Evening journal., 1919-05-06

ulnsiOn city committee completed,
Governor Townsend. as chairman OF the
state Council Of Defense, called a meet
Ing for November g. 1918. at which Mr.
Lyon, president and Mr.. Robertson,
chairman OF the finance committee OF
City Council, were present At that
meeting Governor Townsend stated
that the bills were In hand and being
held up by the Council OF Defense so
That we might meet with Council and
determine whether or not the bills
should be paid by the city or State
Council OF Defense, giving u as his
opinion that they should be paid by
the ci'y, inasmuch as the epidemic was
al over tho state and the state C0tln-
Gil OF Defense thought II would be Just
as logical for Laurel, Scaford, Bridge
Vile, Middletown or any other town In
The Stat. 10 pass their bills over TO the
state Council Of Defense for payment.
10 was made clear 10 Mr.. Lyon and Mr..
Robertson that the Stale Council Of De
tense had paid no bills contracted with
handling the influenza epidemic in any
part OF the state. When this situation
was understood by Mr.. Lyon and Mr.
Robertson, both stated that the bills
should be paid by The city OF Whining
ton. Enclosed are extracts from stenO-
graphic report Of everything that was
said at that meeting. which extracts
show, among other things, the follow
ing questions and answers:
Mr.. Raskob: II those people have
come forward and paid their debts
without calling on The treasury's funds.
do you still feel that Wilmington
shouldn't put her hands into her
p0ckets2
Mr. Robertson: say that the state
Council OF Defense should not be COM
PEELED TO pay all those bills.
a Member: ! know in 1907 they rad
an epidemic OF smallpox in Seaford
and Il was very bad. They came up
20 the legislature and they asked for
sn appropriation. and that was turned
down Nat. They didn't get a cent.
Mr.. Robertson: The city has con-
tended thls-thqt II the state Council
OF Defense or the State Board 0f Health
bore the expenses OF this epidemic In
other portions Of the State. they had
risht TO bear them In Wilmington.
Governor Townsend. l agree with
you.
Mr.. Raskob: DO I understand. Mr..
Lyon, that you viii agree with Mr..
Robertson that those bills ought 20
have been paid by the City Council?
Mr.. Lyon: Yes As the Governor
said, think we ought 10 take ca;o of
them.
Governor Townsend: As the Defense
Council, we haven't paid a dollar :or
any other part OF the State. I ON
mighty glad 10 hear you state that ID
would not be the state Councils duty
as long as we are not paying them in|
any other part OF tho State.
Mr.. Robertson: Those bills win al
be audited?
Governor Townsend: Oh, yes. Thee
are right there for the public % sse
always. They have nothing covered.
Governor Townsend: An we want Is
the assurance from the Councu mat
they feel responsible for the bills.
Mr.. Robertson: Council VIII do JUS
tice TO everyone in this connection.
Governor Townsend: Then 10 IS your
feeling that the bills belong 10 Council
inasmuch as we are not paying them
In any other part OF the slater
Mr.. Robertson: II that Is 50, WI
mington could not feel any oLler WAY
Mr.. Snellenburg: You are sure they
will be passed?
Mr. Lyon: We can't say positively.
Mr. Robertson: Wilmington will pay
her Just debts.
Mr. Raskob: Is there any action we
should take TO bring this before you d
should this meeting pass any resolu.
tion7
Mr.. Robertson: Wen. I think that
would be the better plan. yes.
Mr.. Robertson: Have an these bills
been presented to the Council Of De-
fense?
Mr.. Raskob: Yes. They have an
been approved by Mr.. Topkis, Mr..
Wells and me.
Mr.. Topkis And the purchaser of
each item. For instance The head
nurse Of the hospital had a voucher FOR
Il and she o. K'd the bill We have
for the Red Cross about COO beds. We
have stored them. don't know what
20 do with them. 10 will be up 10 the
city to decide. / have a complete
record OF everything we have got.
Mr.. johnson read the following reso-|
lutions:
whereas certain bills Incurred by
the Board OF Health for the city n
wilmington and committee appoint
cd by the Mayor % assist IN taking
care Of the recent epidemic Of in1u-
enza. have been presented 10 the State
Council OF Defense. and
whereas such expenditure Is not
within the jurisdiction OF the state
Council Of Defense, and
"Whereas the cost OF handling the
epidemic In other sections OF the state
has not been borne by the Council %
but we are advised has been
borne by the respective communities
in which the expenses were incurred,
therefore be 10 resolved, that these
bills Re transmitted 70 the Mayor and
Council OF Wilmington with copy
OF this resolution for their lnforma-
ton snd disposition"
Governor Townsend: Is that salts
factory. Mr.. Robertson7.
Mr.. Robertson: Yes, sir.
CThe resolution was adopted unani-
mously).
II viii be noted the status OF this
matter Is that the expenses were IN
CURED and that the representatives OF
City Council agreed that they were.
subject TO audit, properly expenses TO
be paid by the city OF Wilmington.
The bills were Immediately sent 10
City Council IN accordance with the
understandings as expressed IN the res
olution and to dste Council has neither
paid them nor refused TO pay them and
the state Council Of Defense is with
out Information as to what City Coun- /
ell intends doins.
Tho following papers are attached
herntn 10 snhstanilain slainments CON