Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-01-27
NO LONGER TIE HEAD
COL. PURCELL TO RETIRE FROM
PRESIDENCY OF THE LEAGUE.
MR. E. A. CATLIN TO SUCCEED HIM.
The Annual Meeting OF the General
ORGANIZATION to BE Held Monday
WaIke-Davis Controversy.

1OlOHtl JOhu ID. uANtils WIN mas D'tu
president of the Democratic League for
Good Government since its organization,
little over a year ago, will retire from
that position next Monday night,
when the annual meeting of the body
will be held and officers for the ensuing
cell has been urged to remain at the
head of the league, he has felt that there
was a better field of usefulness for him
upon the Executive Committee and has
consented to work there.
The committee appointed at the recent
meeting Of the general body to nomi-
nate officers to the meeting to be held
Monday night has about completed its
work. Although it has not been officially
given out in any way, it is understood
that the committee have agreed upon
Mr.. Il. a. Catlin to succeed Colonel Pur-
cell as president OF the league Mr.. Cat
lin has filled the important office OF chair
man of the Executive Committee of the
league since its formation. He was one
OF the local leaders for Democracy In the
last presidential election. and rendered
kDOl StINl~t III anu dIOunu IitilhOlll
Mr. Catlin Is thoroughly aroused in the
work of the league, and is well versed in
the cty's affairs.
OFFICERS OF THE LEAGUE.
The general business of the organiza-
ton will be attended to, under the new
bylaws. by the Board of Management,
to be composed Of three members Of the
Executive Committee of each ward
hFap Of Loo utrn ha cfffa ~
the organization are a president first
and second vice-presidents. secretary and
treasurer. and they are TO be elected at
the annual meetings of the body, which
are to be held on the first Monday i'm
February of each year. The bylaws pre-
scribe that the officers of the league thus
chosen shall select and present 10 the
league for it's approval and election the
three members from the Executive Com
mittee OF each ward branch, who shall
be members of the Board Of Management
When questions arise making 1t neces-
sary for the general league to meet. the
president can call the body together.
THE AMBULANCE OUTFIT.
Mr.. w. w. Wake, the member Of the
Common Council from Jackson Ward,
who, as a member of the Committee on
Relief of the Poor raised the question as
to the right Of Superintendent Davis to
turn over to the two almshouse surgeons
the sum of $50, appropriated by that COM
mittee for the purchase Of an ambulance
outfit, has written a public card, explain
ing this entire matter as he understands
1t. He says that prior to the December
meeting of the committee one OF the doc
tors asked him to vote TO give $25 each to
the two physicians as a Christmas pres
ent. as this had been the custom of the
committee. Mr.. Wake says he promised
TO think over this matter. lie adds that
at the meeting the chairman. Mr.. S. H..
Coitrell. decided that the committee had
no right to do this. Mr. Wake then goes
on 10 say
Superintendent Davis, then appearing
before the committee, stated that the
doctors We're I'm need of overcoats ana
rubbers to protect them from the severe
weather, through which they were forced
to go at all times, and upon hearing this,
and understanding that the doctors re-
ceive only $40 per month for their SER
vices mot including fees which they are
permitted to collect, which am advised
amount to no little). / understand they
pay sS5 per month 10 Superintendent Davis
for board. | felt that If they were really
in need of this protection from the
weather that the committee should ap-
prOpriate such an amount as would pay
for such articles, and | thereupon made
the much -talked-of motion, as follows:
THAT the superintendent be allowed TO
expend a sum, not exceeding $50 for an
ambulance outfit"
The motion was unanimously adopted,
and the balance of the transaction has
been printed time and again. Supern-
tendent Davis says he simply reimbursed
the two doctors for the money they had
already spent in their outfits. Mr.. Wake
at the next meeting of the committee
raised the point that the so had been
misappropriated, but in this he was not
sustained In his letter the Councilman
calls attention to the fact that some
of the items on the bills rendered for
the outfits were purchased last June He
also argues that the appropriation ne
cessarily cut from the fund for the pur-
chase OF medicines for the city poor.
Nj. Evan Snead, another member Of
the Committee on Relief Of the Poor,
writes a card, i'm which he states that he
Is entirely in accord with Mr. Wakes
position i'm this matter and that he would
have voted as he (Walke) did had he
been present at the January meeting.
SUPERINTENDENT AND DOCTOR.
Superintendent Davis yesterday said
"As the records Of the committee show,
il has been a custom 10 give the surgeons
at the almshouse their outfits. There are
parts Of Mr.. Wakes letter untrue. and
| would rather take time TO consider
carefully what 10 say in answer. / don't
propose to mince matters"
DR.. W. II. Lyme, DR., one of the staff
of physicians at the almshouse. speaking
of the matter yesterday said: II don't
think that Mr.. Davis has done anything
wrong When the matter was first brought
up | wanted 10 return the money. l
came TO the almshouse for practice, and
not for a money-making venture. / was
not sick, and | was not a pauper. I've
done my duty and am not making a
cent. II is all foolishness 10 think Of
making an outfit for one surgeon do for
another. If the committee thinks that
anything wrong has been done, they
should look to records. | will not return
a cent II they want money back they
can take back the outfit and sell IL, and
then get some one else TO wear it,"
JEFFERsoN-wARD LEAGUE.
The Jefferson Ward Branch of the DEM
ocratic League met AT Thon's Hall. cor
ner Of Seventeenth and Main streets, Mon
day night. Mr.. Sol. l.. BlOomberg was
elected temporary chairman of the meet
ing. and Mr. j. Currie temporary secre-
tary.
Mr.. Bloomberg read the bylaws Of the
league. which were adopted. On motion
of Mr.. Ferguson. it was decided to
name the organization the Jefferson
Ward Branch OF the Good Government
League. The following gentlemen were
elected members Of the Executive Com
nittee: Messrs. b. T. Crump. j. s.
Moore. r. s. Ferguson George w.
Brown. j. s. Moore. Jr.. T.. NJ. Dalton.
w G. Yarbroueh Frank Campodonlco.
The meeting then adjourned. and the
Executive Committee held brief session
FOR organization. Mr.. r.. II. Ferguson
nos elected chairman. and Mr. John Cur