The San Francisco call., 1896-02-21
Difference Between the Boards
of Health and Educa-
tion.
LONGFELLoW SCHOOL CLOSED.
Attorney CreSwell Gains the Troubled
Waters and Prevents
Conflict.

The advice OF City and County Attorney
Cres well alone prevented difficulty OF
serious nature between the Boards of
Health and Education yesterday afternoon
over the closing of the Longfellow School,
The official notification from the Health
Office of the action of the board in order
ing the school closed reached the office of
the Superintendent of Schools yesterday
morning, and Superintendent Babcock at
once telephoned President Dodge and
asked his advice on the matter. Mr..
Dodge hurried to the superintendent s
Office, and the two officials went to the
SiIver-st rect institution of learning.
There they found Health Inspector
Stout of the Sixth District, who had just
served notice on the principal ordering
her to dismiss her pupils at once and keep
the school closed until such time as the
Board of Health should declare the insti-
tuition to be in good sanitary condition.
Mr.. Babcock Immediately visited the
principal and told her not to obey the
orders, as the School Department did not
recognize the right OF the Board OF Health
10 interfere with school matters.
This conflict of authority brought q
statement from the inspector that the
Board of Health had fully determined on
ened epidemic of scarlet fever, and that he
would insist on the orders being observed
by the principal.
CHATS ali right, said the Superintend-
ent; ''thiS school is not going to close un-
less by the orders of the Board of Educa-
ton. ii you interfere with it in any way
l will have you arrested"
To make sure of his position Inspector
Stout returned to the Health Office and
consulted Health Officer Lovelace. That
officer said there was nothing to be done
but to carry out the orders OF the board,
and that Superintendent Babcock and
President Dodge were liable to arrest if
they prevented the carrying out of the
sanitary regulations.
In order to make the matter perfectly
legal formal notices were served on the
Superintendent and President Dodge tell
ing them plainly that the Board of Health
would not consent TO allow the school TO
remain open until the sanitary arrange
ments are so changed that the health OF
the pupils will not be endangered.
After reading the notices Superintendent
Babcock ana President Dodge announced
in plain language that they did not recog-
nlze the authority OF the board, and in di D.
lomatic language announced that the
school would not be closed.
Both contended that the school was not
in bad condition, but the contrary, and
Superintendent Babcock requested DR..
Lovelace 10 visit the school with him this
morning and explain what was objection
able in the sanitation.
DR.. Lovelace consented and said that he
would try TO have g special meeting OF the
Board of Health called to see what could
be done toward bringing the matter to an
amicable settlement.
DR.. Morse was in the Health Office when
DR.. Lovelace and Inspector Stout returned
and a consultation was at once held, with
the result that an order was issued to 90
ahead and post notices declaring the school
closed and TO take precautions to see that
il was kept closed, even should it result in
warrants being issued for the arrest of the
educators. In the meantime Superin-
tendent Babcock and President Dodge had
called Attorney Creswell into consulta-
ton and asked his opinion as to the best
course TO be pursued.
At first 1t was the intention to keep the
school open at all hazards, but when il
was learned that such action would iney-
itably precIpitate conflict with the heaIth h
officials and result in the arrest OF the
superintendent and president cooler coun-
sci prevailed and it was determined to
close the school to-day. AS Saturday is a
holiday, Attorney Creswell will have time
to prepare written opinion by the time
the school should open Monday, and on
his opinion will depend whether the
threatened clash takes place.
Another case of scarlet fever was re-
ported from the Longfellow School yester.
day, and it is probable that the Board al
Health will insist that the school is kep,
closed until the sanitary arrangements are
entirely replaced with modern appliances
and the threatened epidemic is stamped
out