The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-02-09
Representative Baker of Wal.
lace Down With Disease.
Members of House Ways and
Means Committee Exposed.
VACC|NATING MEMBERS TODAY
State Health Officials Take
Charge of Conditions Here.
Baker Caught Disease in His
Home Town, 1t Is Believed.

An epidemic of smallpox may face
the Kansas legislature. One member
Representative NJ. r. Baker OF Wal.
lace county-is under quarantine with
the disease. Practically all of the
members of the house ways and
means committee have been exposed.
While Baker is the only person at this
time under quarantine restrictions,
members of the big committee were
called for vaccination Tuesday and to-
day.
State health officials have taken
charge of the Baker case. Dr. s. +
Crumbine. secretary of the state
board of health. was today carefully
Watcning the case and with assistants
In his office was directing vaccination
OF members of the house committee.
Doctor Crumbine. however - warned
against alarm and said that SO far as
known the Baker case was the only
one to develop. In addition to assoc
clates on the committee. employees
nave also been exposed. Several of
them called Tuesday for vaccination
and are under observation.
Baker Was Sick Sunday. ws Y!
Representative Baker has been sick
since Sunday. He attended a meeting
OF the ways and meals committee FRI
day night in the office of l.. j. Petit
lohn, secretary of state. AS he left
the state house in company with sew
eral colleagues, he was seized with his
iirst chill. He walked. however, to a
mouse In Monroe street, where he has
been staying during the session. Tues
day he was removed to North Topeka
and quarantine restriction ordered.
SO far as we have been able to
learn Representative Baker is the only
person for whom a quarantine should
pc ordered at this time" said Doctor
Crumbine. However, we have urged
that all members of the COMMITTEES
VINO nave not been successfully vac
cinated, give the matter Immediate at
tention. We vaco.nated seven or eight
members of the committee Tuesday
| afternoon"
In Committee. ~.
! D.. r. Lamb. representative from
\ Dickinson county and chairman of the
| important house committee, has urged
all members Of his committee to take
| every preeaution against spread of
the disease among legislators. The
ways and means committee ranks sec
ond only to the judiciary committee
, in Importance and standing in the Leg
islature. Its membership includes zS
of the 125 house members.
/ Just al this time the ways and
means committee is originating the
big appropriation bills for state schools
and institutions. Any considerable out
break of smallpox at this stage OF the
! legislature would not only tie up the
work of the committee, but might in
terfere with the general session of the
legislature. 1t is seemingly impossible
at this time to indicate the extent to
which members have been exposed.
! The Wallace county member attended
Friday sessions of the house and was
present during the committee deliber-
atoms that night. He occupies a seat
in the rear of the house and four rows
north of the center aisle.
Baker is serving his second term as
member of the state legislature. He
is a farmer and lives near the town
of Chance, Wallace county. There has
been @ smallpox epidemic in his town.
Personnel OF Committee.
Following is the personnel of the
house ways and means committee with
which Baker met before he was seized
with his first chill:
/ Lamb of Dickinson, chairman; Tay-
, lor of Wabaunsee. vice chairman;
Bateman of Jackson; Baker of Wal
lace. Bland of Washington. Crary of
Mcpherson, Cloud of Kingman, Freas
! of Lane. Farrell of Clay. Gibbons of
Meade, Hatfield of Gray. Ireland of
! Woodson. Lambertson of Brown, Mack
of Harvey. Maloney of Geary, Manary
of Morton. Norman of Doniphan. PEN
! dleton of Franklin. Piper of Mont
gomery Rhodes of Anderson. Robbins
Of Neosho. Sargent of Smith. Sinclair
of Hodgeman.