Newspaper Page Text
AUGUSTA’S RECORDER SCORED
DECISION OF JUDGE SPEER
Paper Was Cheered Time and Time Again by
Members of the League.
One of the most interesting papers,
and one that won the most applause
from the convention, was that
presented yesterday morning by Re
corder Charles A. Picquet, of Augusta.
His subject was "The Power of the
State to Create and Define the Limits
of Municipal Courts.”
He had been assigned the subject,
“The Enlargement of the Jurisdiction
of the Municipal Courts,” but in view
of the recent decision of Judge Speer,
in the case appealed to him from the
Macon Police Court, the subject was
changed.
"Recorder Picquet’s answer to Judge
Speer's decision is by far the best that
has been nvade,” said one of the May
ors. "His paper showed he had studied
the question carefully and his delivery
was good.” Time and time again, he
was interrupted by applause and had
to pause before he could proceed.
At various points he put in
impromptu comments, which brought
forth repeated cheers. He at
one time referred to Judge Speer
as "the judicial Moses,” who was
to lead the people away from a belief
that had never been doubted, subse
quent or prior to the Magna Charta,
Judge Picquet staid:
‘Foreign regulations are the province
of the federal government; domestic
regulations and institutions belong in
every state to itself, so said Thomas
Jefferson.
“When I received your kind invita
tion to submit a paper on this occa
sion, it was suggested by your presi
dent that I select a subject pertain
ing to municipal courts. It w*as then
my intention to point out certain
ch'anges in the organic law of the
state enabling it to clothe these courts
with certain powers which I think
would largely contribute towards the
suppression of crime—hence, I selected
bs a subject, ‘The Enlargement of the
Jurisdiction of Municipal Courts.’
federal Court Decision.
"Since then a decision of one of the
federal courts of this state in effect
annulling various acts of the General
Assembly, creating these courts, has
persuaded me that it would be safer
to be satisfied with the jurisdiction
they now exercise than violate the dic
tates of prudence and imperil them by
agitating an enlargement of their pow
ers.
"The summary powers exercised by
these courts, having been enjoyed by
them from time immemorial, it occurs
to me that since they have been at
tacked by that decision, it will not
only be interesting to this convention,
but also to every citizen in this state
to briefly consider the origin of these
courts and the power of the state in
creating them and defining their juris
diction.
• • *•*•*
“The statesmen who framed the fed
eral constitution were not only pro
found students of English history, but
were deeply versed in all political his
tory and the science of the government.
In framing the federal constitution they
had in view the object of clothing the
federal government with such powers
only, as were necessary to regulate
the general affairs and to serve to the
people of each state the powrs of regu
lating their own affairs.
In the words of Justice Cooley:
“In contradistinction to these gov
ernments where power is concentrat
ed in one man, or one or more bodies
of men, whose supervision and active
control extends to all objects of gov
ernment within the territorial limits
of the state, the American system is
one of complete decentralization, the
primary and vital object of which is,
the local affairs shall be managed by
local authorities, and general affairs
only by the central authority.
“It was under the control of this idea
that a national constitution was fram
ed. under which the states, while yield
ing to the national government com
plete and exclusive jurisdiction over
external affairs, conferred upon it such
powers only, in regard to internal reg
ELOQUENT ADDRESS
DELIVERED BY UNITED
STATESMEN ATOR CLAY.
Continued from Sixth Page.
colleague, Senator Bacon, In pressing
Congress for the necessary appropria
tion to secure a depth of at least thirty
feet of water at mean low tide. X be
lieve that such an expenditure can be
v.'isely made and will be followed by
a vast increase in business from the
territory naturally tributary to this
port.
As the result of such an expenditure,
undoubtedly the farmers and manufac
turers of a large territory will secure
an easy access to the markets of the
world at a reduced cost of transporta
tion. The government statistics dis
tinctly demonstrate that in order to
aerure the lowest possible freight rates
the largest vessels must be used. The
tiend of ocean commerce is largely to
wards larger freight carriers. Your
committee in a memorial to Congress,
brim full of valuable information,
points unerringly to the fact that
deeper water is but meeting the unil
- demands of the time for a min
imum expense in the exchange of com
modities. But I must not digress from
the point that I was discussing.
" liy Building la deeded.
" - hy has it become necessary for
this city to spend $250,000, foe anew
1 ity Hall? I have already pointed
cut your rapid growth in wealth and
population. I have pointed out the
fact that you are the third cotton port
of the world. You draw cotton not
iily from Georgia, but from Florida,
■Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee,
Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana and
even the Indian Territory and Oklo
borhH. Savannah is the chief primary
market of the world in naval stores,
che is the first port ‘handling the
products of spirits of turpentine and
iosin oil.
