Evening journal., 1919-02-13

item IS unpaid the question is 10 de-
eide where IL properly belongs. Rep
resenting. perhaps, the biggest tax
payer in the city OF Wilmington. say
that our directors would vote 100 per
cent. In favor OF the city OF Whining
ton paying the bills.
MIR. ROBERTSON-Th city has con-
tended this: That II the state Coun-
Gil OF Defense or the state Board OF
Health bore the expenses OF this epi-
demic In other portions OF the State,
they had a right TO bear them in VIII
mington.
GOVERNOR TOWNSEND agree
with you.
MIR RoBERTSoN-,Any statement 10
the contrary Is absolutely incorrect.
A MENiBER-That was the under
standing that the State Council OF De-
tense would bear the bill. ] just can't
recall who made that statement.
MR.. RASKOB-I say that we can
agree on the statement OF facts. And
The whole State, outside the city OF
Wilmington, have paid the bills incur
red In connection with the handling
OF the Spanish Influenza. Now the
question is: what is TO be done with
the S25O0O2"
MR.. ROBERTSON-If the expense had
been paid by the different communi-
ties, Wilmington VIII pay hers. And
the official Council OF Wilmington has
never taken any other stand.
A MENfBER-Mr. johnson, there
have never been any other bills paid,
have there9
MR.. JOHNSON-No, sir. The only
bills we have received have been from
MIR. ROBERTSON-I VIII say as long
as / am chairman OF the finance COM
mlttee I shall do my duty.
MR.. TOPKIS-There was positively,
city OF Wilmington treated IN these
hospitals that the money was spent for.
A MEMBER-What hospitalsG
Mr.. TOpKIS-The Country Club, the
New Century Club, etc.
A MEMBER-Oh, yes there were. /
saw some brought in from Stanton.
A NiEAiBER-The percentage was very
small.
A MEMBER-The Board OF Health
brought men here from the ships that
The government ought TO have taken
care OF.
A MEAfBER-Well, they were laying
here on the docks and somebody had
10 take care Of them.
Mr.. RASKoB-If they had been taken
on at Dover, they would have been
iaken care Of at Dover.
MR.. ROBERTSON-They have a hos
pital at Marcus Hook. That Is what It
Is for.
GOVERNOR TOWNSEND think it Is
very much to your credit gentlemen,
hat you did take care Of them.
MR.. ROBERTSON-Yes governor. we
ire not objecting 10 that / don't want
% say anything about myself. but my
,ar was at the service OF the city from
he time the epidemic broke out until
Is close.
GOVERNOR TOWNSEND-Well. that /
vas right. / think you can see the rea- !
ron for the governors calling this /
when it was very clearly
understood that the Council OF Defense /
rad refused 10 pay these bills. and
hey were coming from Wilmington
md not from any other part Of abe
State.
MR.. ROBERTSON certainly do.
But there has been a great deal OF un-
and unfair comment. II you
lad had this meeting at the time the
3pldemio broke out, you would have
seen the position Of the Council.
GOVERNOR TOWNSEND-Well, how
hall we arrange for these bills2
MIR. ROBER1SON-We are only two
Of the Council. That matter
will have 10 be taken up. with the
louncil. AS I said IN the beginning, |
he law requires us TO appropriate /
very penny OF our estimated income, !
nd that has been done. Now. whether /
he income from the city revenue this
ear will be sufficient in addition to
ur already expenses to meet, or
whether it will have TO be done by an
at the end Of this fiscal
ear, ] can't say.
A MEMBER-W'hen does your fiscal
ear closer
MR.. RoBERTsON-On the sOth OF
une.
MR.. RASKOB-City Council, under
he law. is thouoghly able 20 borrow
money to meet emergencies OF this
ind
MIR. ROBERTS0N-The law mentions
wo. One Is the destruction OF the
gater works, and the other Is the de-
truction OF any public buildings. II
avs gnothlng about epldemics.
MIR. RASKOB-f understand that the
NV Is such as will enable City Council
D borrow money 10 meet these ex-
enses. VIII you take the city solicit
Drs opinion OF this?
MR. ROBERTSON-I VIII take the
wv.
MIR. RASKOB-Do I understand, Mr..
yon. that you viii agree with Mr..
obertson that those bills ought TO
ave been paid by the City Council?
MRLYON-Yes. As the governor
aid. think we ought 10 take care OF
lem
GOVERNOR T0WNSEND-As the De-
,nse Council, we haven't paid q dollar
IT any part Of the State I am mighty
lad 10 hear you state that 10 would
ot be the States duty as long as we
re not paying them In any other part
Z the State.
MR.. ROBERTSON-Those bills win
l be audlted2
GOVERNOR T0WNSEND-Or. yes.