The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1905-06-19
KEEP AN EYE
ON RECORDS
Drs. Cool and Dunn of Den
tai Board Say They Rely
on Them to Prove Charges
AFFIDAVITS ARE FILED
Two Members of Profession
Tell How Easy 1t Was
to Get Their Licenses

1t is stated on good authority that
Governor Pardee IS at the back Of the
expose of the alleged rottenness in the
methods of the State Board Of Dental
Examiners and that he has expressed
Willingness to assist in the thorough
investigation that is planned. The
charges made by Drs. Russell Cool and
John M. Dunn against Drs. Mayhem.
Baird, White, Howard and Herrick
have brought a general denial from
the men accused.
Drs. Dunn and Cool, who have en-
gagged State Senator Lukens as their
attorney, are already taking action to
prevent any changing of the records of
the board or their possible loss" The
men who bring the charges said prior
to their departure for Los Angeles,
where the second series of examina-
tions Will be held, beginning this
morning: we do not intend that any
more of Baird's mutilation and dis
tortion of the records shall take place.
We depend upon the records of the
board to a certain extent as evidence
of some of the charges we have made.
They must be kept inviolate until the
conclusion of this investigation
Drs. Dunn and Cool say that they
Will show that Drx. Baird and Herrick
have taken thousands of dollars from
the boards funds without warrant.
Drs. Mayhem, White and Howard are
said to have supported Herrick and
Baird in their alleged grafting meth
DDS and are charged with conspiracy.
Drs. Dunn and Cool said in regard to
this matter; I've have at all times
been I'm the minority. Every effort on
our part to prevent grating has met
with the opposition Of the majority.
Saturday last, when we were about to
precipitate the charges, we were out
voted on the matter of an adjournment
to Los Angeles"
In UNFOLDING the charges of pro-
miscuous granting of temporary IL
censes by DR.. Baird, the following af-
fdavit was secured from DR.. F. H.
Richmond of Chico: Il did not take a
written examination and was only
asked few questions. I showed
diploma and State certificate, paid my
IS and was assured by DR.. Baird that
I was all right until the next regular
examination"
BOWERS FINDS 1T EASY.
Here is what DIR. Urban Bowers, a
dentist practicing at 10 Kearny street.
swears, in an affidavit, DR.. Baird issued
him temporary license upon: Board
of Registry, secretary's Office, Haver-
hill, Mass, March s, 1904. DR.. Urban
Bowers, Sonora, Cal.-Dear Doctor: 1t
is required by the rules of the board
that all applicants for duplicate certifi-
Gates be accompanied with a sworn
statement of the loss of the original |
and a fee of one dollar, when an af- |
hdavit attesting the granting of the
original certificate will be granted. G. |
E. Mitchell, secretary, per M
The above letter meant almost moth |
ing, yet DR.. Baird granted DIR. Bowers |
a temporary license to practice den |
tistry. Another dentist in Berkeley was
granted a license without any creden-
tials, or without the usual examination
required by law.
Drs. Bowers and Richmond were |
10th to make aff1davits. They feared |
that they would fail when they took |
the examination for permanent license /
last week in this city, and cited the
alleged statement made by DIR. Howard |
of Los Angeles that I'VE do not want
any more dentists in California, there
are enough here now" as proper /
grounds for their fears They were as
sured that all fairness would be given
them in their examinations.
Drs Dunn and Cool will request that
the examination papers held by the diff
ferent members of the board, who each I
have special subjects to examine upon,
whole board so that no failures on ac-
count of the alleged restriction con-
spiracy shall be recorded.
In contrast to the easy manner in
which Richmond and Bowers secured
licenses is the way in which T. r.
was examined by Baird, and
refused a license. Wool
ard alleged that he was denied a tenn
porary license, after having passed q
fore DIR. Baird. He and others charge
that DR.. Baird had issued temporary
licenses to certain applicants without
first having subjected them to an ex-
animation as to their qualifications, as
by the State dental law.
NEW LAW PROPOSED.
Last year some of the members of
the State Board sought to stop DR..
Baird's wholesale granting of temper
airy licenses and the receiving of the
accompanying IS fees. A resolution
was got up by the board to stop the
granting of temporary licenses, but
failed in it's passage because some of
the members thought(that the resolu
ton would be in violation of the State
dental law and incidentally work an
unnecessary hardship on those wishing
the privilege to practice.
Under the law each member of the
board has the power to grant tenn
porary license to an applicant, so that
ne may practice until the final exami-
nation can be given him by the whole
BOARD at it's regular semi -annual meet
ngs. The alleged abuse of this priv
lege by DR.. Baird, whose lust for fees,
t is alleged. was stronger than his
sense of duty to the dentists of Cali
'ornia and the State. was the cause Of
he boards action
Drs. Cool and Dunn, who prefer the
charges, are Of excellent character and
worth in the profession and men who
ire held in high esteem by Governor
9ardee. At the next meeting of the
legislature Senator Lukens will intro
luce a new dental bill. providing that
10 compensation whatever shall be paid
o members of the State Dental Board.
lie will also cut out that portion Of the
present law that compels every dentist
o pay a tax Of 81 a year for the prose-
,ution of illegal practitioners. The