I am Informed that the ‘prices of
tnese articles are fixed for the world
jierc and that the buyers located here
> ot only take the naval stores reeelv
'f| at Savannah, but handle 75 per
ot all naval stores received at
points. Savannah's pre-emi
rerne In this line of business is con
ceded by everyone. Savannah draws
' r naval stores from Georgia, Flor
}', a - Alabama, Mississippi, and South
'collna. I have read with amaze
r"* nt and Interest the great Increase
vour lumber and Umber trade,
i -ist year you exported 205,000.000 feet
lumber. lam Informed that every
' ''littonal foot of water has tended
aivell the volume of the exports of
: f,Ur lumber and timber. I shall never
1 unite willing to quit Congress un
-1 you gel thirty feet of water, and
‘ ' r an accomplish this deed, lam
, ' rp ihat you will not let me quit
oi'gresa. j n your memorial to Con
* ‘ " asking for deeper water you
; * ,ri t out the fact, and It la a fcsrt
' i cannot be disputed, that you ex
-’05.000.000 feet of lumber every
; that you ore the third cotton
’ ' ir ' of the world, the chief naval
port, ona of the greatest lum-
porta, the eecond phosphate port
ulations as seemed to be essential to
national union, strength and harmony,
and without which the purpose in or
ganizing the national authority might
have been defeated.”
• ******
For State to Decide.
“According to the genius, spirit and
Policy of our institutions, construed by
the decision of the federal court alone,
■it is almost entirely a question for
the state to decide what shall be the
nature and limits of (he power of
municipalities. A municipal corpora
tion is a child of the state, receiving
from it its breath, blood and existence
and the power to create them and de
fine their limits and jurisdiction is
essentially one reserved to the state.
The power to create municipal courts,
when exercised by the states is bas
ed upon one of its reserved rights,
namely to exercise police power with
in its limits without the interference
ot' the government, and the constitu
tional guarantees have no effect upon
the state in the exercise of this power.
“In the twenty-second. American and
English Law Encyclopedia, page 937,
in discussing the effect of the 14th
amendment upon the state in the ex
ercise of power, we find the follow
ing:
“The constitution guarantees that
no person Shall be deprived of life,
liberty or property, without due pro
cess of law, do not limit, and were
p.ot Intended to limit, the subject upon
which the police power of the state
may lawfully be exerted, for these
guarantees have never been construed
as being incompatible with the prin
ciple, equally vital because so essen
tial to peace -and safety.'
“In the same volume, page 919, the
principle is stated:
"The police power is inherent in the
several states, and is left with them
under the federal system of govern
ment, and may" always be exercised
by the state Legislature. The police
power in the state may in the absence
of any constitutional restrictions upon
the subject (referring to state consti
tution) be delegated to the various
municipalities throughout the state, to
be exercised by therti within their cor
porate limits. And Indeed such dele
gation is necessary, for it is a well
recognized principle that the police
requirements of a city a.re different
from those of the state at large, and
that stricter regulations are essential
to the good order and peace of a
crowded metropolis than are required
in the sparsely peopled portion of the
country.’
To Enfore Police. Regulations.
“The object of these courts in this
state is to enforce the police regula
tions, adopted by municipalities, to
promote the welfare and hapDiness of
the inhabitants of the respective cor
porations. It would be useless to adopt
these by-laws if the corporation were
not clothed with the power to enforce
them. It would be impossible to ex
ercise this power unless the courts
were authorized to impose other pen
alties than a mere fine or nominal im
prisonment. The violation of these
ordinances, or by-laws have been de
fined by numerous decisions of our
slate court, to be petty offenses and
not crimes, and the conviction and pun
ishment, by the municipal courts have
been sustained by the supreme tribu
nal of this state.
“Striped of its oratorical flurry and
bombastic rot, the federal decision re
ferred to. is based upon three posi
tions, first; that a sentence at hard
work upon the public works, for a lim
ited number of days, is infamous pun
ishment; second, that one cannot be
tried, convicted and punished for the
violation of a municipal law by a sen
tence at hard work upon the public
works without the intervention of a
jury: thirdly, that he cannot be tried
and convicted without some formal
procedure such as information or ac
cusation. From the federal decision
above quoted it will be observed that
these rights contained in the first ten
amendments to the federal constitu
tion, are limitations upon that govern
ment alone, and in no way bind or
affect the states.”
of the South; that Savannah has the
largest dock in the world, with 4,000
feet of wharf frontage, the finest sys
tem of free public schools in the South,
with ten years course of study, direct
railroad communication with all the
ports of the United States, more miles
of electric railway than anv other
•city of its size in the South, purer
artesian water, thirty miles of well
paved streets, thousand of acres of
rich land in truck farms around the
city, and I will add a population sur
passed by no dty for intelligence,
thrift, industry and sterling honesty.
These conditions demonstrate the nec
essity for the expenditure of $250,000
for anew City Wall. Your wide-awake
and progressive Mayor, and other city
officials have done well and deserve
credit for planning and constructing
this magnificent building for the pres
ervation of your records and for the
dwelling iplace for your city officials
for a century to come.
Savannah's Railroads.
