Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-04-13

There has never been a more detestable
scramble and contest for picayune office
than the people of Sacramento are Just
now witnessing in the pothouse political
raid for the position of Heath'Offi It
has been demonstrated by extended pub
lished interviews and otherwise, that the
leading physicians, property-holders, bust
ness men and citizens of Sacramento, with
out regard to party and with singular unan-
Unity, are in favor of the civil service
method OF retaining the present Health
Officer, on the ground that he has proven
himself TO be the most efficient of any one
who has ever occupied the position. and
that he will accomplish more for the sani-
tary welfare of the city than any other
appointee, and especially than one
whose selection is based solely upon
political barter, the consideration of
which is that certain Democratic votes are
pledged Tor future delivery, in favor of
particular Republican aspirant to office.
This is the size of the present cat in the
meal tub, and it's as disgraceful a cat as
ever shamed Sacramento politics. and that
IS saying a great deal. There is no pdrty
In the matter, for nine-tenths of the Re-
pubticans OF the city are earnestly in favor
OF the present incumbent, agltO is q Democrat
and this shows the non-partisan sentiment
and sincerity of the people in their out
spoken demand for his retention.
The Board of Health, as it now stands. is
said TO consist of two members earnestly
IN favor of retaining the present Health
Oincer, and two, who are waiting for the
election of a third to act with them. TO
elect the new man. DR. Nixon, who was
first appointed, would have made a most
efficient member of the Board and have
rendered valuable service in behalf of the
city, but when he found the price of his
retaining such membership was the inex
orable demand of politicians that he carry
out the petty bargain and-sale programme
above referred to, by voting to replace an
old and efficient officer by an inexperienced
one, made solely to political order, he re-
tanned his self-respect and dignity by re-
signing. Several other physicians of the
city have since been importuned by the
political operators to take the place upon
the Board, with pledge in advance that
they would vote for the removal of the old
and the induction of their new candidate.
These overtures are known to have been
refused by several members of the medical
profession, as they would not accept under
the advance pledge required.
At the meeting of the Board of Trustees
yesterday DR.. f. r. Merrill, who has re-
Gently settled in practice here, was elected
to the vacancy. DR.. Merrill requested last
evening that it be stated that he was not
pledged to vote for any particular one.
Unfortunately, however, no one could be
elected to that vacancy, as matters stood,
who, if he had not already pledged him
self in advance, is not expected to be COM
PEELED to give up his own exercise of reason
and vote to carry out the dictations of the
pc zeal manipulators, who know of only
one function which the Board of Health
needs to exercise, and that is to elect their
man. The earnestness of the people has
become so strong in this matter that the
third man required to assist in electing the
new candidate cannot vote to remove the
present Health Officer without being re-
garded as the tool of those who have been
looking so industriously for a physician
who understood their desperate case and
would prescribe according to their demands.