The San Francisco call., 1899-07-30
THE EMERGENCY
HOSPITALS MAY
Be ABOLISHED
Health Board Projects
Many Chan ges.
WILL BE DECIDED TOMORROW
DIR. BARBAT AND OTHERS TO
LOSE THEIR HEADS.
Discharge of Employees Planned Be-
cause of Auditor Wells Action
in Holding Up This
Months Salary.
WILL BE DECIDED TOMORROW
DIR. BARBAT AND OTHERS TO
LOSE THEIR HEADS.

The law which compelled Auditor Wells
to refuse to sign a number of the salary
claims of the employees Of the Board of
Health proves to be more far reaching
In its effect upon the employees them
selves and upon the public welfare than
was at first supposed. If the condition
that now presents itself TO the board Is
maintained by the courts when the mat
ter shall come 10 trial the health of San
Francisco and the many conditions that
depend upon it will be jeopardized.
The Withholding of all salaries save
those of employees employed by the Health
Department under the provisions of the
statutes means simply the closing of the
two branch hospitals, the HarbOr Hospital
and that at Golden Gate Park, the oblit-
Grafton of the ambulance service in emer-
Eency calls, the chemical analysis OF foods
sold IN the city markets and the bacterl-
olOgiCaI tests necessary to the maintain
Ing Of a successful quarantine in times of
epidemic 1t means also that free vacci-
nation, which has been going on for the
past month, viii be stopped, as the law
provides no salary for the vaccinating
officer or funds for his medical supplies.
These results OF the enforcement or the
law are neither the fault of Auditor Wells
nor Of the Board of Health. Both offices
are compelled TO operate along the lines
laid down by statute, and statute does
not give to the Health Department an
appropriation TO be used in the payment
the city may most need; 1t merely names
certain positions that must be hlled,
whether they are needed or not The
statute does not provide Tor any or the
surgeons and ambulance drivers for either
the Park or Harbor Hospitals, nor does
g. provide for the other departments. It
allows a bare working force for the main
office and inspectors 10 number IN
adequate to the sanitary needs OF the
CITY Auditor Wells has been forced to
close the treasury to all demands save
those of the law, and the Board of Health
IS compelled to discharge all employees
save those provided for and abolish the
positions and departments they have
4 meeting to discuss ways and means
was held at the health office in the City
Hall Yesterday. A number of the mem
bers of the board were present, and
came known later that the board planned
10 discharge on Monday all employees
whose warrants the Auditor had refused
TO sign. Some unforeseen political circum-
stance may arise TO change this plan, but
after the meeting yesterday this course
was decided upon as the only way out
of the difficulty, and it will be broached
on Monday when the whole board meets.
The law IS plain before US, said a
prominent member of the board yester-
day. and We cannot and will not fight
the law. Auditor Wells has been com
PEELED to refuse these claims and has
pointed out to US the statute under which
we must operate. A contrary course is
optional with neither of US. These en-
pIoyes whose salaries have been declared
only thing remaining for US to do IS TO
notify them their services are dispensed
with, even though 1t cripples the work of
the department; The board will bring
no proceedings"
Although the board will not go to law,
George =. Macpherson, the VacCtnator,
HyiU sue for writ of mandamus.
This decision Of the board will result in
the abolition Of the following positions:
Assistant police surgeons at the park and
harbor hospitals, Drs. W. L. Dorr, William
c. Hopper, J. L Stephen. T. b. Robinson,
Chief Food Inspector Louis A. Devote:
Bacteriologist William +. Barbat: Vacci-
nator George E. Macpherson; Chemist a
c. Bottle; Assistant Chemist r. A. Gould;
Statistician z. B. Carroll; Clerk Of Vital
spectors John F. Murray, J. r. Breeze.
John J. Sullivan, G. NJ. Erickson John
Thompson. J. F. 1ahaney and George II.
Ryan; Health Inspectors J. w. Grove and
Washington. Veterinary Surgeon !. ".
10 ROurke; Plumbing Inspectors J. D.
Nolan. ". H Kelly and J. J. Connolly;
Garbage Inspectors W. Gregg and G.
.Cuneo; Clerk to Health officer r. NJ.
Zones; Stenographer Mrs. NJ. Turner;
singsworth; Ambulance Drivers n. J. Pen
dergast. J. w. Kelly, Charles KapIan and
Nv. r. Guinness; JanitOr Of Health De-
1Sartment J. Berlineri Janitor of Health
EOfflce r. L TyTTell; Matrons at Harbor
and Park Hospitals Mrs. S. n. Reed. Ellen
SWEET, Nellie Wynne and Mrs. Bessie !
: Quarantine Officer Cohen's position will
fbe rendered q sineCUre by the discharge
of all the officers of the quarantine launch
Hnd the messenger. These will be Captain
of the Launch p. MCGOWAN. Engineer r /
.Cousins. Deckhand J. c. Johnson. Long
John wilkins. the negro messenger Of the /
quarantine department, is last on the list