This splendid work, when completed,
will be an imperishable monument to
l the wisdom of your city officials. In
! making this large expenditure they
have kept in view undoubtedly the
growth of this city, they doubtless cal
! culated that In less than half of a cen
tury your population would double,
and that your commerce and taxable
values would increase more than three
fold. If we could lift the veil and be
hold the future, doubtless these proph
ecies would be more than realized.
What city in the South is surrounded
with such advantages? We know that
four of the leading railroads of this
country: Central of Georgia, Atlantic
Coast Line, Seaboard Air Line and the
Southern Railway, with a gross mile
age of over 16,000 miles, and travers
ing more than a dozen states, center
here in Savannah.
Savannah Is the natural outlet for
the products of more than a dozen
states. No one will question her su
periority am a port of outlet, who will
critically examine the agricultural,
mineral and manufacturing belt sur
rounding this city. With thirty feet
of water so that the largest vessels can
enter your port, your exports will al
most double In a few years. We know
that the building of an Isthmian canal
Is now a matter of certainty. When
this great water-way. connecting the
two oceans Is completed, the commerce
of the South will be stimulated and In
creased beyond the expectation of the
most sanguine friends of the enter
prise. Your representatives In both
branches of Congress have labored
earnestly and zealously for the con
struction of this great enterprise.
At last, we know that every obsta
cle has been removed and the Panama
canal Is a certainty. With the opening
of the canal Savannah's pre-eminence
as the chief port of the thousand miles
of coast south of Baltimore will be
even more fully established. Figures
furnished me by your honorable com
mittee point unerringly to the fact that
when this waterway Is completed Sa
vannah will be by water 520 miles near
er the entrance to the canal than Bal
timore, *lO miles nearer than Philadel
phia. and 705 miles nearer than New
York. The name committee tells u*
that Savannah's trade with South
SAVANNAH MORNING NEWS: FRIDAY. AUGUST 12. 1104.
Drake’s Palmetto Win*.
wonderful tonic medicine will immedi
ately help you and absolutely cure you. Every
reader of this paper who desires to give this re
markable Palmetto medicine a thorough test is
offered a trial bottle of Drake’s Palmetto Wine
free. One tablespoonful once a day relieves and
absolutely cures Indigestion. Flatulency. Con
stipation. Catarrh of the Mucous Membranes,
Congestion of Liver or Kidneys, and Inflamma
tion of Bladder, to stay cured. It is a wonder
ful tonic for the appetite, nervous system and
blood, and .promotes and maintains health
and vigor.
Seventy-five cents at Drug Stores for a large
bottle, usual dollar size, but a trial bottle will
be sent free and prepaid to every reader of this
paper who needs such a medicine. Address your
letter or postal card to Drake Formula Com
pany. Drake Building. Chicago. 111. A trial bot
tle will 'ie sent prepaid.
America, and with the Pacific Coast
and Asia will be vastly expanded, and
will embrace cotton in its various
forms, iron and steej, coal and other
products, in which the South is deeply
interested. We know that the bulk of
the cotton manufactories of the South
are located within 300 miles of this
port? We must not under estimate the
value of deep water and Congress shall
not, if I can prevent it. any longer
delay- making the necessary appropria
tions to give you thirty feet of water.
True Tokens of Greatness.
This is not all. however. We must
not judge a city by its wealth or
commerce alone. The true greatness
of a nation, state or a city, is to be
found in the moral elevation of the
people. The truest tokens of this
greatness in nation, state or city are
to be found in the diffusion of the
greatest happiness among the greatest
number and that justice which con
trols the relations of all the people
who are committed to it’s charge.
Fellow-citizens, if you would pre
serve your liberties, perpetuate repre
sentative government and continue to
make that rapid progress which you
have made in the past. See to it that
none but the good, the just, the wise,
the conservative, the progressive and
thoughtful are elevated to public posi
tions to legislate for this greht city-.
Only such should be permitted to oc
cupy this magnificent building as an
official home.
Teach your sons that none can make
this City Hall their official home ex
cept those who understand and seek
diligently- to advance the public good.
Savanriah’s growth. progress and
high Christian civ-ilization can be
traced to the fact that in the past
she has entrusted public office to her
most patriotic and worthy sons. You
should never lower your standard in
the future. The character of your city
government will alw*ays be measured
by the character of your city officials.
Wicked, corrupt and tyrannical rulers
oppress the people and retard the
growth and progress of cities and
states. To be Mayor of a city like Sa
vannah is 'a great honor. I am sure
that your present May-or has demon
strated, by his remarkable record, that
he is in every xvay worthy of the
honor which you have so often con
ferred upon him.
Industry and Honesty,
Teach your sons that if they aspire
to positions of trust and honor in your
city government they must lead lives
of industry and honesty, devoted to
the public good, alway s seeking to ad
vance the welfare of the city. Mr.
Cleveland went from the office of May
or to the governorship of New York
and thence to the presidency. Any
man that would make a good Mayor
of the city of Savannah would make
a good Governor of Georgia,
Men who are elevated to positions
of trust and responsibility should seek
to give character to the positions
which they occupy. Alexander R.
