Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-09-11
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.
Board Of Supervisors.

The Board met yesterday; present,
Messrs. Jackson, Steinman and Bates. Mr..
Bates was called to preside in the absence
OF the Chairman. Minutes read and APP
proved.
District Attorney Buckley, in conformity
with q request of the Board at its meeting
on the 9Th, presented written opinion in
the matter Of the petition of J. 7. Stoll and
others for the removal of DR.. J. II. Parkin-
son from the position Of Physician of the
City and County Dispensary, for the as
signed reason that the doctor was not a
citizen of the United States. The opinion
was read, as follows
HoRoyuble Board qf pperisors-GENrLEyEN
/ am in receipt Of your official reference CON
corning the eligibility Of Or. !. II. Parkinson to
hold the position of City Physician commonly
called, and respectfully report the following
my Judgment:
The Legislature, by an Act approved March
%, 1872, provided for the establishment Of Dis
pensary. ana among ether things declared that
The Board OF Supervisors Should require the
County Physician, or Il regularly educated
assistant 10 take charge or said DispensarY,'
etc. said ass slant 10 receive Il compensation
not to exceed go per month.
ON Mach H. lSs% the County Government
ill go called was approved. which, among
other things, provided that the Board OF super
EIsors snail have power To provide for ihe
&
Otherwise dependent poor Of the county erect
Offices and maintain hospitals and poor-houses
il their discretion, therefor OF OtheTYisc provide
for the same, and for such purposes to levy the
necessary property or poll tax, or both there
for PGcidet The Board OF Supervisors shall
appoint mot let to the lowest bidder some
suitable person or persons to take care Of and
malntaln sIch hospitals and poOr-hOuseS; and
the Board snail also appoint mot let TO the low
est BIDDER some suitable graduate in medicine
to attend 70 such INDECENT sick or otherwise de-
pendent poor
ON February l. 1855 the Board entered into Il
written contract with J. II. Parkinson. NJ. D.
employing him to act as City Physician for Il
period of two years from that date, at monthly
salary of SO. Said Parkinson agreeing 80
attend upon and prescribe for the INDECENT sick
and Otherwise dependent poor OF the county
within the city OF SACRAMENTO and to perform
other duties therein required.
i seems clear to me that the County Govern
ment bill repealed the Act Of 1872 and gave 10
the Board full power to make the contract in
question. In fact, their power over the matter
keclnS almost unlimited.
Dr. Parkinson not having taken all the ncccs
kary steps emitting him to citizenship, his right
to hold the position is for that reason questioned
II the position be public Office, the objection
IL good but if it be simply an appointment or
employment The objection is untenablc.
l cannot do otherwise than regard DR.. Par
kinson as an clnployc or appointee performing
public work under written contract. He is no
more public officer than the Waterman, jani-
tor, or any other county empioye. He gives 10
the law mentioned as q public officer The
statute nowhere speaks OF a City Physician, the
little being simply an expression coined by the
public for its convenience. Looking upon the
position rs Il county employment, and not as n
public Office, it follows that one not citizen
may hold the same. Respectfully submitted
Henry L. BUCKLEY, District Attorney.
Mr.. Steinman moved that the petition of
J. II. Stoll and others, referred to above. be
dismissed and the prayer thereof denied.
Carried unanimously.
chairman Fassett appeared and assumed
the chair.
Mr. Steinman offered the following:
WHEREAS, A proposition having been made by
the Gold Run Ditch and Mining Company TO pay
the sum of So 500 in full payment of the several
judgments for costs and cost bills filed and rem
dered against It in the of the people against
said company and this Board having author
led and instructed the attorneys to accept said
offer and 10 settle and satisfy said Judgment and
, cost bill and said sum having been paid by the
defendant and received into the County Treas
ury,
Resoired, That said compromise be approved,
money aforesaid acknowledged and the judy
ments ordered satisfied.
Carried unanimously.
a contract between the county on one
side ana S. c. benson and Il. I. Devlin on
the other, wherein the latter agree to prose
cute certain mining suits, was presented
and ordered signed by the Chairman of the
Board.
Adjourned for the term.