The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-09-22
ONE SCALP OR FOUR.
The Mayors Ultimatum to the
Board of Health.
DR.. SPARKLING is "oPPRosRlous''
His Discharge or tho Boards Resigns.
ton Demanded-All Three Nom
bers Stand Firm.

Mayor Ronald yesterday repeated personally
the request made to the board OF health by the
auditing committee Of councils 70 discharge
Health Officer Sparkling, and furthermore stated
In unmistakable language that unless his re-
guest was complied with hs desired the resig-
nation OF each member Of the board
Health 0fneer sparliug's reply to the commu-
nication in the Telegraph last Tuesday signed by
J. T. Ronald, J. II. Carson and J. s. Kiosber. au-
diting committee. evidently displeased the
mayor, for be sent to each member of the board
OF health yesterday morning the following let
ter:
SEATTLE, Sept q, 1892.
Drs. Churchill, Holmes and shannon, Mem.
oers OF the Board of Health, City-6entiemsa: II
II Is not too incouvenient, would BE- very glad
70 meet you three gentlemen in my office IN the
fioneer block at l2:5O this, Wednesday, the 2lst.
VIII you kindly inform the bearer OF this
whether you VIII be present or notY Very re-
spectiuily, J. 7. RONALD, Mayor.
At the appointed hour Drs. James shannon
and Samuel }. Holmes met the mayor and q
terms why he had requested the meeting and
what he desired done. He asked that Dr.. Spar
ling, the health officer, be discharged, and on
being asked for cause replied that DR.. Sparling
was 'Aopprobious" to himself and the council
They could not work in harmony and 1t was
best that the board appoint new man. II the
board did not sse ns to comply, he respectfully
0SASu loI kuS MemOefD Icol&udtiOuA AM
ended the meeting, and Drs. Shannon ana
Holmes bid the mayor good afternoon.
"A meeting Of the board of health was called
and ir privacy discussed the situation, and the
mayors ultimatum. The result of the meeting
was the following letter to Mayor Ronald:
SEATTLE, Wash, Sept 81. 1892.
To his Honor, the Mayor-Dear Sir: You have
asked us to discharge our health officer on the
ground that he 10 opprobrious to yourself and
the council. As we cannot recognize this ~ 4
suitable cause for dismissal, We must most re-
spectfully refuse to comply with your wish.
+. A. CHURCHILL, President,
JAMES kHANEoN,
SAMUEL J. HOLMES,
Board OF Health.
The reply answers in plain language one Of
the mayors requests. The board will not dis
charge Health Officer Sparkling for simply being
"opprobrious" to himself and the council
Neither have any OF the members of the board
rendered their designations and they all declare
that they will not do so. Mayor Ronald will
have to proceed as he did in the case OF the OBJ
noxious police commissioners and get them out
as best he can.
Dr. F. A. Churchill, president of the board.
was asked about the intentions OF himself and
the other members in regard to the mayors ul-
timatum, and said:
The letter to the mayor speaks for itself We
do not propose to discharge Health O6icer Spar
ting ON personal grounds do not intend TO
resign and do not know on what grounds the
mayor will demand my resignation.
DR.. shannon spoke In the same strain, saying:
suppose our reply indicates our position in
this matter. We have refused 70 discharge the
health officer on the grounds given and that
leaves the mayor at liberty to demand our resig-
nations. have no intention Of being forced out
and do not intend to resign.
DR.. Samuel J. Holmes was seen late last even
ing and, when asked If he intended to resign,
replied emphatically:
My opinion In this matter II in accord with
that OF the other members of the board ! do
not intend TO resign.
Mayor Ronald gave q very brief interview in
regard to his intentions in the matter. He said
have nothing to say for publication In con.
nection with the board of health trouble