Stephens made his congressional dis
trict famous by- reason of his distin
guished service in Congress. This dis
trict was known as Stephens district,
not only- in Georgia, but throughout
this Union it was called Stephens dis
trict. Sam Randall was so useful to
his constituents that he retained h‘s
seat in Congress as a Democrat from
a Republican district uiu*l his do:, tit
His congressional district was made
famous by leason of his services to iiis
country. McKinley was universally
by all who knew him beciuse
of Ms devotion to the public good as
he saw it. The selfish, the designing
and corrupt politician may deceive the
people and hold official position for a
time, but his popularity Is sure to be
short-lived. His dishonesty, short
comings and selfish schemes will be
exposed. His fall and ruin are only
matters of time.
A great man once said that the ele
ments of power of a great nation are
not only its fleets and armies or pub
lic buildings. These are necessary and
indicate the civilization of the age,
but over and above these the great
elements of power in a nation are its
moral influences. The great elements
of power in a city are its moral in
fluences.
In all times and at all epochs of
the history of this gtate Savannah has
played a great part in our civilization
because she has always been a city
of character and possessing a Chris
tian civilization equal to any city in
this Union. When Savannah speaks,
Georgia always listens, because when
she speaks she alw-ays has something
tq say. When Savannah leads, Geor
gia has always been willing to fol
low, because Savannah is worthy to
lead any great cause. God bless the
citizens of Savannah in all of their
worthy aspirations.
ANOTHER FULL PROGRAMME
FOR THE LEAGUE TO DAY.
Extra Session Will Re Held as Easi
ness Ws Aiot Finished.
There will be a session of the league
this morning shortly after 10 o'clock,
at which time two papers will be read.
Col. C. P. Goodyear of Brunswick
will read a paper on “Home Rule of
Municipalities as Related to Municipal
Prosperity,” and Hon. Minter Wimber
ly of Macon will read a paper on “The
Policy of Municipal Authorities in re
gard to Claims for Damages."
There will be an inspection of the fire
department of Savannah Just before
the meeting this morning. The entire
department will pass by the De Soto,
that the officials may have an oppor
tunity of seeing it. In the afternoon,
leaving at 1 o'clock, there will be an
excursion down the river to Quaran
tine Station, and then out to sea on
the steamer Clayton. Lunch is to be
served on board.
CONVENTION NOTES.
Municipal ownership Is a subject
of the deepest interest to the former
president of the league. When Mr.
Smith learned that Mayor Howell of
Atlanta could not lead this discussion
he began to enlist the other Mayors
in the subject. “It Is a matter of the
most vital Interest to all cities," he
said. "And it Is sure to be more and
more talked of and agitated. About
the only real argument ever ofTered
against municipal ownership is that
politics may creep into it. And poli
tics slip Into everything. I am a mem
ber of the educational board and I
think 1 And about a* much politic* in
It am anywhere else."
President Bridge* Smith la an old
newspaper man—a brainy ona and a
Jolly one. He spent twenty-five years
of his life writing
"Yes." said he. "they tell me that I
have a Journalistic graveyard. And
I have Interred a few periodicals, i
confess. Ram Small and I burled two
that I recall."
Mayor Thomaa W, Cochran of
Barnesville is one of the best known
business men of Middle Georgia! He
is proud of Barnesville. the home of
Gordon Institute, known all over the
South. Mr. Cochran will spend sev
eral days at Tybee after the conven
tion.
The bringing of the band from
Sullivan's Island was due largely tq
the efforts of Alderman W. H. Wright,
chairman of the Transportation Com
mittee. Alderman Wright was a tire
less worker and carried out his part
of the programme without a hitch.
Alderman James M. Dixon, ehair
nvan of the Automobile Committee,
was congratulated yesterday on every
side for the excellent .parade Wednes
day afternoon. Mr. Dixon worked
hard to make the parade of the autos
a success, and devoted much time
and attention to the details that were
necessary for a successful trip.
Judge A. J. Crovatt, Mayor of
Brunswick. is among the most en
thusiastic of the visitors. “If there
is any city in the world that knows
how to entertain, it is Savannah.”
said Judge Crovatt yesterday. “I
don’t see how you fellows can ever
think of so many things to entertain
strangers wtith. And such splendid
roads. And such beautifully paved
streets.”
The trip down the river to-day will
be a stag affair. Luncheon will be
served on the boat and the visiting
officials will be given a good time.
The Clifton will leave the foot of
Whitaker street promptly at 1 o'clock
and at that hour luncheon will be
served.
A message was received by Mayor
Myers last night from Surgeon General
Weyman, regretting his inability to
be present at the meeting of the
League of Georgia Municipalities.
The United States band from Sulli
van's Island gave a concert at the De
Soto last night that was enjoyed by
the members of the league and a large
number of others .ft ho were present.
The band won the highest praise here
yesterday. It was complimented on
every hand. It will return to Charles
ton this morning.
