The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-06-13
REINSTATED.
DIR. Files in Abraham's Bosom
Once More.
The Medical Society Votes TO
Take Him Back

/
After He Had Shown Proper Penitenc,
The second day of the Maine Medical Asso
citation opened at 9 a. M, with President Jewet
in the chair.
Secretary Hunt extended an invitation in
behalf of the directors of the Maine General
Hospital for the physicians present to visit the
Hospital during their stay in the city.
A resolution was read from the franklin
County Medical Society, lin which the society
stated that hereafter the members of the so.
ciety should charge fee of $500 for attending
coroner's inquest and twenty-five cents mile
age. The resolution was referred to the board
of censors.
DR.. Fuller of Bsth.l representative to tie
American Ne dical Association, made report
of his visit.
The resolutions of DR.. Foster in regard to
the payment of bills was taken from the table.
1t was discussed by Drs. Tswksbury, Foster,
Fuller, Weeks, Gordon, Bates, Gerrish and
Sanger, and finally amended so as to read as
follows:
Resolued That none of the officers or committee of
whose salary shall be SIS shall receive pay for
their services time or expenses while performing the
duties of said offices, except for printing and post
age
secretary shall be paid by the treasurer until it has
been approved by the board of censors.
After the passage of these resolutions there
was wait in the proceedings, and it was evil
dent to all that something was coming. In
fact the most important thing of the session
did come, and it occupied good part of the
days session. After the President had called
for further business without reply more than
once, DR.. G. E. Brickett of Augusta arose and
began to speak in slow, but very impressive
manner, and below will be found the proceed
ings which followed.
Dr. Brickett said he arose to speak upon
question of vital Importance to all members of
the Maine Medical Association He had seen
by the papers that member of the association
had been expelled. 1 refer to Dr. Files. I
should like to know if there is any record of
any such expulsion on the books of the asso-
citation.
The Secretary then read the report of the
Secretary of the Board of Censors, which
stated that DR.. Files had been expelled by that
board.
DR.. Brickett then claimed that until the
record of the association showed the man ex-
PEELED, he was still member and in good
standing, and will continue so until a record
is made to the contrary. The gentleman in
question is worthy brother, we'll educated,
and he has been summoned before the board
and summarily expelled, and for what? For
writing little article which appeared in a
daily paper, and which he acknowledges that
he wrote.
President Jewett, Gnterrupting)-Is there
any resolution before the house upon which
you are speaking?
Brickett-L have not come to that vet, but
will shortly.
should be resolution before the house if one
is to be discussed, but do not object to the
gentleman's explaining himself.
Brickett-I believe this man did not have a
fair and impartial trial, and even after con.
vcted he did not have the privilege of an
appeal. He made an appeal to the President
and Vice Presidents, but they refused him a
second hearing and he was condemned. The
board that tried him was not impartial, for
these reasons: There were five gentlemen on
that board. One of them, DR.. Hunt of Cor.
ham, is brother to one of the accusers, who is
Superintendent of the Maine General Hos
pital. A second, DR.. Gerrisb, the secretary, is
also secretary of the board of directors of the
Hospital, and DR.. Fuller of Bath, thoroughly
honest man, is also connected with the Hos
pital. He had right and did challenge two
Of thaqn Init il hoodad nd tha
trial went on. Then the President and Vice
President refused him an appeal, but he is to
have his rights before the case is over 1 claim
that he has some rights. Even criminal has
whole bench of judges will sit and hear his
case. whether they grant his petition or not. I
ask If 1t is fair and just to treat q man as he
has been treated. To bring the matter before
you move that the report of the Board of
Censors be not accepted and placed on record
Dr.. Tewksbury-i second the motion.
President Jewett-I claim a right to be
heard in this matter. Dr. Files case was
acted on according to the laws of the associa-
ton. He was expelled and an appeal was
made to the President and Vice President flor
rehearlng. That petition was denied for
good and sufficient reasons. The officers to
whom the appeal was made did not see suffi.
Gent cause for rehearing and it was denied
In order that my position may not be mis-
understood have put my words in writing as
follows:
Gentlemen-Yourc consideration of this SUBJ
ject may end in trial by you of the Board of
Censors, also of the President and Vice
Presidents of this association We have
virtually been charged in printed circular
with official delinquency in the discharge of
duties which this association by its constitution
and bylaws imposed upon u.s. That charge
may be made here. As one ofithe officers whose
impeachment may be involved L decline to
preside while this matter is under cousidera.
fiop I will rotiro in orda hat
ings may not be embarrassed by the presence
of an accused person in the chair. So tar as
the attack upon your officers may be aimed at
me shall be ready to defend myself when
an accusation is directly and distinctively
made.
Before however leave the chair would rule
DR.. Brickett's resolution out of order.
Vice President Haskell was called to the
chair, but declined to serve for the same
reason that the President declined ~
Second Vice President Osgood also refused
to serve. and the President called on DR..
Pendleton of Belfast to take the chair for the
consideration of DR.. Files case.
DR.. Brckett-I will respectfully withdraw
the preamble and resolution in regard to the
Censors' report and substitute for IL one that
Dr.. Files be at once restored to fellowship.
The remark OF the President in regard to the
officers being censured or impeached was
mistake. No one wished to impeach them
but all claimed right to criticize their acts
WHICH, lucy tuOugut tuem 10 Do wrong. Ih0r0
can be no doubt but what DR.. Files had
right to appeal.
The Chair-The substitution offered is out of
order according to the rule which provides that
application for membership must be made to
the Censors thirty days before the meeting.
DR.. Gordon-I rise to the point of order that
the gentleman (Dr. Brickett) is out of order as
the resolution has not been stated by the chair
DIR. Brckett-This is gag law in force is it?
thought we were all brothers and wanted to
get at this matter in the quickest manner. If
however it is necessary will put my resolution
in writing. 1t is as follows:
Whereas, DR.. Files has been summarily expelled
from this honorable body by the action Of the board
Of censors, and the rights OF appeal have been denied
him by the president and vice president therefore
RESOLVED, That DR.. Files be restored to full mem
bership in the Maine Medical Association.
The Chair-The resolution is out of order.
Dr. Brickett-I appeal from the decision
and shall speak upon the appeal. If this de-
| csion is sustained this whole matter goes by
and this man is denied his right. It is Of
| the utmost importance that the chair be not
sustained, and I appeal to the members for
| the rights of this man. Every thing turns on
| this one vote.
The Chair-The remarks are ruled out Of
| order.
DR.. Brickett-I appeal from that decision
and claim right to speak on an appeal IS I
l III L. nsn