New Britain herald., 1928-10-03
AUD. JUDD AG|7ATED BY SMALLPOX BILL DeuouncS Health Officer Rob-
 bins for Charging City S9SS
 EPIDEMIC COSTS %,Yoo
Formation of Girls Club Under Consideration - Pequabuck Golf Club Has Election 0f OHicers- 44S,Ot)O Corporation.

If the city is to spend several thousand dollars year for the maintenance of its health depart- ment, it is time that 2 full time health officer was ergaged," was the comment of Councilman Homer H. Judd today. after learning that the city council last evening had voted to appropriate Sl,200 10 pay for cer- tain bills in connection with the smallpox epidemic last winter. which had been held up by MT. Judd as chairman of the committee appoint ed by Mayor w. Raymond Crumb to approve all expenditures. Mr. Judd was absent from last nights session because of illness in the family and he was incensed be- cause of the council voting to pay such bills without his approval. Councilman Frank Merrill, also a member of the committee. ques- tioned one of the bills but he. with Councilman w. E. Hough, the third member of the committee. voted to settle such bills as were pending. Judd Questions Hills
 Mir. Judd. in commenting on the subject this morning, made the fol- lowing statement: 'I question the obligation of the city to pay the bill of Dr. B. B. Robbins. city health officer. for 3sss. to cover vaccina- tions made at the city clinic The health officer is engaged by the city on a salary basis and all of the vaccinations referred to were made by him personally. have been ir touch with 14 other local physicians all of whom have informed me that they were not asked to assist at tn. clinic during the smallpox scare but that during the diphtheria immuni
 zation campaign where there wal no return. their services were ofter
 solicited. Personally feel that thu ed into the vaccination program
 One doctor informed me that tn,
 patient which he was treating fol
 smallpox and who was quarantinet
 for that disease. did not have small |
 pox at all.
 q also fail to find where ou health officer. Dr. Robbins. eve came in contact with any patien who had the disease. Amongst th |. bills submitted by pr. Robbins va one for house rental at $50 a month This tenement was in Dr. Robbin own house. according to the bil which he originally submitted am
 was for a tenant who was asked t vacate the old Quinion farm ol Chippins HI. which was then turn ed into an isolation hospital.
 "When Doctor Robbins solicite,
 the appointment as city health off
 cer. he explained that he would b able to affect considerable savinl
 for the city. A check of the depart
 ment. however. will plainly indicat
 to anyone interested that the main tenance of that branch is costing u more than it ever did.
 "An investigation developed tha all doctors at the factory clinic
 charged 7s cents for each vaccina
 tion in contrast to the $l charge,
 by Dr. Robbins In the city clinic In my opinion the smallpox epidemi
 agitation was made for the healtl officers personal benefit.
 All of the bills which I held ur with the exception Of the one sub mitted by Dr. Robbins for vaccina lions, were not itemized and wer made out by the same party. Fo
 that reason I felt that I could 10 approve them and consequently di . not"
 The question of the unpaid bill was brought up by Councilman Will
 liam A. Hayes at the council meet ing last evening. He critirized tn
 members of the committee for hold
 ing up the bills and it was upo his motion that the council voted t pay them.
 Mir. Judd this morning stated tha he felt that the bill submitted b the health officer for vaccination
 was excessive and that he had en