The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-01-13
ENDED in A DRAW
Householder Row Over Dr.
Wood Results in DOg-Fal.
Meanwhile the Health Officer
Is Drawing His Pay.
NOTHING BUT A PUZZLE NOW
City Attorney Admits He Knows
Not What's What
After Hour, Mayor Called for
Quit Motion, Porter Made 1t.

epevelopments were aapid in the city
hall row over Dr. II. b ', oou; ;s Jt.S
physiciau. in the city comInlssloil
meeting this morning The net result
is Chat DR.. Wood is stun coilllecteu
with the city pay roll and that as mat
ters stand the city ordinances FTqu5le
him to do things he cannot legaIiy 40
There were several unexpected deVel-
dfSmeuts which tied the matter up
completely for the present ana even
the city attorney, George Hayden WIZ
have to do some digging BEFORE ne
knows Just where the commission
stands. -,
When final adjournment came the
skirmish had resulted in a dog-iall
as between Mayor J. E. House anu
Commissioner w. L. Porter.
Mayor House reiterated his position
which was that DR.. Wood must meet
all the requirements of the city ordl-
fiaf1ces or suffer the penalty OF belhs
feparated from his pay check.
u Commissioner Porter announced MS
Concession and the limits to ms cor
cession-that he was willing that DIT
Wood should take out a incense 70
practice in Kansas and that he should
freat all reportab1e diseases among IN
digent poor, but not that he should
treat emergency cases at the ponce
station
An Ordinance Is Discovered.
After the harangue had been on for
an hour it was discovered that an or
dinance passed last July by the com
Emission relieved the city physician OF
gt1se duty of attending policemen anu
firemen and the commission, exclusive
of Porter, denied any knowledge or
such an ordinance. However, the rec
ords showed it had been duly intro
duced, passed and approved and pub
iished in the State Journal. Bringing
that ordinance in conjunction with the
old city health ordinance which is now
IN effect and the new city ordinance
tho
revised ordinances are published, II
was found that the city physician is re-
tuired to treat cases at the city hos
Rttal or pest house, to treat INDECENT
poor and do other things Mayor House
mas insisted upon.
~ Right upon the heels of that discov-
cry came the announcement from the
mayor that he had been informed DR..
wood could not secure license from
the state board to practice medicine
until the second week in February.
In the meantime the ordinance in eff
feet at present requires that he shall
practice medicine. That knotty prob
lem was checked up to Commissioner
Porter.
The Mayor Opens 1t.
tsrWhen the commission meeting
opened Mayor House made the open
ing statement.
Il have no desire to interfere in
the workings of the city health de-
ssiartment." he said, but / feel that l
lam speaking for the commission when
/ state that the city physician must do
the work prescribed by the city ordi-
nances-as interpreted by the city at
torney-or have his pay stopped"
Il might have something to say ON
that subject replied Porter, IF l
Knew how the city attorney was gong
to interpret the city ordinances.
@nffsAs I understand it, said the
mayor, your contention is that the
city physician should not take care of
emergency cases at the police station
rNes.'
The mayor will hold" continued
Mayor House, that he must do that
work, subject to the Interpretation OF
the city attorney. And / might add
THAT if we find the ordinances do not
cover the situation we can pass { ne
that does cover it"
--as Commissioner Porter proceeded to
explain more fully his position.
a-'1 think" he said, that it is the
duty of the city physician to look aft
eer the health of the city in more
general way. For instance, he spends
a great deal of time among the school
children making examinations.
should dislike to have him Gale
away from such an examination t.
treat an emergency case at the police
station | think the work he is doing
is much more important to the whole
CITY He hasn't the tire. 1t Woulo
work a hardship on the health de
partment to have him making fire.
quent trips to the city Jail"
1@iT' IF he doesn't do it, who -yill?" ask
ed the mayor.
Need Police Surgeon.
..In most cities there is a police sur
Eeon." said Porter
But We have none and no funds tt
pay one" shot back House.
..s George Hayden, city attorney stated
that the ordinance defining the dutie
of the city physician had been repeal
ed but that it would remain in effec
until the publication of the new or
dinance.
~ will entertain a motion to in
struct the city attorney to draw al
ordinance defining the city physician
duties" stated the mayor.
~ Instead" retorted Porter, Il NOV
that commission of three members o
this commission be appointed to inves
tigate DR.. Woods work in the city"
s. The motion was not seconded an
was not put.
sidered here said the mayor, Hi
work is not being criticized. Tn
criticism is due to the fact that he ha
not complied with the city ordin
ances."
Commissioner WATSON, following tn
mayors lead. offered a motion in
structing the city attorney to draw u
aan ordinance defining the duties @
sstlhe city physician. The city attorne
sdidn't propose to assume the respon