The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-05-16
SCHOOLS WILL RUN.
Issue Again Joined With the
Board of Health.
TWO BOARDS ON THEIR DIGNITY
Each Refuses to Go TO the Other. and
the Courts Must Decide Limit
OF Their Powers.

II Is eviden. that there il going 70 he
war between the board OF education and
the board CT health over the order Of the
latter 20 close the South and Rainier
schools owing 10 the presence IN the city
or scarlet fever. The board OF educatioIs
met yesterday afternoon under the belief
that the board OF health would ne present
20 talk over the situation. but Il was then
learned tha the health officials had de-
cided 10 hold a special meeting themselves
this afternoon, and that while they did
not care 70 appear before the school board.
they were willing the school directors
should appear before their board II they
had any Tling TO say. The upshot OF the
meeting Of the board OF education was
that the order 70 close toe South and
Rainier schools was simply fled. which.
being translated. means: Let the board
OF health go ahead and do Its best or
worst" According 20 cle opinion or some
members Of the board Of education. the
board OF health. IN closing the schools.
would be doing its worst. The meeting
was set for o'clock yesterday afternoon
in J. B. NacpougalPs Office. School Di-
rector Churchill was there on time and
soon Secretary Ogden and Director Col
kett appeared. Mr.. MacDougan was busy.
but said he would come in as soon as the
members OF the board OF health came
Fully "A half hour passed and no one came.
In the meantime DR.. Churchill ana MT
Colkett came TO the conclusion that after
a careful inspection OF what had come out
respecting the scarlet fever situation they
did not think the situation Gained for the
action ordered by the board OF health.
When Mr.. MacDougall came ia he look
ed around and asked with surprise where
the health officials were. Secretary Ogden
replied that they had refused the invita-
ton OF the school directors to meet. but
a swxaW -
have the school directors come oeFore
them IL they had anything to say.
II telephoned 10 Health Officer Pal
mer," said Ogden. and he replied that
the board OF health as now constituted
did not care TO meet with the school III
rectors, but was going 10 have special
meeting or It's own yesterday or this az
ternoon. and would be willing TO have the
members OF this board appear II they
had anything 10 say about the order TO
close"
Mr.. MacDougal turned three-auarters
around In his chair. and remarked:
so they are unwilling 10 meet with us,
but are willing that We should come be-
fore them" Mr.. MacDougall then I'm
ished by saying that IL looked ike throw
ing down the gauntlet.
Mr.. Colkett said that he thought mat
as long as there was a quorum present
some action had better be taken on the
order to close the schools. Now. l don I
like 10 appear as trying TO halk anything
the board OF health desires 10 do. hut on
the other hand have not been convinced
that the situation Is critical enough TO
have the schools closed. I am willing 10
have the buildings fumigated under the d.
rections OF the board of health. but 10
step In at this late hour and close up the
schools. CIR two OF them, when only few
cases are IN any way connected with Inc
schools is a different matter.
well. | think added DIR. Churchill.
that the children are better off In school
than running around the city. as they
will be II the schools are closed. hear
of them riding on street cars. etc. As
our attorney says We are not compelled
10 close the schools, | think we had bet
ter go on with them.
~ desire TO see the matter settled ami
cably." put in Mr.. Colkett. but I don't
feel like closing en- the board of health's
say-so alone
''I don't like 10 appear as fighting the
board of health" said Mr.. MacDougai.
'g,ut according TO our attorneys the board
OF health has exceeded its powers"
Then DR.. Churchill made a motion that
the order of the board OF health 10 close
the South and Rainier schools be placed
on file. AS the directors went out OF the
room a reporter asked what the English
OF filing the order was.
'The schools will run" replied one Of
the directors.