The San Francisco call., 1896-04-23
The Majority in the Board Of
Health Fails to Remove
Him.
DIR, w1LL1AMsoN's REPORT.
The Superintendent's Opponents Scored
for Their Stand in the
Matter.

The three members of the Board of
Health who are opposed to Superintend-
ent Weaver of the Almshouse made last
desperate fight to GUST the veteran official
Yesterday and failed signaIly, Mayor Sutro
and DR.. Williamson standing firm and re-
sisting every effort Of Drs. Hart, Morse
and Fitzgibbon to accomplish their pur-
pose.
special meeting was held to consider
the matter and when it had been called to
order Secretary Godchaux stated that he
had received a minority report from DR..
Williamson and proceeded to read the
twenty-nine type written pages it con-
tanned.
In the majority report submitted at the
last meeting DR.. Williamson was severely
criticized in the matter, and in his own
communication he did not hesitate to re-
turn the compliment. In his Introductory
remarks, while speaking Of the treatment
accorded Superintendent Weaver during
the investigation, DR.. Williamson said:
Here was man against whom accusation
after accusation had been heaped up, VINO was
not allowed to sit in the presence OF those VINO
preferred the charges against him, but he was
placed upon the witness-stand ana over
whelmed with volley of questions paseo upon
lnfOr rmat1On l01gcQ In the ndnuS VI ILLS Solu-
mittee before the investigation began. Even
counsel was denied him, so that he was lett
completely defenseless, with no knowledge OF
the statements which he would be supse-
quently called upon to confront. Had not one
member of this committee taken the necessary
step not single witness in favor OF the super
intendent would have been called to the STAND,
but the case would have been decided entirely
upon the evidence of hostile witnesses. l,
therefore, submitted to him such parts OF the
evidence as in my opinion needed refutation
and explanation, and told him to take the
necessary steps to defend himself.
In this l believe was justified, and chal-
! lenge criticism. In no way was any MEMBER
of this committee bound by oath, affirmation
or any compact whatever to keep in violate
the proceedings of the inquiry, and II have
erred in giving information to the accused for
the purpose of allowing him to make de-
fense, admit the error and am willing to err
again under like conditions.
When he came to his opponents report
DR.. Williamson waxed eloquent.
have listened with interest to the scathing
philippic embodied in the report of the major
| ity OF this committee. l will compliment
| those who have presented it on its mastery
| eloquence and vigorous vituperation; its bit
| ter denunciations and caustic comments, and
4 beg leave to suggest tnat as a classic in def
| amation of character 1t far surpasses the
Catalinian orations.
Stripped of its exaggerations and shorn OF its
luxuriant verbiage it stands forth in bold re-
lief, bearing upon its face the following accusa
tions: P. L. Weaver is thief, liar and gen.
orally diSreputaDle character. Inc AlmShOuse
under his administration is sink Of iniquity
| and nest of corruption. The reputation of its
superintendent has been dragged in the mire,
and the mangled and distorted remains are
presented to your honorable board and through
you to the public
| A reputation that in the local commercial
world has been handed down untarnished for
| the past twenty-five years is blackened and be-
smirched in the interest OF 'clean politics and
| in demonstration OF the principle that "to the
| victors belong the spoils"
DR.. Williamson then reviewed the testi-
mony at length and drew the conclusion
that no misconduct ad been proven and
| that the action of the majority was
| prom pied by motives other than the good
of the taxpayers who support the Aims
| house.
| Mayor Sutro heartily indorsed DR.. Will
Iiamson's report and stated that after
hearing 1T, and in face of the recent Grand
Jury report, he could take no other course
| than to vote against Superintendent
| Weayer's removal.
On the negative votes Of DR.. Williamson
| and Mayor Sutro the opposition to Super
| intendent Weaver was finally put at rest.
Drs. Williamson and Hart were ap-
| pointed committee to draw up rules and
| regulations for the management of the
| Almshouse.