The Richmond climax. (Richmond, Ky.) 1897-1914, 1912-03-13

mend in its report the State Board OF
Health, with IT'S subordinate depart
mentS..and pronounce it proficient and
satisfactory in the matter Of its health
work.
-'FOurth-The committee will recon-
mend that the State Examiner and In
spectOr hereafter make examination of
the State Board of Health and its finan-
cial conditions as examinations Of other
departments of State government and
the State institutions are made.
The report will conclude with certain
recommendations as to the expenses of
the investigation.
HERRISGTON's STATEMENT.
The statement in part follows:
The books and records filed with this
committee cover period Of thirty-three
years and many thousands Of dollars.
All the facts and records have been in
DIR. Mccormack possession for all these
years. | am not an expert accountant.
We have no special counsel or account
ants employed. / have many other mat
ters Of importance on my hands, and
you, gentlemen, viii appreciate the diff
fculties ! have experienced under such
circumstances. We ought not be called
upon 10 60 searching through the
stacks Of straw to find the grain Of
wheat, but such has been the case with
us.
This investigation has brought out
the fact that DIR. J. n. Mccormack has
been running the affairs of the State
Board Of Health for over thirty years.
As the executive officer OF the board he
has handled or is accountable for five
distinct and separate funds as follows:
Registration fees paid by doctors; ex-
animation fees paid by applicants to
practice medicine; reciprocity fees paid
by doctors moving into this State from
other States; students fees paid by stu
dents entering medical colleges in Ken
lucky; appropriations made by the Leg
islature for the State Board Of Health.
MCCORMACK FEES.
Many people did not know that every
doctor in Kentucky had to pay DIR. Nc
Cormack a fee before he could register
and practice medicine under the old
law; that every student who enters
medical college in Kentucky has to pay
TO DIR. McCorm ack, or his representative,
a fee Of S. formerly S2) before he can
enter college; that when these students
are graduated, each of them has to pay
10 DR. Mccormack, in addition, $40 be-
fore he can practice; that every doctor
who comes into Kentucky from another
State has to pay DIR. Mccormack a fee
Of SIS before he can practice in this
State. If | had time TO ascertain &C
curately what these fees alone have ag-
since DR.. Mccormack has been
in control, l believe it would be a sum
size to stamp out all the
'hoOkwOrms" in Kentucky.
The Legislature appropriates $50. 600
annually for the State Board of Health.
and also provides that the public printer
shall supply the board with all neces-
sary printing, books, etc. All of this is
in addition TO the fees which the board
receives Since the last Legislature met
the public printer has expended over
sl2, 600 for the State Board of Health.
EXPENSES OF BOARD.
In addition TO the moneys which
come directly into the hands of DIR. Nc
Cormack as secretary Of the board, there
are many expenses which the people
have TO pay on account of this board.
Last year it must have cost the people
Of Kentucky at least $50, 600, in addition
10 the $4,000 appropriation and the
$4,000 printing bill, to put the vital
statistics law in operation. This ag-
gregates S92,OOO during the year 1911,
and does not include the fees All of
The $50, 900 above mentioned was paid
by the fiscal courts Of the various coun-
lies, and not out Of the Board of Healtb's
money. II there is an epidemic in any
locality the local officers handle the
situation and pay all bills. The Board
Of Health does not spend its money that
way.
Il want TO show you where the money
Of the board has gone, so far as have
been able 10 trace il. When possible | |
will give you the date of the voucher
Ind its number and amount Some of
he moneys have been improperly ap-
'lied and am going TO ask you TO re-
'ort the facts to the Attorney General
or any action that he may deem proper.
fOu should also recommend that the
state Examiner and Inspector should be
equired by the Governor 10 make a fun
nd thorough Investigation of all the
ccounts. Previous Investigations have
zen too superficial.
M'CORMcAcK "PTTTANcE.
''Dr. J. n. Mccormack stated under
ath, at the beginning OF this investiga-
ion that he had been working for the
pittance" Of 81, 200 per year ever since
e became secretary Of the board. He
ecame secretary in 1888. I find the
minutes dated June Is, 1895:
Upon motion the secretary was authoriz-
TO use the fees for issuing certificates
physicians from and after January /,
sos. as his compensations for issuing
lme.' DR.. J. n. Mccormack wrote
lese minutes. AT that time there was
large sum on hand that had accrued
ON these fees. DIR. Mccormack ad-
its that this sum had been placed 10
he credit Of his individual account in
ank.
These minutes did not provide that
he fund which had at that time &C
lmulated be turned over TO DR.. Nc
ormack. but that future fees should
, turned over to him. However, he
I'D already deposited same TO his in
ividual credit in bank. Later, on Feb ,
lary p, 1896. the following minutes