The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-07-14
MAY DIVIDE ON DlSPENSARY.
CLOSE VOTE PROBABLY on THE
DIXON ORDNANCE.


tionS THAT the ordinance win
Open the Way for Warm Time
in Council
The ordinance introduced in Coun-
Gil this week 10y Alderman Dixon,
providing for ghe establishment
of the city dispensary as it|
was prior TO the time its control was
transferred 10 the sanitary bofrd, and in
cidentally, for the termination Of the
terms Of office of those now connected
with it. turned ont 10 be general sur
prise TO the board.
Alderman Dixon said yesterday that he
had consulted TO one about the ordnance,
and is, therefore, persona ly responsible
for it. Health officer Drummer had no
connection with the matter, he said, and
probably knew nothing of The proposed
change until he heard of Councils action.
Alderman Dixon made search at the
city exchange recently for records of the
sanitary board bearing on the election Of
dlspensary officers, which as probably
what started the rumor that there had
been conference 10 determine the advis-
ability Of a change
Alderman Dixon was asked in regard to
the ordinance. which he has no doubt
will be passed without much opposition.
He has thought from the start that there
should be a change at the dispensary.
as he believes Council can manage
things there quite as satisfactorily as
the sanitary board has done.
Il object to any statement that Keeper
O'Keefe's alleged differences with whole
sale druggists desiring to supply medl-
cines, inspired the ordinance" SAID
Alderman Dixon. In the first
place, l do not see how there could be
any differences with druggists, how
Mr.. O'Keefe could buy from any other
than administration dealers. since there
are only three wholesale druggists in the
city, all of whom are understood TO be
Citizens Club men. Unless the medicines
were bought outside the city, therefore,
it is not apparent how the druggists could
be dissatisfied"
What is the object of the changer
Alderman Dixon was asked.
"One reason is that Council should have
direct control In the next place We think
there is room for Improvement. The
city's best. efforts will be made to bring
the dispensary 10 a higher plane of use
fulness."
men will not favor the ordinance. What
they object to is taking the control out
OF the hands of the sanitary board, which
many think have managed the institution
duhAdDiy. An eNceueht showing mas been
made, and things seem to have moved
along in the even tenor of their way"
The sanitg board is a part of the
city governn at, directly amenab}e 20
Council and for that reason no change
should he made at the dispensary" said
one ALDERMAN. The ordinance was a sur
prise TO me, and from what / hear few
other members of the board knew any
thing about the intention of Offering it,
OF course, the reasons for a change have
not yet been given. When they are those
who may object to the ordinance may
change their minds. I am open for con-
viction, but if the reason for change is
10 improve the management of the dis
pensary, l do ny think it is Wen taken.
/ think the sanitary board has succeeded
in doing pretty we'll"
Keeper O. Keefe quietly submits to what
appears 10 be the inevitable, but he de-
sires mis- position well understood. He
has had differences with druggists he
claims, because he followed the instruc-
tons of the sanitary board with regard
TO purchasing ali goods on a competitive
basis.
My instructions from the board are TO
call for bids. when supplies are TO be
bought" said Mr. O'Keefe. from each of
four wholesale druggists These bids were
flied with me at the dispensary. When
they were opened the contract was always
given to the lowest bidder. / have pre-
served the bids and am prepared at any
conducted upon an honest basis and in
absolute conformity with instructions from
the sanitary board. AS a result of my
observance of these rules l have made
some enemies among the druggists, though
/ do not mean TO impute to them the in
stigation of the ordinance now before
Council
An example of how some seem 10 think
/ should have acted appears from a con-
Versation had with Mr.. Lawrence Lipp-
man of the firm of Lippman Bros" said
Mr.. OKeefe. ION April 70 Mr. Lippman
saw me in regard to the purchase of sup
plies from his firm. He objected to the
system of buying on pIds, and said he
thought city medicines should be bought
by the keeper himself. He said further
that his firm was a member of the party
in power, and that it was not furnishing
half of the medicines bought by the dis
pensary. He said he wanted to notify
me that his firm expected at least half of
the orders, and that If it did not receive
them, he would see to il that | was re-
moved. assured him that the orders went
to the lowest bidders. Mr. Lippman said
DR.. w. F. Reid was getting orders which
he is not entitled to receive from the c,ty
because he is not member of the party
in power.
Answering Mr.. Lippman I told him l
was there TO obey the instructions of the
sanitary board ! told him we were Meth
or spending Liberal Club money nor Citi-
zens Club money, but were spending the
peoples money. ! also told him if his bid
was the lowest he would get the orders
but under no other circumstances unless
by special order of the sanitary board.
After this conversation with Mr.. Lipp-
man, said Mr.. OKeefe Il at once re-
ported the circumstances to Alderman Jar
rell, and requested him to relieve me of
the responsibility of purchasing the goods
He consented to this, and on the two
Following months he received the bids and
gave me orders, and the matter was later
brought to the attention of The sanitary
board. This was all the trouble l had
with the exception of one slight difference
with the Columbia Drug Company. which
! required 10 take back goods which |
did not consider 10 be of good quality.
Under the present ordinance the uewcom-
q q :. - ~. l. :.