Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-02
A NEW HEALTH OFFICER
DR.. Woodward and DR.. Hammett Simply
Change Places,
Each One Begins the Duties of His
New Position without Delay
The Transfer.

1t is now Health Officer Woodward and
Coroner Hammett.
The change. which was anticipated in
The Star several days ago, was made yes
terday afternoon. when the Commission ers
went into executive session and officially
accepted the resignation of Health officer
Hammett and appointed DIR. W. c. Wood
ward to fill the vacancy. DR.. Hammett was
appointed coroner.
The appointment of DIR. Woodward was
rot surprise. 1t had been generally I'M
derstood all along that when a change was
made in the health office Dr. Woodward
would be appointed to the vacancy The
appointment of DR.. Hammett, however, to
the position of coroner. made vacant by
the appointment of DR.. Woodward, was in
the nature of great surprise, for no one
Knew that DR.. Hammett was an applicant
me appointment of Dr. Woodward is re-
sarded everywhere as a good one and the
commissioners have received many COM
pliments upon their choice. DIR. Woodward
is d Washingtonian, and enjoys the dis
tinction of being the youngest health officer
IN the United States. He Is but twenty-six
years OF age'a graduate o., the Ugh School
and OF the Georgetown Medical College
DR.. woodward IS well fitted for the position,
being well up in his profession, and en-
lowed with considerable business ability
he was appointed a clerk in the city post
once Dy Commissioner Ross when the
latter was postmaster, and while there
studied medicine. He served in the
Emergency Hospital for some time, where
ne gained considerable practical experience
in his profession.
This afternoon DIR. Woodward had a long
conference with the Commissioners regard
ing changes in the health office 1t is nm
uerstoou there Will be a clean sweep. The
commits sioners directed DIR. Woodward to
enter upon his duties at once and make
such recommendations from time to time
as would insure efficiency in the Office
The most important office under DR.
Woodward is the deputy health officer
At present this place Is filed by Mr. L. D.
Tracey, who was appointed by the Commits
sionerS some time ago over the recommen-
dalton OF Health Officer Hammett. The
most prominent applicant for this position
is Prof. Conrad Of East Washington. 1t
is believed he will get the appointment
Other changes will undoubtedly follow. but
as yet the slate has not been made out.
Transfer of ONCE.
About noon the retiring health officer
met his successor In the office and turned
over to him the property Of the office.
All the clerks were present to say good
bye" to the retiring health officer, and Mr..
3. F. Peters. one of the number. made
a neat little speech. He said words of
pralse for DIR. Hammett and complimented
him on the manner In which he has per-
formed the duties Of the office during the
past three years. The clerks, he said, had
all been faithful and had supported their
caief and he knew they would be equally
loyal to his successor.
Soon after the change was made Health
Omcer Woodward went with Coroner Ham,
NETT to the morgue. where there was the
dead body of colored man named Will
liam Henderson. The dead man was about
ffty-1ve years old. This morning about Z
o'clock he fell In the Georgetown channel
near the Long bridge from a boat and was
drowned. Soon afterward his body was re-
covered. The affair was undoubtedly an
accident and no inquest is likely to be held.
This was the new coroners first case