LEAGUE NAMED
NEW OFFICERS.
Continued from Twelfth Page.
ownership. He gave some figures from
his own city in support of his position,
slating that the cheapest water pow
er in the country was in Augusta,
where the city owned the canal. He
said the city had been contemplating
putting in its own lighting plant. All
cities, he statedl should own their
lighting and water plants.
Good Even With Grafting ,
Mayor Bailey also spoke in support
of municipal ownership, asserting that
he believed it was a good thing even
where graft existed.
Mayor Horne of Milledgeville made
an interesting talk, showing some of
the evils of private ownership. He used
his own town as an illustration. The
waterworks there are owned by a cor
poration. The plant cost $43,000, he
stated, and is bonded for $125,000. The
city pays the company $3,700 for the
use of water for fire purposes alone,
and he said there had been only one
fire in two years, so the city paid $7,-
000 for water used at that fire. The
contract with the company has already
cost thousands of dollars, he said,
and the water furnished was not fit
for drinking purposes.
Ah to State Cbtunint.
Mayor' Horne said he had repeatedly
sent some of the water to the state
chemist, but that official would not
condemn any water unless it would
kill a man within ten minutes ufter
he drank it. He evidently stands in
with the corporations, declared Mayor
Horne.
Dr. Longino of Atlanta, and Mayor
Chappell of Columbus, spoke in favor
of municipal ownership, the latter
speaking at length upon it.
"I urge small towns that have not
yet embarked in the enterprise to profit
by the example of Milledgeville and
Columbus," said Mayor Chappell.
“Wait until you can issue bonds and
have your own plants.”
In Columbus he said the waterworks
were owned by a private corporation,
and that the city was suffering from
it. Mayor Monk of Moultfie, Mayor
Lovejoy of Hawkinsvllle, Mayor Coch
ran of Barnesville, and a number of
others also advocated cities owning
their own plants.
Two Paper* Were Read.
Recorder Ficquet, of Augusta, read
a paper on police courts, and Dr.
Brunner, of Savannah, read a paper
on the smallpox situation in the state.
The discussion which followed the lat
ter was responsible for no others be
ing taken up. These papers are given
below.
The time for the meetings of the
league was changed from the second
to the third Wednesday in August.
This change was made because of the
summer sessions of the Legislature
now.
Mayor .fame* R. Atwater
James R. Atwater, the newly elect
ed president of the league, is Just
30 years of age. and is unmarried.
He is a son of Capt. James Atwater
and a grandson of Nathan Respess,
founder of the first cotton factory in
the state. He has been mayor of
Thomaston a progressive little town
of 2,000 inhabitants, for ten years.
He is a banker, a cotton and oil mill
operator and a planter. He is chair
man of his County Executive Commit
tee, and of the Executive Committee
of the Sixth Congressional district,
embracing the olty of Macon. He Is
also captain of the Upson County
Guards. He has taken a deep interest
In the league since Its organization.
IN THE RAILROAD WORLD.
Mr. P. S. Hay, Southeastern passen
ger agent of the Mobile and Ohio,
with headquarters at Montgomery, was
in the city yesterday.
Mr. E. J. Walker, of Jacksonville,
freight and passenger agent of the
Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis
road, was here yesterday.
The Southern Railway has notified
Its agents of the untruth of the rumor
that the Toxaway hotels in the Sap
phire country were full of guests and
could therefore accommodate no more
patrons. General Passenger Agent
w. H. Tayloe is authority for the
statement to the effect that the hotels
can accommodate a hundred regular
guests and all transient guests com
ing to that section of the country.
CITY BREVITIES.
Rev. George Solomon has returned
from Waynesvllle, N. C., and services
will be held In the chapel at 7 o'clock
this evening.
An Important meeting of the Board
of Governors of the North Carolina
Society has been called for 9 o'clock
to-night, at the home of Mr. J. P.
Williams. NotlCf* were sent out to
the member* yesterday by Secretary
Donlan.
M was reported to the police at an
early hour thla morning that eome
one had entered the house of a sec
tion boss of the Atlantic- ('oast Line
near the Gorrle lee Company outside
the city limits and fired a shot at one
of the occupant* The police are .In
vestigating the matte*
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MUST TAKE
CHARGE OF SMALLPOX SITUATION
Declared Dr. Brunner in Paper Stating Inefficient
Can Do Nothing-
The paper by Dr. W. F. Brunner on
“The Smallpox Situation in Georgia
and the Remedy of Its Suppression,”
read at yesterday morning’s ses
sion of the Municipal League, stat
ed that the health boards, city, county
and state, are unable to cope with
the smallpox situation, and that the
federal government will have to
take the matter up.
He predicted that this will be done
at no very distant date. The paper
caused a great deal of discussion, all
agreeing that the problem is the
most vital one with which municipali
ties now have to contend.
Tn the discussion which followed the
paper Dr. Brunner declared that
“when a State Board of Health that Is
inefficient asks for money to do work
that it knows it cannot do. it. Is get
ting money under false pretenses.”
