The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-01-13
A DOCTOR Is WANTED.
DR.. Dawson Resigns From the
Board of Health.
BOWlNG TO A LEGAL OPINION.
Noble Retires From the Board and Daw-
son Is Ineligible-Market and
Milk Inspector Appointed.

The meeting of the board of health yes
terday afternoon brought forth many sur
prises and solved TO great extent the
questions regarding who the legal men,
bers are and when the short-term member
goes out of Office. An opinion by Corpora
ton Counsel Orange Jacobs was read. He
states that the board is composed
of the following: DR.. F. A. Churchill.
DR.. L. r. Dawson and DR.. James shannon.
According TO this decision DIR. Noble and
not DR.. Shannon is the retiring member
DR.. Noble gave notice of his retirement
from the board yesterday. and when DR..
Dawson entered the room il looked as if
the difficulty was settled.
DR.. Dawson. however. notified the board
that he had sent his resignation 10 Mayor
Hall. on the ground that he was ineligible
TO serve, as he had not been a citizen of
Seattle for two years, as he had taken up
homestead in Kitsap county. After max
ing this announcement DR.. Dawson re-
tired. DR.. Newlands did not appear to
claim his seat.
member DR.. F. A. Churchill became presi-
dent OF the board, and acted in that capac-
itv at the meeting.
SEATTLE. Jan. IL. lSq2
have been shown the records of your Office
after the classification of the members OF the
board of health, made in accordance with sec
ton ? OF Article Xxx. OF the freeholders charter
That section requires that the members Fret ap-
pointed shall so classify themselves that one
shall go out OF Office at the end of the first year.
one at the end OF two years, one in three years
The member having the shortest term TO serve
ne md rha haa III
officer his clerk OF assistant shall set as secre-
fary OF the board
understand by said record that there was
classification in pursuance Of this section and
that Dr.. Noble, By such classification became
the one year term man. / am informed also IN
oheialiy that the mayor in his nominations at
tempted this classification, which alone the
board, after its appointment. had the right 10
make.
Any such attempted classification by the
mayor had no force or effect whatever He had
no power vested IN him 10 make any such
classification.
The charter only gave him the right 70 nom
mate three persons the members OF such
board OF health. When he had done thst aud
such nominations were confirmed by the board
OF aldermen, his power in that regard was ex-
hausted.
l have already given opinion in this mat
ter. With the correctness of that opinion I am
n
pointment OF Dr. Newlsnds long before there
was any vacancy was absolutely null and void
II had no validity st the time-it could gain
none by the lapse of further time. II cannot
De tolerated that in the case of an appointiya
once that the nominating oficer can send In a
nomination long in advance OF any vac aucy in
the Office. II this could be done the present
mayor could al ali the offices Tor bis successor.
The nomination Of Dr.. Dawson was a regular
nomination, and his confirmation gave him
right 10 the Office.
X results from this and the record OF the
board that Drs. Churchill, shannon and Dawson
constitute TIE health board of the city OF
Seattle
DR.. Sparkling then read a communication
from DR.. Noble, announcing his retire
fnent IN conformity with that opinion.
The matter OF diseased meats selling in
Seattle was discussed. and it was resolved
to take advantage of the power vested by
the charter IN the board and create the of.
ice OF market and milk inspector. d. A.
Crlchton was appointed 10 the office.
Applications from DR. ". VI. Hilton for
the position Of heath officer, and of A. NJ.
Kent for the position OF sanitary in
spector, were tabled.