The morning times., 1896-05-06
DOCTORS BILL REJECTED
Oisputalion Between Or. Walz
and Health Officer Woodward.
SMALLPOX FEES THE CAUSE
Smallpox Inspector Asked for an In
crease In Compensation and Was
Denied-His Present Request-Fire
man Deserts, Has Been Dismissed
and His Successor Named.

DR.. E. g. Walz, who served under the
health officer during the recent small
pox epidemic as special smallpox inspec-
tor, some time ago made application TO
the Commissioners for an increase in the
compensation allowed him.
He was appointed to the position and
accepted it at $40 per day, but since his
service ended he requested that the per
diem be increased to $15.
The Commissioners declined to accede
to tile request. Dir. WaIz's contention that
| he should receive pay equal TO that given
| DR.. Elliott was not regarded as just, and
| lie was denied the advance.
| DR.. Walz has now an application on file
| for remuneration for vaccinations made,
! and for house to house Inspections, desiG-
| mated as not in line OF lis duty as in
spector, and the Commissioners and the
! health officer have taken adverse action
! upon that.
Senator Gallinger of New Hampshire
wrote the boarI a letter in reference to
| tile claim, and yesterday response was
sent him, accompanied by letter from
| DR.. Woodward, in which he was informed
| that independent of the merits OF the
claim, the Commissioners could not make
! the payment desired, for the reason that
| the appropriation under which DR.. WalZ
was employed has been exhausted, and
deficiency appropriation would have TO
/ be made III order 10 provide Tie neCes-
| sary funds"
DEVELOPS ANOTHER PHASE.
There is another phase of the question,
| also, and this develops in the letter sent by
! the health officer.
DR. WALZ'S STATEMENT.
After passing Judgment on the merits
OF the claim, stating that the vaccinations
and house TO house inspections were, In his
Judgment, strictly within the line OF
smallpox inspectors duty, DR.. Woodward
| refers to the statement made by Dr. WalZ
that he served as cook at the quarantine
| station, and says that question has moth
| ing whatever 10 do with his claim for re-
| muneration for vaccinations.
Such services, Dr. woodward adds, at
| least so far as the colored laborers were
concerned, were entirely gratuitous. a
| little bit of sarcasm creeps In at this
point, when Dr. woodward remarks:
While duly apprecattng his desire TO
keep the health officer from beng en-
| barrassed by getting new COOK al the
| end OF the epidemic,' l am of the opinion
| that that officer would have been bile 10
manage without being particularly en-
| barrassed or requiring DR.. WalZ 10 act
as cook"
Dr.. woodward cites that If DIR. Walz
| shall be shown TO be entitled TO additional
| remuneration for vaccinations performed
| DR.. Elliott is equally so, both having been
| appointed as smallpox inspectors.
| The amount paid each inspector was
| determined in each case upon its merits.
| DR.. BealI, who performed services iden-
teal with those OF DR.. WalZ, received
$40 per day DR.. OMaliey. whose services
| involved quite as much technical knowledge
and hardship, and even greater risk OF
contracting the disease. in view of the
fact that he was unprotected by previous
attack. received but $40 day.
1.-The professional standing OF these gen.
tlemen." DR.. Woodward continues, ''as in
the case OF DR.. WalZ, was such that in
their official positions their standing with
the medical profession and in the COM
munity at large was determined by the
| Endorsement OF the health department. nor
had any one of them. so far as am in
formed, or have reason to believe, any
large number of patients to give up on
account OF accepting appointments as
smallpox inspectors.
WAS WIDELY KNOWN
"Dr Elliott was. however, profession
ally, widely and favorably known, and
easily able to stand even in his official po-
sition on his own merits. quite indepcnd-
ent of any Endorsement of the health Of
flee. He had, moreover, quite good prac-
tice, which his official duties required him
to give up temporarily. and which might
be permanently injured by such action"
DR.. WOODWARD thus defends the action
of the office in fixing the salary of Dr..
Elliott at SIS per day, and says there
was no discrimination in it.
The claim made by DR.. WalZ for the
extra compensation is based upon grounds
similar TO those cited by the physicians
to the poor, who have a bin be fore Con-
gress in their behalf; but Dr. Woodward
makes the distinction that DR.. WalZ was
required by the nature of his professional
duties as inspector to make vaccinations,
and received SO per day, while the physi-
clans to the poor, were not required to
perform such duty, and received but $50
per month.
FIRE LADDIE DESERTS.
Private Robert Garrison of the fire de-
partment asked for aud obtained leave Of
absence of two bours on April 80, and has
not yet returned. He sent word to his
engine foreman at No. 8 that he would not
be back-in short, he earned the title Of
] deserter.
The Commissioners today entered up an
order so classifying him, and at the same
! time removed him from the force.
Daniel Conway was appointed TO succeed
Garrison, the order taking effect on tht
1st instant.
Commissioners Truesdell and Powell lef
town yesterday on what was stated to bt
: private business, but this is believed t
be a blind. They did not name theil
! destination nor when they ma be expected
to return, although it is generally under
! stood they will be back today.
The fact that both left together, at
I time when the third member of the board
President Ross, is absent gives color t
the suggestion that it was public and no
! private business that called them away
and it is surmised that they have gone t,
! make personal inquiry in respect TO th
; garbage crematories recently inspected b.
! Health Officer Woodward. with view Il
8 determining whether or not they may ris
s the construction of another crematory.