The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-05-09
Yesterdays Meeting Results In
Some Surprises for the
Republicans.
Ike Democrats Reorganize the Board
BY Eleeting President and
Secretary.
DR.. Lomaz Reaprointed and Commits.
sioned-Dr. Partridge but Little
Inclined to Contest-What
VIII DR.. Elder Do?


factions, both of which held meetings and
transacted business. the two Democratic |
members with DR.. Boots organizing sep
arate board and electing DIR. MetcaIt Secre-
tsry. Drs. Lomax, Partridge and Elder were
in the Office when Ora. Ssawright, Fdlsch
and Boots entered and DR.. Fd,sch moved
that DIR. Seawrieht act as Chairman, Dr.
Boots putting the question and stating that
1--WE do not recognize you as q member, be
cauEe you have not qualified according to
law Drs. Ssawright. Boots and Fritsch
voted for the motion, and Drs. Lomsx, Part
rid and Elder sgainst it. The motion was
declared carried, and a motion that DR..
Fritsch act as temporary Secretary was car
ried by similar vote Permanent organ
iza;ion was then made by the election OF
DR.. Seawright as President and DIR. Metcalf
rs Secretary, the three Republicans voting
against and the three Democrats in favor
OF it, and DR.. Seawright. declaring
the elections made. as in the election
of the temporary officers. On motion of DR..
Seawright the board was declared adjourned
until . O'Clock, and the Democrats withdTe =.
In the meantime, Drs. Lomax, Partridge sad
Elder were holding q meeting, and after
transacting routine business adjourned to
meet on the first Thursday in June, which IS
the regular quarterly meeting of the board
The Democratic members returned at
o'clock, bringing DIR. 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 q formal demand 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 instructed to make formal dsmsnd for
the the sss BosIs Of and HeasP s Of
and / now make the demand"
DIR. Elder turned round upon his chair and
replied: II would Do glad to accommodates
you, gentlemen, in any easonable-demand,
but the State Bosid OF Heslthihas adjourned
till the first Thursday In June, and an in.
structed to preserve the books, papers and
records and keep them in my possession,
and can not surrender them to any one,
and especially not to an illegally Constituted
authority. Acting under the instructions OF
the State Board of Health, and as its execu-
tive officer, refose to surrender the books,
papers and records of the Office" Dr. Sea-
wright turned away, saying: Come go home
with me, Elder, and I'll convert you" He
then reported the refusal to the Democratic
members and other business was taken up.
DIR. MetcalPs salary .as 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
remarkiDg 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
fvcf in, fuuo do- ri
than the time fixed by the Republican men,
bers.
When the Republican board sdjourDed,
DR.. Elder as has been the custom, gave Drs
Iomsx and Partridge vouchers for their ex-
penses In coming to and returning from the
meeting. out when these were presented 10
the Auditor OF State for his warrant on the
Treasury for the amount, that official de-
clined to recognize Dr.. Elders authority to
issue the vouchers, and payment was refused.
DR.. Metcalfs vouchers, approved by Dr. Sea.
wright, allowing the expenses OF Ors. 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 a decided adj
vantage AS tie case now stands, the
Republicans have control OF the rec.
ords OF the office, but the matter of
possession does not appear 70 be so we'll
settled. The law requires the Secretary OF
Stete 10 furnIsh the office for the board. and
whether the Secretary is in or out, the State
official mag be regarded IS having control,
and as being actually in possession. Before
the Democratic mem beTs left the office Dr..
Elder called them into his room aud pro-
tested against the order fnstructiag their Seq
rotary TO purchase locks for securing the
door, He declared thai such action was
unworthy of them as gentlemen. and cast an
unmerited reflection upon him; Ia had been
in charge of the office for some time, and his
reputation as gentleman and health officer
wss sufficient guarantee, be thought, that
he would rot 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
AstcaH could make would be salts
factory to them. From certain cream
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 and that DR..
Elder would find himself locked out when
he returned to the flee this morning. When
ssked II this wss not the programme, DR..
Mefcalf replied: No, / reckon not; sup.
pose shall not be in too great hurry to
wait Tor daylight TO Dut them on"
IN conversation with DR.. Elder he said that
he was disguised with the whole affair; that
he wss satisfied that the action OF the Demo
cratic members vas illegal, and that the
board could not be effective in anv sense 40
long rs the wrsngle continued; he is the legal
Secretary and proposes to hold on to the
records of the Office, aud will discharge the
duties OF Secretary. DR.. Partridge was prss-
ert and said that bis attorney was positive
that his membership was good in law. but the
only question was whether the Office was
worth lighting for. He has retained counsel
aud will take under consideration for q few
days the matter of making the Eight. The
very fact that be is considering whether
il will pay to make the fight sufficiently in
dirafe9 that ia conclusfou will ba N he
negative, for he certainly Knows that no sal.
aiy attaches to the position and that, as q
matter of fact, IL will not pay to contest the
appointment OF Boots though he were ever