The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-18
BOARD OF HEALTH BACKS HARRINGTON
 IN COURT ACTION Attorneys to Fight Quo WarrantO Suit Will Be
 Selected Today PLAN MOVE TO FORCE CITY'S RECOGNITION Medical Society Issues Letter to All Physicians in County Asking
 That They Recognize Ap-
 pointee's Authority

Attorneys who will fight the quo warranto proceedings that have been instituted in the circuit court against Dr. F. B. Harrington, as county health officer. will be determined at meet ing of the board of health of the Jeff ferson County Medical society today. In event the court decides Dr. liar rington is the legally elected county health officer. the attitude that the society will adopt to force his recogni- ton by the city already will have been considered. The nature of the fight that the committee on health will wage is to be determined today.
 It was reported last night that the committee was considering the ad- visibility of asking an injunction against Dr. Cecil D. Gaston as city health officer
 FIRST CLASH AT CITY HALL The first clash at city hall be- tween the two oontesting factions came yesterday morning. A contagious case having been reported by Dr. E. F. Riggs, pr. Harrington. who is now the central figure in the fight, re- quested that the city furnish him with an automobile to carry him to the scene where the contagious disease was reported. Commissioner Hornady I iC10SCu lO COtHPlJ WtlH LillS lCquSSty for 1t would have been virtual recog- hilton of his authority as city health officer. but stated that his own auto mobile was parked in front of the city hall and that he would gladly place this at his disposal.
 This conflict brought forth another complica tion.
 The committee of health, meeting yesterday afternoon, addressed the fol- luVinO lpttar nhVSirianS of .Ief- ferson county:
 The committee of health herewith
 calls attention to the fact that Dr. F.
 E. Harrington was legally elected
 health officer for the county, and for
 all the municipalities of the county,
 and has not been suspended or re-
 moved. You are therefore. notified
 that, whether residing in the county,
 or ia any municipality of the county
 all reports should, to be legal, be
 made to pr. Harrington
 For and in the name of the commit
 tee. THOMAS D. PARKE,
 Chairman Committee of Health, Jeff
 ferson County Medical Society.
 LEGAL PHASES IN SITUATION
 Thus, the county board of health con tends that, in order for a birth to be legal, or a death to be legal report of 1t must be made to Dr. Harrington, who dlOHe Cdn Issue auln6UllC ceTtlltdlSS. uo city has declared Dr. Cecil D. Gaston to be the city health officer, and has there by declared that all reports of the physi- clans must be made to him. In view of the tangled prospects, the work of the city health department will become mud died until the question of pr. Harring- toms authority is settled by the courts.
 Under the existing health laws of the state and city, physicians must report all contagious diseases, deaths, births, etc., to thee ity health department. In event they fail to do so, they are subject to ar rest and fine
 Commissioner Hornady when informed of the action of the committee on health, stated that he had nothing to gay He intimated that inasmuch as the city had full authority to prosecute any physician who did not obey the laws the city would allow the matter to rock along until ac- ton was warranted