Atlanta anil Its Smallpox.
Dr. Robert W. Hynds of Atlanta, as
sistant secretary of the State Board of
Health, differed with Dr. Brunner on
some questions, stating as hte opinion
that the present epidemic of smallpox
came from Mexico and not Cuba. He
admitted that there is smallpox in
North Georgia and said it had been in
Atlanta for ten years.
He stated further there had been
more deaths among white people in
Atlanta this year from smallpox than
among negroes. He said the state
board had been without enough money
the last year to do much. He thought
the hoards, state, county and city,
could do good work.
Dr. Brunner, in answering this, said
the State Board had done nothing.
Brunner Called Them Down.
“They absolutely haven’t got a letter
press," he declared.
He said the state Board of
Health had reported 'to the United
States authorities that there had been
seven deaths in Liberty City, which
has 'a population of only 150, from
smallpox. That -had been published to
the world, he said, by authority of
the state board.
Dr. Brunner said he had called the
attention of the president of the board
to the fact that there had not been
any deaths In Liberty City, and that
he refused to correct the statement,
saying it had been furnished him by
a certain physician in a letter.
Dr. Brunner says he asked for the
letter and it could not be found. He
explained that the physician had prob
ably reported the deaths somewhere
else and Dr. Westmoreland had lost
the letter and not remembered where
the deaths occurred.
Wlint linele Sam Would Do.
“That gentleman,” said Dr. Brunner,
after explaining this incident, "is the
character of the work your State
Board of Health Ir doing.” Dr. Brun
ner declared the federal government
would niOßt certainly undertake the
work. He said it would mean the
spending of a great de_d of money In
Georgia and adjoining states, instead
of taking money away as the present
work is doing, besides stamping out
the disease.
Hon. M inter Wimberly of Macon
spoke at length on the question
declaring that people are dying from
smallpox just simply because the au
thorities do not have the nerve to
enforce vaccination. The problem is
the most vital one, he declared, that
could possibly be brought before the
league.
“The boards of health are dead and
'they don't know It,” he stated. Others
also spoke on the question. Follow
ing is Dr. Brunner’s paper in part:
Sionllpox in Every .State.
For nearly six years, smallpox, a
preventable disease has existed in
every section of the state of Georgia.
This statement also applies to every
state in the union.
SnVallpox owes its origin to return
ing soldiers who served during the
Spanish-American War, and who had
been stationed in Cuba and Porto
Rico. It is almost Impossible to desig
nate, correctly, the first infected point.
The probability is that the disease was
introduced by volunteer troops on their
|return from Cuba and Porto Rico,
which means that the first infected
point was a sea-coast city, although
there is evidence/that people were In
fected simultaneously at interior cities,
hy soldiers who had been discharged
from the army.
That the disease existed among the
volunteers, in the corps commanded
by Gen. who were sent to Hav
ana in the month of December. 1898, is
my personal knowledge, for I was, at
that time, an officer of the Marine
Hospital Service, being stationed at
Havana. A few weeks after that corps
had been in Cuba, smallpox developed
In a regimeAt from Indiana. Natural
ly, the disease appeared, first in cities,
then the infection was transmitted to
smaller cities, towns and villages, and
finally became disseminated in every
county in this and other states.
Many Are Ignorant.
In a majority of cases, the disease
was properly handled In cities and
towns where there were organized
boards of health. Unfortunately, there
were some cities and towns where
there was a diversity of opinion among
physicians as to the true nature of the
disease. The reasons for this were, in
the first place, but few of the medical
profession had ever seen smallpox and
those few had not come in contact with
the disease for many years. Again,
the mild type assumed in the present
epidemic is so different from the severe
type of the disease which prevailed for
years after the Civil War, that it be
came a difficult matter for the older
physicians to properly diagnose the
disease.
During the last five years, X have
been called upon by the authorities of
nearly a score of cities and towns to
untangle the snarl, caused by the dif
ference of opinion among physicians
concerning the true nature of an erup
tive disease, about which the local
medical men had differed. I never fail
ed to find smallpox in every one of
the places visited.
The disease obtained a foothold In
the cities, spread rapidly to the small
towns and villages, which became
thoroughly Infected, and from them to
the rural districts. The authorities of
these towns and villages and often the
county authorities, on finding small
pox In their midst, on the basis of
economy. If for no othet reason, would
spend a few dollars for railroad trans
portation to the larger cities, It being
cheaper to send the infected persons
away than to properly care for them.
For over five years this condition of
affairs haa existed throughout the en
tire state, and tt would appear that,
unless some new departure Is made In
the handling of the disease. It will
prevail as It did after the Civil War,
which means Its continued existence
for ten or twelve years.
Other Slate Boards.
One unfortunate condition which ex
ists, is the pruvalance of the disease
Odors of Perspiration Royal Foot Wash
" -•-? fnt, •tv, by * T ■■
Slops Chafing, cures Sweating, Itching Swollen, Tired Fee*.
