Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-07-15
TWO LAWMAKERS
CLASH ON FLOOR
George Brown ResentS Wilson's
Action on Health Board Res
oIution and "CaIIS Him."

sharp and sensational clash be-
tween Representative vinson, of Bald
win and Representative Brown. of
Fulton. occurred on the floor of the
house this morning. but not as a part
of the recorded days proceedings, aft
err Mr. Vinson. in the absence of DR..
| Brown, had succeeded in having a res
oluton fathered by DR. Brown, report
ed favorably to the house, recommitted
to the committee on hygiene and sani-
tation for a rehearing.
/ Dr. Browns resolution provides for
joint committee to investigate the
state board Of health, and has been
reported sfavorably in both the house
and the senate. It seeks to air some
of the inside dongs of that committee,
some of which have been aired before,
it is said, and some of which have not.
Soon after the house met today Mr..
| Vinson asked that the resolution be
recommitted There was no objection,
and the bill was sent back to the COM
mittee
| In a few minutes DIR. Brown came in,
and, in ignorance of what had hap
pened, asked that his resolution be
called up for consideration
The speaker informed him that his
bill had been sent back to the commit
tee for 3 rehearing.
Calls Down Mr. Vnson.
Or Brown was vfsibly astonished,
but said nothing more on the floor.
He walked down to the reading clerk
and inquired as to the facts of the sit
uation
When DR. Brown had satisfied him
self as to what had happened and how,
he went TO Mr.. Vinson and said;
Il consider such methods as you
adopted in blocking my resolution this
morning as questionable. l shall keep
my eyes on you In the future"
Mr. vinson flushed, and said he
guessed that would be satisfactory to
him. and that he was not answerable to
| DR.. Brown for his conduct
Speaking of the matter later, Mr..
Vinson said II wanted this resolution
recommitted because l wanted to be
heard by the committee on the merits
OF the proposed investigation. l think
there is no real merit in It, This board
has been investigated once, and moth
! ing wrong was found Why should it
be investigated again? There Is more
spleen and malice In the matter than
anything else do want to kill the
resolution because l think it should be
killed"
Dr. Brown discussing the incident.
said: Il have known for some time that
somebody was seeking diligently to
block my resolution providing for an
investigation into the doings of the
state board of health I found out to-
day who it was and I must say l was
astonished al the methods he used.
The plea that Mr. Vinson wants to be
heard by the committee comes mighty
late Why hasn't he been heard here
tofore? He has had abundant oppor
tunity The plea that the department
has been investigated before is silly. 1t
Investigated itself and found itself all
right want real investigation held
and the committee agrees that it should
be Investigated What Mr. Vinson is
TRYING to do is to block an investiga-
ton The secretary Of the health board
has influential relatives in Baldwin
county and the gentleman from Bald
win seems determined that the board
shall not be investigated. If he is SO
sure that everything IS all right, why
does he undertake to head off an in
vestigation?"
Live Session Expected
more than ordinarily sensational
session of the committee on hygiene
and sanitation is expected to follow
todays clash between Vinson and
Brown.
The proposal to investigate the stats
board Of health by legislative Joint
committee evidently will be bitterly
fought
This fight Is, in some of its aspects
continuation of an old controversy
between DR.. Willis Westmoreland, Of
Atlanta. former member of the board
and it's chairman and DR. H. F. Harris,
the present secretary.
Several months ago DR. Westmore
land. resigning the Craftsmanship of the
board, filed charges of extravaganza
and maladministration against Secre-
tary Harris These charges the board
absolved itself and its secretary of. but
there has never been a legislative in
vestigaton.
1t is this legislative investigation
that Dr. Brown is seeking to bring
about