Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-07-31
DR.. HAMMETT OUT
The Health Officer Lays Down the
Reins of Office.
HIS TERM HAD EXPIRED
The Resignation a Surprise to the
Health Office.
L II r E E. YEAR 7 E r M S

Health Officer Hammett has resigned.
This morning he appeared before the
Commissioners and presented his resgna-
ton. which was Immediately accepted. ~
yet. however, they have not filled the va
tancy, although it is expected they will do
SO this AFTERNOON or tomorrow.
DIR. Hammetts resignation reads as FOL
lows: Having served the term prescribed
by your regulations as health officer, and
feeling that my regular practice as a ply
s.cian has seriously suffered because 81
the pressing demands made upon me in the
discharge of the arduous and exactins
duties of health officer. 1 do not desire "a
second term. and beg hereby to tender to
your honorable body my resignation as
health officer of the District of Columbia.
In doing allow me to assure you Of my
high appreciation of the cordial support yoI
have uniformly given me and the courteous
consideration 1 have always received AT your
hands.
With high regard fer you personally and
officially. am,
Yours very respectfully.
tSgned) c. NJ HAMMETT, MD.
The Commissioners were in beard session
when the resignation was presented and
Immediately resolved itself into executive
session and accepted it.
Dr. Hammett. in conversation with re-
porter of The Star, said his resignation was
voluntary. When making the fight for the
office he had urged the Importance of rota-
ton in office, and it was through his recon-
mendations that the term of the physicians
to the poor was limited to three years. In
View of these things it was hardly to be ex-
pected that he would fight for a reappont-
ment. When he had undertaken the duties
of the office he was of the impression that
the duties were not arduous. and that he
could attend to his private practice.
But after few months experience as
health officer he found he was mistaken,
for no man could cOnscientiOusly serve
health officer and carry on a private prac
ttce. He went out of office with the secret
conviction that he had done his utmost to
advance the interests of the citizens Of
Washington.
Health ONCE Surprised.
The resignation was a complete surprise
to the clerks in the office, although rumors
of a change have been circulated during
the past few days In fact, ever since DR..
Hammett assumed charge of the duties of
the Office rumorsiof various kinds have
been heard from time to time. At first it
was thought that, friends of DIR. Town
shend the former health officer. would
make a strong fight against his successor,
and then some of Dr. Hammett's former
friends attempted ! to have him removed,
but without success 1t was charged by
SOME Of the alleged disappointed office
BILE dealing, but there were more candidates
than there were offlcesI and some one had
to be disappointed. -!
Next came the change in the chief clerk
ship growing out of the garbage trouble,
Mr. 8. p Bayiy, who was appointed chief
clerk under DIR. Hammett. retiring. and be-
ing succeeded by Mr.. e: d. Tracy. Mr..
Bayly, so Mr.. Tracy alleges has never
shown a friendly spirit toward him. After
retiring from the health department Mr..
Bayly became manager of the National
Sanitary Company, and as such was brought
in contact with his successor, who had
charge of the garbage collection.
Garbage Contractor Draney. now deceas-
ed. was obliged to give up his contract TN
der DIR. Hammett. He was getting from
the District about $1,000 a year for the
collection Of garbage. and the same work
now costs the District nearly three times
that sum.
1t is known that a fight has been going
on against Chief Clerk Tracy and he at
tributes the whole affair to the agents of
the garbage people. This matter has been
known to the clerks and others about the
office for some time, and the name of Prof.
Conrad, a former clerk in the office, has
been mentioned as the probable chief clerk.
But he will not be appointed without
fight, 1t Is known that some employees
of the office have openly declared that they
would not serve under him and that they
will fight him chiefly on his war record, he
having been in the confederate service.
While all this has been discussed among
the clerks. there has been a vague rumor
in circulation recently to The effect that the
fight against the chief clerl, would also end
disastrously to the health officer and the
name of Coroner Woodward has been men
toned in connection with the office.
Now that 1t Is known that DR. Hamu,ett
has resigned, a NUMBER OF candidates viii
likely enter the race and make fight for
the position.
The Term Limited.
Hereafter the term Of service Of the health
officer for the District is to be limited to
three years The Commits sioners yesterday
afternoon issued an order to that effect For
some time this action has been contemplated
by the Commissioners. Already they have
limited the term of Office of the ply sicians
to the poor and the police surgeons 1t is
understood that this order will be rigidly
enforced. although the Commissioners re-
serve the right to reappoint. 1t Is merely
intended to relieve them of embarrassment
in case it is deemed advisable to make a
change at the end of three years.