*sc at druggist*, or prepaid from BATON DBtro CO., Atlanta, Oa. Money
back If not satisfied. Sample for 1- cent stamp.
in the state bordering on Georgia. While
every one of these states has a state
board of health, which has been in ex
istance for years, Small-pox has pre
vailed in these states, with little or no
control of same, since it was intro
duced over five years ago. This city,
itself, three years ago, after being free
from smallpox for over six months, was
infected by negroes living on the sea
islands of South Carolina, and after
repeated efforts to Interest the State
Board of Health of South Carolina in
suppressing the disease, but without
success, for the reason that the pop
ulation of these islands had but small
commercial relations with other por
tions of that state, the national gov
ernment, through the Marine Hospital
Service, took a hand in the fight and
placed Interstate quarantine on the
waterways leading from those islands
to Georgia, and in sixty days, that
source of infection was eliminated.
*******
As to Dr. Westmoreland.
• ******
I heard the president of the State
Board of Health of Georgia make a
statement to the Committee on Ap
propriations of the Lower House of
Legislature, on Tuesday, July 12, that
smallpox had existed in South Geor
gia for ten years; as a matter of
fact, it was introduced in the year
1599. Being asked by 'a member of
the committee if the disease existed
in North Georgia, he replied that It
did not. Of course, it does not ap
pear reasonable to a thinking man that
a contagious disease like smallpox
could exist tn one section of the state,
for ten or even five years, without every
other section of the st'ate becoming in
fected also.
As president of the State Board of
Health, a position that he had held
for nearly a year, he should have
known that the city he lives in, At
lanta, had been infected as long as
any other portion of the state, and'
that, during the first period of the
present year, four counties in North
west Georgia, namely: Polk, Haralson,
Heard and Carroll, had been badly in
fected and had been visited by the
state health officer, presumably, under
his direction, with instructions to look
into the prevalence of the disease in
the said counties.
Westmoreland Wlthont Knowledge,
The amount of money he asked for
showed, conclusively, that he had no
practical knowledge of the disease
when he asked for $7,000 more than
the board had received last year, with
which to combat the disease, when we
all know that ten times that amount
would not be sufficient to make the
fight. 1 make these statements to
show that the State Board of Health
of Georgia is not different from any
other state board of health in this
part of the country.
Smallpox is a disease, the germ or
micro-organism of which h'as never
been discovered, therefore, it is no
laboratory fight. The state medical
officer must be in the saddle; must be
a practical man, with a knowledge of
men. and he should prosecute the
work in all counties of the state.
Is n College Lecturer.
The state health officer of Georgia
is a 'professor in a college and from Us
catalogue he is scheduled to lecture
four days in every week from Octo
ber to March, inclusive, and I would
oail your attention to 'the fact that it
is during these months that smallpox
prevails to a greater extent than at
any other period of the year. I say
these things In no* spirit of malice,
nor fnom any disappointed ambition,
for I twice refused an appointment
on the State Board of Health from
Gov. Terrell, which he was kind
enough to offer me.
I would like you gentlemen who rep
resent every section of this state to
look at the situation fairly and square
ly. It Is not a matter of North Geor
gia or South Georgia, and no men, or
set of men, without praotieal experi
ence and without sufficient money, can
clear Georgia of this disease, for it
takes money and practical experience
to wipe out smallpox. Most of the
cities can meet these two necessities.
The disease can be fought there suc
cussfully, but it will be fed to them
from the smaller towns and villages,
from tlie country and from other states
and unless vou wish this disease to
continue, probably for five or more
years. It will be necessary to invoke
the aid of the national government.
* ••••••
The remainder of Dr. Brunner’s
paper was devoted to advice as to
the lines on which the cities and towns
should fight until the federal govern
ment does check the disease. Vac
cination, Isolation of patients and sus
pects, and disinfection of Infected ma
terial and dwellings. The importance
of each of these points was elaborated
upon at length. Impure virus ha* fre
quently been used In the past, he said.
Of the almost 1,000 children vaccinat
ed here at the beginning of the last
school year, there was not a single
bad arm, he stated.
Pay for Article* Destroyed.
He said articles destroyed should be
payed for. He referred to the fact
that the Supreme Court of the state
tvaa decided that murUcloolltles are
not liable for articles destroyed by
order of health authorities, but said
not doing so was the worst of policies,
as It induced people to hide Infected
article*. It was cheaper to pay for
them then to treat the oases they
were likely to cause, If not disinfect
ed. he said.
Further he said:
“In Conclusion. I would say that It
has been Impossible for me to more
than briefly outline the smallpox sit
uation and the proposed remedies, and
I only wish I could have gone more
thoroughly Into the details of the sub
ject. This much I have stated clear
ly; that smallpox ha* Invaded every
part of the state, and there Is noth
ing In sight that would make any
one beileve that It will not continue
to spread. State, oitv and county
boards poorly equipped with funds and
with inexperienced men, have failed
to do this work. This disease has be
come a national pest. Let the fed
eral government take charge of the
situation."
