The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-06-14
NOT DRIVEN OUT BY POLITICS.
EX-MAYOR 8IELDBIM SAYS BRUN-
NER WAS NOT FORCED TO RESIGN.

EA-MANOH AsELDitiM SAYS Bht n
NER WAS NOT FORGED TO RESIGN
Former Mayor Discusses His ResiS-
natiOn-SaVannah Has Not Had
yellow Fever in - Years-CoI
NcIdrim says No Effort Was Made
TO Dust Runner, who 1t Is Claimed
Resigned 10 Take Better Position,
Councils ORcr Creates General
Comment.
The Atlanta Constitution, commenting
editorialiy on the efforts Of the Savan-
nah city authorities 10 again secure the
services Of Dr. w. F. Drummer as health
officer. says that during the visitation OF
terrible yellow fever epidemics, Dr.. Brun-
ner stood al the helm. and when they
we're over ne placed the sanitary condi-
ton of the Forest City upon high
plane The erroneous inference to he
drawn from this is that Savannah had
yellow fever during Brunner's term Of Of
fee. when as fact Savannah has not had
yellow fever in twenry-three years.
Hon. ?. W. Ne,drim, who was Mayor
when Dr.. Drummer resigned, said yestcr-
day that Il is so well known that Sayan-
nah has had no yellow fever since 1876
that statement TO the contrary shou.d
need no local denial. Residents Of Savan-
nah are well and happily aware Of the
fact that the city has been singularly
free from yellow fever, even when ep,-
denies prevailed in other cities OF the
South. 1T was one of the highest ambi-
tons of those identified with my admin
istration," said Col Meldrim, that ihc
sanitary regulations be so enforced as to
prevent as far as possible the develop
ment of any KIND of contagious or infec-
tious diseases. Much TO the good fortune
OF Savannah, we succeeded in our ef-
forts"
Since the City Council has offered Dr..
Drummer the position OF heath officer,
there has been considerable talk about
the reasons Tor his resisning the office
under the last administration. 1t is COM
monty accepted that he realized on the
part of the Medium administration an
enort 10 burden him with duties he
thought belonged properly to the clty
physicians, anu not to the nedltn OIlcef.
knowing that a resolution would PROB
ably De adopted requiring MIN 10 visit tne
prisoners az the ponce barracks once a
DAY. il is also generally known that Dr..
drummer announced that he would resign
il Council required the additional " ork.
The resolution was adopted, Dr.. Brun-
ner resigned, ana lew Gays after MS
successor went into Office, the resolution
making it the health officers duty to visit
Inc barracks was rescinded. and his sue
cessor was also relieved of other duties
N,lnlA Ia. Ia unner mao Deen performing.
Col. Medium said that Dr- Brunner
surrender OF his place as health oflcer
was in no way que to politics. The QueS-
ton came up in Council as 10 who should
attend the prisoners at the barracks,
as the services Of a physician were bauly
needed there. The city physicians seemed
20 be so scattered that II was not con-
Venient TO detail them. After me matter
had been thoroughly discussed BY the
board, Col. Me.drim says Il was decided
that the health officer should do the
work. The reason for this was that Dr.
Brunner's predecessor had performed
those duties, and an alderman at that
tine who had been filing the office tenn
porarily stated that he had visited the
barracks regularly as part OF his duties.
Moreover. IL was stated at the meeting
that Il resolution had been In force prev
Vfously attaching the duties to the health
officer, who had only been temporarily
relieved of them during the epidemic al
Brunswick, which necesstated taking off
some Of his work. When the question
came up again. Col. Meldrim said i was
only natural that the work should fall
upon the officer who had been relieved Of
II always regretted that DR.. Drummer re-
signed. said Col Meldrim, and | think
the other members of Council also regret
ted H. Ny understanding was that he
had The promise of a government position,
and that he left the city's employ for
purpose
may be current talk that his resignation
was due TO political differences between
himself and some of the aldermen, but /
do not attach any weight to such infer
ences. 1t may be properly said that his
declaration to resign in case Council car
ried out its intentions had no bearing
whatever on the matter. threat of this
kind would have no effect, and the faci
that Council did not reliuquish its inten-
tions does not indicate that the board de-
sired Dir. Burners resignation. However
l4aK 70 ROT af i'm "a
would neither be dutiful nor dgnitied to
shirk the adoption of the resolution mere
~ because II would bring on the reslgna-
ton of city employe. Il can be seen
that a precedent OF this kind would be
demoralizing."
WAS the resolution. rescinded after DR..
Brunner's successor had been elected?''
Cot Meldrim was asked.
There are others more familiar with
that legislation than myself" he said.
THAT Information may he more accurately
obtained from the minutes of the eani-
tarY board, or from the official proceed
ings of the City Council. 1t may have
been that the duties embraced in the reso-
luton were afterwards assigned 70 the
city Physicians There was no politics In
the move so far as ! was concerned. AS
evidence of this / wrote TO each of the al
dermen on finding l would be unable &c
attend the meeting at which DR.. Brun-
ner's successor was elected, protesting
against the election Of the gentleman who
hos lust retired from the position"
Col Meldrim's assertions come at a tins
when there is considerable comment as L
Dr Brunner's reason for leaving Savan.
nah, since the position has been Offered
70 him again. and at a much more ailur-
ing salary The Constitution winds Up It's
editorial with this advise; There Is hard.
ty city in the union in which vast public
interests are not jeopardlzed by the ware
politician, and the effort TO remove then
from crazy-quilt control is evidenced BIZ
the establishment of boards and commits
eions. removed from immediate change II
which conservatism may be the ruins
factor. When Savannah had TO lose
man like DR.. Drummer because OF Dolitica
annoyance, she learned lesson which. /
IS 60 be hoped, will be widespread In its in
duence. The public business, like that o
individuals, needs to be attended to in
spirit of common sense. and discretion"