The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-01-07
THECLAIMS OF TWO DOCTORS
ACEemistanda Practitioner Who Would
Like to Direct Sanitary Affairs.
Dr. carp Has Somewhat the Advantage in the
Controversy, as ALI the City's Health Officers
Continue to Recognize His Authority.

CIicc the session or the Board or Health
on Saturday, both DIR. Hurry and DIR. carp
are claiming to be the boards secretary,
the former permanent and the latter tenn
porary. 1t seems that the selection ola per-
manent secretary can not be reached, and
there lsaquestion among attorneys whether
or not the board can exist for two years as
temporary organization. 1t has been sug-
gested that the Council should abolish the
board and then organize a new one, COM
posed of gentlemen who will be in harmony.
This plan, however, does not meet
with general appreciation, and it is
likely that the present members will
continue to hold their places While
Dr. Hurry claims that he was elected Sat-
urday, DR.. carp will continue to exercise
the functions of the Office. He has the adj
vantage of DR.. Hurry, in that he has the
support of all the employees of the board,
including the clerk, meat inspector and
sanitary officer. Saturday evening these
employees refused to recognize DR.. Hurry as
secretary, and they have announced that
whenever it is necessary to sign the secre-
tary's name they will use DR.. Earp's, and
will recognize his authority in all things
connected with the board.
1t was generally understood before the
meeting convened Saturday that DR.. carp
would be reelected permanent secretary,
as DR.. Pettijohn, who had been championing
Dr. hurty, had agreed to support him.
Capt. Tim Splann says that in his presence
Dr. Pettuohn promised DR.. carp that he
would support him. Last Sunday" said
Mr.. Splann, ''Dr. Pettijohn sent a messen-
ger to DR.. Gasp, telling him he wanted to
see him. and he also requested that / come
with him as a witness to what he said. DR..
carp and visited DR.. Pettijohn's Office,
and IN the presence of third gentleman he
assured DIR. carp he would vote for him.
He made the promise a half dozen times
ana said that upon his honor as man
ne would vote for him. He held
a key in his hand, and as he
took took Or. carp by the hand as he made the
hnai promise he remarked that the key
might serve to bind the agreement. l was
!nSrefOre greatly surprised when DR.. Petit
John again voted for DR.. Hurry at the meet
Ing Saturday.
DIR. carp claims that there can be no
doubt about his being the temporary secre-
tary of the board. ''At the meeting held
Jan. 1. to reOrganize the board" said he last
evening. DIR. PettijOhn moved that Col
I muckie act as temporary chairman, which
CHAIR, asked me to act as tempo
rary secretary unless there were
some objections. None were offered
f ana ,osit;o assumed Tu1HI, the duties OF
me, said it would be in order for the secre-
tary to read the minutes of the last meet
ing. replied they were lengthy, and DR..
Pettijohn moved that the secretary dispense
with the reading of the minutes, which was
carried, acting in the capacity of secre-
tary through the meeting without any. OBJ
lection, whatever / kept tally of the
votes, announced the result to the Chair
each time, and when the members of the
board desired to know the number OF bal
lots taken, the question was asked of me
and gave the reply. At the last meeting
DR.. PettjOhn claimed that he was the only
legal officer of the board and was president
script which he held in his hand. Colonel
Ruckle protested, saying that L was the
temporary secretary and that the proceed
lngs were improper, but DR.. Pettuohn de-
cided that the objection was not sustained.
A number of tie ballots for secretary were
taken and announced as such. Motions to
adjourn also resulted in tie and decided
lost. Some of these motions were unnO-
ticed, as all rulings were of character as
indicated. While a conversation was in
progress Colonel Ruckle and myself left
the room, at time when the transaction of
business seemed to be impossible. The
sanitary officers are doing duty at present
Dy virtue or mOtlOn OF COlOnel
Ruckle that the present acting sani-
tary officers be elected to serve until
the permanent reorganization of the board.
, The motion received a second and all MEM
bers voted and it was announced carried.
An attorney who was an eyewitness on the
first day gave the following written state
ment tome: i was present on yesterday
at the temporary reorganization of the
Board of Health and it is my opinion that
you continue as temporary secretary until
a permanent secretary has been elected
The sanitary officers are now recognizing
me as secretary under the best legal adj
vice."
The friends of DR.. carp claim that sew
eral influences have been combined against
him because he introduced some new and
radical measures into the Office, which,
while very beneficial to the citizens, met
the opposition of those against whom they
were directed. The warmest supporters of
DR.. carp, however, do not intimate that
DR.. Hurry is the candidate of any persons
who have an interest at stake. If any legal
preceding is begun it appears that DIR.
Hurry will have to be the plaintiff. While
he claims he has been elected temporary
secretary, the fact. that DR.. carp is recog-
nized by the working force of the board
makes it dependent upon him to take some
legal steps before he can exercise the func-
lions of the Office. 1t is not likely that an
other meeting will be called for the purpose
of attempting to bread the deadlock, as
both sides seem determined to stand firm.