LOCAL
Mr. S. E. Waters of Richmond Is at
the De Soto.
Mr. Walter Harper of Atlanta la at
the De Soto.
Mr. W. E. Holmes of Pensacola Is
at the Screven House.
Among the guests at the Pulaski la
Mr. H. L. Trumbes of Macon.
Among the guests at the De Soto Is
Mr. E. W. Newcomb of Chicago.
Mr. S. C. Brooks of Valdosta sailed
yesterday In the Frederick for Balti
more, on his way to St. Louis.
Mr. G. 1. Taggart. Jr., left tost night
for Nova Scotia on a business trip.
He will be gone about three weeks.
Mr. F. E. Fleming of Augusta Is
registered at the Pulaski. Mr. B. F.
Estate
Daniel Jjogan.
Rags!
Rugs!
Rugs!
Rugs!
Few more of these re
markable Art Square val
ues
at $9.89
These goods cannot be
duplicated for less than
$16.00. The colorings are
choice.
Our large size
98c Rug
has been the talk of the
town. Call and secure one
before they are gone.
Large variety of other
Rugs, both large and small,
at Phenomenal Low Prices.
Our entire stock of
Mattings
to go at and' below New
York cost. To properly
appreciate this fact they
must be seen.
Our Great
PRE INVENTORY SALE
Continues Up to Aug. 15.
Summer goods must move.
Our big importations are
arriving daily and we need
the room.
ICE CREAM FREEZERS.
IVATL; COOLERS.
HAMMOCKS,
ra FANS.
BLUE FLAME OIL STOVES.
$5.00 QUADRUPLE WATER PITCH
ERS $3.40 EACH.
ALLEN - MS.,
Wedding Presents Specialist* and
House Furnishers,
Pineapples for Sale.
The best for grating, preserving
and table use. Strictly fancy
smooth Cayennes, per crate of 16,
weight about 75 pounds, $3.75. Strict
ly fancy Porto Ricos, per crate of 8 to
10, weight about 75 pounds, $3.75.
N. B. —The digestive properties of
the pineapple are equal to that of
pepsin.
Strictly fancy Manatee River
Guavas, per six basket carrier crate,
$1.60.
Shipments via express. Remit by
check or money order for any quan
tity desired. WM. HANSON.
Braidentown, Fla.
FRESH RICE FLOUR
FOR SALE
at Planters’ Rice Mill
W. Carter of Richmond Is a guest of
the Pulaski.
Among the passengers due to-day on
the Kansas City from New York, are:
Mr. O. E. Crittenden, Mr. E. P. Jor
dan. Miss M. F. Manning, Mr. and
Mrs. T. F. Manahan, and Rev. J. S.
McCarty.
The New Orleans arrived yesterday
from Baltimore. Among the passen
gers were: Dr. and Mrs. G. M. Niles,
Mr. and Mrs. R. Weaver. Mr. R. P.
Black, Mr. W. E. Hamilton and Mr.
F. Kennedy.
Among the passengers to arrive to
day In the Merrimack from Philadel
phia, are: Mr. Cha*. Jones, Mr. and
Mrs. W. H. Seeds, Master W. H.
Seeds, Jr., and Mis* Gertrude Seeds of
Jacksonville, Miss C. Boner ot Augusta,
and Mrs. Henry Kellers of Charleston.
Among the Atlantans on the Fred
erick, which sailed yesterday for Bal
timore, en route to Boston, were: Mr.
J. P. Davidson, Mr. D. H. Holmes,
Mrs. J. H. Gardner and Miss Marie
Gardner. Mr. and Mrs. S. E. Taylor
and Mr. G. M. Taylor, Mrs. A. Nobles
and Mr. M. Nobles. Mr. W. A. Wa
ters, Mr. A. M. Riley and Mrs. J. M.
Bell.
Among the passengers who will sail
on the Alleghany for Philadelphia, Aug.
20. are: Mr. J. F. Killer of Macon.
Mr. E. H. Racine of Macon, Mr. R. H.
Redwood of Asheville, Mr. and Mrs.
R. L. Redwood of Asheville, Mr. and
Mrs. J. E. Nelson, Mr. A. G. Douglas.
Miss Maggie O’Connor, Mr. George
Walters, Mr. J. M. Thomas, and Mr.
J. W. Hutchison.
c o u rThou sTpiciFu ps.
The petition of Stephen E. Prentiss,
trustee, and others, praying that an
order be given transferring the trust
to the Jurisdiction of the Probate Court
of Barnwell county, S. C.. was granted
yesterday by Judge Cann.
The case of George W. Beckett,
plaintiff In certloHarl, against George
6 Cargill, defendant In certiorari, wa*
filed yeeterday *ln the Superior Court.
The case is sn appeal from the court
ef Justice Bevans, when Mr. Cargill
secured a verdict for IIS on a suit on
account.