The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1916-12-13
MEAT INSPECTION SUBJECT
or WARM DISCUSSIONS

OFFICER and Neat Inspector. Officer
Upheld.
Monday afternoon the City Council
and Board of Health held the second
joint meeting within a week to con-
slider complaints being registered by
the butchers Of the town against
Health Officer Franks. Also for the
second time the Council went on rec
ord as supporting the health depart
ment and Mr.. Franks.
The friction between the butchers
and the health officer, long standing
affair, apparently came to a head last
week when the council and health de-
partmcnt met in joint session to con
slider specific complaint brought by
Mr. Don Irwin, a local butcher, against
the health officer. 1t was charged by
Mr.. Irwin that the health officer had
condemned and destroyed two hogs
which a local veterinary surgeon had
declared fit to eat. Members of ths
board of health absolved Mr. Franks
from the charge, stating that Mr..
franks had acted upon their direction,
three Of them having visited the city
slaughter house and condemned the
meat 1t was pointed out by members
of the board who had examined the
hogs that a number of infected places
were found on them. To prevent fric-
Of I,
recommended and the council adopted
the recommendation TO allow the
health inspector and the butchers to
call for expert advice in case Of a
disagreement in the future. The Joint
session adjourned with the trouble
apparently amicably adjusted.
| Friday afternoon the former trou-
BILE broke out again when officer
Franks hesitated to pass hog car
cass belonging to Mr.. John Armstrong,
the marketman on West Main street
Mr.. Franks, according to the state
ment Of DR.. Ferguson before the joint
session yesterday, refused to put the
official stamp Of approval upon the
hog, but offered to arbitrate the mat
ter as provided for at the council
meeting.
Mr. Armstrong agreed to carry the
hog to Clemson college and have il
passed on there. Accordingly Mr.
Franks and Mr.. Armstrong carried
: the carcass to Clemson college and q
veterinary surgeon there pronounced
the infection as local and the meat as
harmless in the unaffected portions
Upon their return from Clemson. Mr.
Armstrong notified Health Officer
Franks that he would no longer recog
nize his authority and refused hin
access to his market.
Although Mr.. Armstrong was not 4
the meeting OF council Monday after
noon, 1t was understood that the coun
Gil met to consider his demand tha
; Mr.. Franks be\ discharged on tn
: grounds Of incompetency. Upon tn
, convcning of the council DR.. Fergu
!, son, of the board of health, rcviewe,
, the case as substantially outlinc'
I above. He pointed out that the healtl
s officer had not acted upon his ow1
@ responsibility in either case at Issue
f having received direct instruction
8 from the board OF health to condcm
: and destroy Mr.. lrvins two hogs an
that he had gone no further in MI
Armstrong; case than submitting tn
O matter to arbitration. In support G
n Mr.. Franks competency. DR.. Ferguso
: quoted letter from the health Office
: OF Grccnvillc in which that scntcma
|, confirmed the diagnoses Of three lil
g crs sent there by Mr.. Franks. ID
" Ferguson said that the board ha
n unanimously passed a resolution {
confidence in Mr.. Franks and aSkc
the council to sustain them in tlci
position. Alderman Watts oifcrc
g some objection to the retention of NJ
> Franks in the interest OF peace an
e harmony, but upon motion by Aide
IS man Fowler the council went on rccor
l. as endorsing the board Of health an
Y. It's nominee, Mr.. Franks.
lc In the course of the meetings, di
st fcrent members Of the Board Of iiealt
l. DR.. Ferguson, DR.. league and NJ
y Monroe, pointed out that 1t was not
lie be expected that the health officer ar
e. the butchers would agree and th
Of were they to agree on all cases Il