Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-07-13
THE HEALTH OFFICERS CASE
The Commissioners Hear Considerable About
It This Morning.

The Commissioners Hear Considerable About
It This Morning.
DR. HANMErr PRoTEsrs AGAINST THE MANNER n
WHICH He HAS BEEN TREArHp-A DELEGATION
OF CITIZENS IN FAVOR OF DIR. TowNsHEND-nl.
DOUGLASS WILLING TO GIVE REASON.
Townshend met today at the District building,
and both sides were heard by the Commission
ers. The first to arrive was DR.. Hammett. He
had long and earnest conversation with Com
missioner Douglass in the board room.
The doctor told Mr.. Douglass that he
had been shamefully treated. He
did not know until last night.
during conversation with Commissioner Ross,
that the reason he had been treated SO badly
was because of the charge that he had villifed
the President. DIR. Hammett denied this in toto,
and said that on the contrary he had always
spoken IN the highest terms of the executive,
and presented several letters from eminent
divine corroborating what he said.
The doctor waxed warm as the conversation
progressed and said in a very determined tone
that he had been badly treated and proposed
TO De vlndlcsted II he was not, he said, there
would be war, war to the knife.
Commissioner Douglass replied that he had
nothing to say. The Commissioners AS a board
would dispose Of the matter - soon az Col
Robert returned.
TowNsHENp DELEGATION.
messenger announced the presence Of .
delegation and the Commissioners went into
the board room to hear what they had to say
1t was adelegation of business men. which had
called In the interest Of DIR. Smith Townshend.
Among those present were Messrs. Horstio
Browning Of Browning d Middleton, Bennett
OF the Arlington Hotel, John L. Vogt, Simon
Wolf l.. r; Queen, Geo. ]. Mueller, W. H.
Crosby of National Hotel, Frank Hume, II. 7.
Graves Of B. F. Charlton L Co., Jas. Lans-
burgh, John Keyworth, B. W. Guy
of W. NJ Gait / Co., Emmons
8. Smith Of the Boston Variety Store. W. E.
Clark. president Of the Central National Bank;
Jas. T. Willett, Harrison Dingman. Commits
sioner Ross had to step out for few minutes
and while waiting for him Commissioner
Douglass kept the delegation in good humor
by relating funny story, which called forth q
hearty laugh. Commissioner Ross then came
in and the business Of the delegation pro-
ceeded.
MR. VOLTS REMARKS.
Mr.. Simon Wolf was the first to speak. He
explained that they were all friends of Dr.
Townshend, who believed in him as acitizen Of
high respectability, honored among those who
knew him best, and an officer of ability.
What they wanted to know was why
he was to be removed. If his resignation was
asked because he has not done his duty it was
matter that he and the gentlemen with him
had nothing to do, but if he was to be removed
to make room for another he hoped the Com.
missioners would frankly say SO. He did not
doubt the authority or right of the Commis-
siOners to remove any man.
They protested against his removal in such a
way as to leave q cloud Of insinuation on his
record; they did not believe the Commission
ers were the kind of men to do such an injus-
tice. The health of the people of the District
was the best evidence, he said, as to the eff
cient manner in which DIR. Townshend had
discharged the duty of health officer
He trusted that the Commissioners would, if
possible, reconsider their action regarding the
health officer with as much promptness as that
which had characterized their action in asking
his resignation. That was why the delegation
was before them. They asked this by their
presence and the position they held in the city.
FOUR OLD LETTERS.
As soon % Mr.. Wolf had concluded his re-
marks Mr.. Frank Hume arose and supple
mented his remarks by reading letters from
ex-District Commissioners Morgan, Webb, Ed
munds and Wheatley, testifying to their conf
dence in DR.. Townshend as an official. 1t ap-
Peared on inquiry by Mr.. Douglass that these
letters were dated in October. 1889
Mr.. Wolf asked if it would make any differ
ence If the letter. were dated today. II SO they
could be duplicated.
Commissioner Ross remarked that Mr..
Douglass thought that the fact that they were
written before this controversy arose was in
their favor.
This was the only time Commissioner Ross
spoke during the entire hearing.
Mr.. HUMEs REMARKS.
Continuing Mr.. Hume spoke briefly in the
same tenor as Mr.. Wolf. He said that there
was no better testimony Of Dr. .Townshend's eff
cheney than the success of his administration of
the health office. During his administration
the city had been kept clear Of epidemics and
he was doing as well as any man who could be
found. They all, he said, knew DIR. Townshend
and liked him and as citizens and taxpayers
protested against his removal.
Mr.. Harrison Dingman said he wished to
second the remarks made. A soldiers organi-
cation OF which he was member, the Union
Soldiers Alliance, had already sent a memorial
to the Commissioners on this subject, and he
had been requested by that body to be present
ton.
AN ADMINISTRATIVE REASON.
Mr.. Douglass said that none of the gentle
which had influenced his action in the matter.
Alib TcdsOu was OHe WHICH predecessors QaO
aptly termed an administrative reason. 1t
related simply to the manner Of doing business
His mind, he said. had been formed in the
middle Of August, 1889, and he had then in
formed his colleague, Mr.. Hine, that he was
ready to vote for a change in the health Office.
When the time comes, il necessary, be would
give his reasons in full.
Mr.. Hume remarked that that meant then
that DR.. Townshend was to be removed.
Mr.. Douglass said that it took three Of the
Commissioners to say that; he was speaking
only for himself. Mr.. Douglass reiterated that
his reason was an administrative one and did
not affect DR.. TOwnshend's personal character
He had not, he said, read one word of the
charges or testimony taken by his colleagues
respecting the health Office during his absence
and his action had no relation to that at all
Mr.. Wolf suggested that if it were only Q
matter Of administrative method the Com
missioner could indicate his idea of doing busi-
ness to DR.. Townshend, who could carry out q
reform in that respect as well as anybody else.
He asked whether If DR.. Townshend went out
Of office Mr.. Douglass reasons would be given.
Mr.. Hume said that as citizens and as friends
Of DR.. Townshend they would like to know the
reasons.
WILLING TO GIVE HIS REASON.
Mr.. Douglass said that II DR.. Townshend as
sents and his friends requested it he would viii
hngly give his reason.
sary then for them first to consult DR.. Town
shend.
Mr.. Douglass said there was no immediate
hurry. The Commissioners could do nothing
until Col Robert came back. They had at the
reouest of DR. Tovnshend's friends axtended