The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-05-13

mated yesterday in q complete division OF the
factions, both of which held meetings and
transacted business. the two Democratic
members with DR.. Boots organizing sep
arats board and electing DR.. Metcslf Secre-
Eary. Drs. Lomax, Partridge and Elder were
in the office when Drs. Seawright, Friisch
and Boots entered, and DR.. Friisch moved
that DR.. Seswright act as Chairman, DR..
Boots putting the question and stating that
1--WE do not recognize you as member, be
cause you have not qualified according to
law Drs Ssswright, Boots and Fritsch
voted for the motion, and Drs. Lomax, Part.
ridge and Elder against it. The motion was
declared carried, and o motion that DR..
Fritsch act as temporary Secretary was car
ried by a similar vote. Permanent organ
iza.ion wss then made by the election OF
DR.. Seawright as President and DR.. Metcalf
as Secretary, the three Republicans voting
against and the three Democrats in favor
of it, sad DR.. Seawright. declaring
the elections made, as in the election
of the temporary officers. On motion of d..
Seawright the board was declared adjourned
until O'Clock, and the Democrats Withdrew.
In the meantime, Drs Lomax, Partridge and
transacting routine business sdjourned 10
meet on the first Thursday in June, which Is
the regular quarterly meeting of the board
The Democratic members returned at
O'Clock, bringing Dr.. Metcalf, their new Sec.
rotary, with them, aud proceeded to trans
act business DR.. Boots was instructed to
visit certain towns in the State aud make
inspection with reference to the sanitary
condition OF the same. On motion it was
determined TO make formal demsnd for
the books, records and papers of the Office,
and DR.. Seawright and the new Secretary
marched into the room where DR.. Elder was
sitting, and DR.. Seawright said: "Dr. Elder,
am instTD cted to make formal demand for
the books, papers and records OF
the State Board of Health office.
DR.. Elder turned round upon his chair and
replied Il would be glad to accommodate
you, gentlemen, in any reasonable demand,
but the State Boald of Health,has adjourned
till the frkt Thursday in June, and an in
structed 70 preserve the books, papers and
records ard keep them in my possession,
and can not surrender them to any one
and especially not to illegally constituted
authority. Acting under the instructions OF
the State Board of Health. and as its execu.
tive officer, refuse to surrender the books,
papers and records of the office" DR.. Sea-
wright turned away. saying: Come 90 home
with me. Elder. and I'll convert you He
then reported the refusal to the Democratic
members ard other business was taken up.
DIR. MetcalPs salary sas Secretary was fixed
at 81 200 the removal of the telephone in
strument was ordered, and the Secretary was
ordered to purchase locks and have them
placed upon the doors to the office, DR.. Boots
remarking that outside parties have
keys" evidently meaning DR.. Elder.
After ordering circular to be
issued to all local Boards of Health instruct
ing them regarding the action OF the board
and that Dr.. Metcalf was elected Secretary,
the new board adjourned to meet again on
the first Tuesday IN June two days earlier
than the time fixed by the Republican mem.
bers-
When the Republican board adjourned,
DR.. Elder, as has been the custom, gave Drs.
Lomax ana Partridge vouchers for their ex-
penses in coming to and returning from the
meeting. nut when these were presented TO
the Auditor OF State for bis warrant on the
Treasury for the amount, that official de-
clined to recogBiz e d.. Elders authority to
issue the vouchers, and payment was refused.
DIR. Metcaifs vouchers, approved by DIR. Sea.
wright. allowing the expenses of Drs. Sea-
wright. Fritsch and Boots, were honored at
the Auditors Office and the amounts
promptly paid. Under this showing, the
Democrats have control of the appropriation
for the board, and this is q decided ad-
vantsge. As tie case now stands, the
Republicans have control of the rec
orcs of the Office, but the matter of
possession Goes not appear to be so we'll
settled. The law requires the Secretary of
State to furnish the Office for the board. and
whether the Secretary is in or out, the State
official may be regarded as having control.
and az being actually in possession. Before
the Democratic members left the Office DR..
Elder called them into his room and pro-
tested against the order instructing their Sec
{ retaTy TO purchase locks for securing the
door. He declared thai such action was
unworthy of them as gentlemen, and cast an
unBerited reflection upon him; he had been
= In charge OF the Office for some time, and his
reputation as q gentleman and health officer
was . sufficient guarantee, be thought. that
he would not steal anything belonging to
the office. The Democrats assured him that
their object was simply TO get possession of
the Office and that any arrangement he and
MetceH could make would be salts.
factory to them. From certain circum-
stances attending the movements of the
new Secretary the reporter inferred that the
locks would be changed between the going
down and rising of the sun aud that DR..
Elder would fnd himself locked ont when
he returned to the Office this morning. When
asked il this was not the programme, DR..
Metcalf replied: No. / reckon not; sup
pose 1 shall not be in too great hurry to
wait for daylight to out them on"
In conversation with DR.. Elder he said that
he was Disguised with the whole affair; that
he was satisfied that the action of the Demo-
CIauO mtEjDcl9 was t1eeAis huQ tuhb TIE
board could not be effective in any sense so
long rs the vrangle continued; he is the legal
Secretary and proposes to hold on to the
records Of the Office, and will discharge the
duties OF Secretary. DR.. Partridge was pres
emit and said that his attorney wss positive
that bis membership was good IN law bat the
:. only QUESTION was whether the Office was
worth Sighting for He has retained counsel
aud will take under consideration for few
days TIE matter Of making the fight. The
very fact that he is considering "whether
il will pay 10 make the fight" sufficiently in-
dictates ihat the conclusion will be in the
negative, for he certainly knows that no sal
sTy stsschss TO the position and that, as a
matter Of fact, it will lot psy TO contest the
appointment of Boots tboueh ne were ever
so positive that the courts would decide in
mis- favor From the dO1b. that Dc. Par
fridge e< pressed Yesterday il is perfectly safe
TO predict that his part Of the contest Is o:
an end.
The fact that DR.. Lomsx accepted q conn
mission from Governor Gray yesterday after.
noon. was sworn in IS member OF the Board
of Health and fled q certified copy OF his
oath of flee with the Secretary OF State,
argues coBclusively that ne was unwilling to
rlak - title to membership on the appoint
,ment Under which he was acting. and no bet
.w4Inuo. 4 raadaI that IA "a ofuau n n