chould pay the VII
mington bill2
Mr.. Robertson. Wilmington wants 70
bear her share.
Nr. Raskob: II those people have
come forward and paid their debts
without calling on the treasury funds.
do YOU sim feel that Wilmington
shouldn't put her hands into her
pockets?
Mr.. Robertson: ] say that the state
Council OF Defense should not be com
PEELED 10 pay all those bills.
A Member: know In 1907 they hadl
en- epidemic OF smallpox In Seaford and
Il was very bad. They came up to the
Legislature and they asked for an sp-
proprlstlon, and that was turned down
Nat. They didn't get a cent
Mr.. Raskob: think this is very i'm
material. The facts are all agreed
upon: namely, that Wilmington had an
endemic OF Spanish influenza, so did
the rest OF the State. The citizens OF
Wilmington combined together IN no
matter what manner. have. through un-
firing energy met the situation, given
very freely OF their time, and have nee
essarily incurred expenses directly
chargebale 10 the city OF Wilmington OF
about s2S 900. Expenses were also IN
CURED in other parts OF the State and
have all been paid by the respective
communities.
Mr. Robertson: The city has contend
ed this: That II tho State Council Of
Defense or the state Board OF Heath
bore the expenses OF this epidemic In
other portions OF the state. they had .
right 10 bear them in Wilmington.
Governor Townsend: ! agree With
you.
Mr. Robertson: Any statement to the
contrary Is absolutely incorrect.
Mr.. Raskob: I say that we can agree
on the statement Of facts. And the
whole State outside the city OF VII
mlneton have paid the bills Incurred
IN connection with the handling OF the
Spanish influenza Now the question
Is: what Is 10 be done with the s25,-
600
Mr.. Robertson: II the expense has
been paid by the different communi-
ties, Wilmington VIII pay hers. And
the ofIlclal Council OF Wilmington has
never taken any other stand.
A Member: Mr.. johnson, there has