The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-04-21
The STATE HEALTH BOARD.
A Little Surprise Which the Republican
Members VIII Hardly Enjoy.
Or. Boots Quietly Dons the Ofacial
Sandals OF DR.. Partridge.


Sandals OF DR.. Partridge.
Since the discovery that the bill reorgani-
Ting the State Board of Health so as to give
the Democrats q majority was but headless
trunk and therefore without life aud power
less TO give life, the Republicans have been
quietly enjoying their victory and chuck
ling over what appeared to them, and to
every one else for that matter, al insxcuss.
be oversight IN the Legislature. Bat there
came TO light yesterday little affair which
illustrates the want OF penetration on the
part OF the Republicans, and which vas dis
covered too late to apply remedy, If the
Governor and State officers are not mistaken
in their views CO the law governing in the
case, which has already been turned to the
profit Of the Democrats in general and DR..
discovered that the reorganization bill was
Imperative on account OF wanting the enact
ing clause. he determined to look
closely into the appointment OF the
Republican members, and be soon found
that the Senate journals did not record the
fact that DR.. Partridge, of South Bend, had
ever been confirmed by the Senate after be-
ing nominated by Governor Porter. In look.
ing through the records in the Office OF Sec
IetsTy of State, the Governor also discovered
that neither Drs. Lomax or Partridge had
he'd a certified copy OF their Oatn OF OH CO.
A still further examination found DIR. Elder,
the Secretary OF the board, in the same box.
This discovery was made on Thursday, and
the Governor immediately telegSa phed for
DR.. Boots to come to the city. Upon the ar
- ~ H.. IL
missioned q member OF the State Board OF
Health, took the cath OF office aud filed
certified COPY of the same with the Secretary
of State. DR.. Boots said nothing 70 sny one
concerning his appointment, and the Cover
sOr was seeking a successor TO DR.. Lomaz,
by certified copy OF DR.. Lomax's oath OF
office beng filed with the State Secretary at
5 o'clock yesterday morning.
In conversation with Governor GRAY yes
terdsy, he gave the facts substantially az
narrated IN tbs foregoing and said that he
had DO doubt OF the absolute legality of Or.
Boots appointment and questioned very
much whether We have had State Board Of
Health since the appointment of the tro
members who failed TO comply with the law
regarding the filing of certified copy Of
their osths OF Office. When asked regarding
tne effect OF this discovery upon the Sscrs-
tsry. he said that the only question involved
wss whether the board that elected him hsd
any such right. He was inclined to think
that the board was not a legal one. and
therefore the election OF Secretary was not
legal. lie said that the fling of a certified
copy OF the oath OF Office OF Dr. Lomax
would cure the defect heretofore existing in
his case and, OF course, preclude the POSSIBLE
ity OF appointing a successor. The Governor
appeared to be very we'll pleased that it was
In bis power to constitute Democratic ma
iority 10 the bosrd and il the appointment
Of fos
question in his mind regarding it,, he has
certainly succeeded much better than the
Legislature in the effort.
Ii sppears that DR.. Elder learned last week
that surprise was in store for the board,
and he started out to find what il was. By
Saturday morning, after deal OF "hustliDg,"
he had the true inwardness of the move. and
he Immediately telegraphed DrS. Lomax and
Partridge concerning the situation. Both
physicians were sworn in at the time they
were appointed, but neither complied with
the law requiring certified copy of the osth
to be filed. Upon receiving DR.. Elders tele-
gram they again took the oath of office, Dr.
Iemax at Marion and Dr. Partridge at South
Bend, and forwarded certified copies OF the
same to DR.. Elder, who ia the meantime had
taken the oath OF Office a second time. and
all the certified copies were hled at an early
hour yesterday morning. When seen BY q
Sentinel reporter DR.. Elder was resting
comfortably" and did not appear to think
that the change in the stains OF affairs would
affect him IN the least. He recsiyed GER
tihcate CT his election. signed by the
President ard Secretary, and though,
like the others, he had failed TO file q
certified copy OF his oath OF office, he
regarded bis action of yesterday as curing
any defect in that regard. he said that he
could be removed only for cause. and he
knew the members of the board 20 be gem
tlemen, and did not fear the adoption Of any
extraordinary or illegal measures to replace
him with Democrat.
There is little doubt but DR.. Partridge
will test the matter in the courts rather than
yield the point. He is said TO be not only
tenacious, bat pugnscious as well. and il
this is true the controversy may becoms in
feTesting. Governor GTays action is based
Eot upon any provision IN the act creating
the Board OF Health, bat u . general law Of
the State requiring all appointed and elected
officers to take an oath before entering upon
their duties aHd to ME certified copy of the
same with the proper officer.