The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-20
OAKLAND'S HEALTH BOARD,
Mayor Davies Appointments
May Cause Some Res
ignations.
ALLoPATH VS.. HoMEoPATE.
The Chief Executive Is Charged
With Intending Personal
Affront.

Mayor Davie yesterday appointed Drs
f. B. Curtis and E. w. Brady to- fill the
positions left vacant by the revocation of
the appointments of Drs. Miss Shuey and
Beckwith Both of the new members are
homeopathic. and their appointment has
SO incensed the remainder OF the board,
who are all members of the allopathic
school, that the resignation of Drs. Fisher,
Akerly and Rogers is not improbable,
though the latter was appointed by the
Mayor.
Drs. Fisher and Akerly are particularly
sore against Mayor Davie, and the former
does not hesitate to voice his sentiments in
the matter.
81 don't know Mayor Davie, and don't
know that I want to make his acquaint-
ance," he said last evening, "but if he
thinks he is going to bluff me into resign
ing he is badly mistaken.
81 understand that Davie has been boast
ing rnat he would drive out every member
who opposed him, and l suppose that is
just what he was aiming at when he APP
pointed these homeopaths. Placing them
on the board with men of another school
was intended as personal affront to drive
us to resign, but, as | said before the bluff
won't work, and [ shall not pass in my
resignation until | am ready to do so
of my own free will. At the same time the
unpleasant position in which am placed
makes me feel like resigning at once.
Mayor Davie knows what Board of
Health is for-to fight disease and make
sanitary arrangements for the best inter-
ests-and he should know that the APP
pointment of such men as Curtis and
Bradley would tend to defeat the very OBJ
lects for which the board is intended.
"Homeopathists and allopaths never
agree on the methods of preventing or cur
ing disease, and should some great cpl
demic suddenly make its appearance in
Oakland, the result might be very dis
astrous to the city.
Everyone knows, of course, that the re-
moval of E. w. Thurman, Davies man. as
secretary of the board, and the reappoint-
ment of Smith, whom Davie opposed as
Sanitary Inspector, caused all this rumpus.
Now, l have nothing particular against
Thurman: but | must say that he was en-
tirely incompetent to hold the position,
and | fear one could not conscientiously
vote TO keep in office. | am going to wait
to see what will become of this mixture on
the board, but shall probably resign when
see that am not being crowded"
DR.. Akerley felt very much as DR.. Fisher
did in regard to the matter, but said that
he had not made up his mind whether or
not to resign.
1--WE do not meet until the second week
in July" he said, land we shall have
plenty OF time to think the matter over
before that time. In the meantime, should
DR.. Rogers, who is an allopath and one of
Mayor Davies appointees, combine with
the two homeopaths and call a special
meeting, there is likely to be some fun"
Though neither DR.. Fisher nor DR..
Akerly would confirm it, rumor is afloat
that should DR.. Rogers combine with the
two homeopaths to the undoing of Dr.
Fisher and DR.. Akerly ne will be tabooed
by the allopaths of Oakland henceforth.
1t was discovered yesterday that under the
section of the charter through which the
appointments of Drs. Shuey and Beckwith
were revoked Health Officer Mayor is in
eligible TO hold his office.
"He has not the necessary electoral
qualifications. 1t is probable that he will
be retired and successor appointed to act
until the lncumb bent can qualify which will
be in Septem Der. DR.. Mayor is very close
to Mayor Davie and It is thought that the
latter will protect him to the extent of his
ability and see that he receives his APP
pointment again when he becomes eligi-
bic.
DR.. Beckwith, who was removed by
Mayor Davie, is satisfied that it was his
vote on the question as to whether SAM.
tary Inspector Smith should hold his Job
that caused the appointment to be re-
voked
Mayor Davie did not want Inspector
Smith reelected" he said. II wanted to
do the best could for the city and made
extended inquiries as to Smiths fitness
for the place, and on all sides | heard him
commended in the very highest terms as a
man unusually well qualified for the
place.
$50 when the matter came up at the
meeting Friday night l nominated Smith
and, of course, voted for hiin, as did also
DR.. Fisher, DR.. Akerly and DR.. Shuey. and
he was elected, as there are but five of
us in the board. That is the reason DR..
Shuey and I were removed"