Evening journal., 1917-03-01
WANT ACCUSERS TO
FACE HEALTH BOARD
DR.. Orr and DR.. Richie
Ask to Know Basis of
Investigation
DR.. FRANTZ TELLS
OF FINANCIAL SIDE


Just what Is back Of the invcstiga.
ton OF the State Board OF Health by
the Joint committee OF the Senate and
House Of Representatives now is the
thing they wish to learn, according to
members OF the board who voiced
their feelings at public hearing last
night in the rooms Of the Levy Court.
DR. W. p. Orr. OF Lewes. president
of the board, declared he thought the
affairs OF the board had been conduct
ed well and in accordance with the
best interests Of the community. He
deprecated. he said, the effect Of an
investigation. based merely on rumor
and without being permitted 10 face
the accusers Of the board, whoever
they might be.
DR. Charles A. Richie. a member OF
the board. commended officers of the
board upon their work and declared
10 unfair 10 the board and 10 the com
munity 10 hold an investigation simply
upon rumOrs and without members Of
the board being faced by accuscrs.
He asked that action be taken 10
bring those who might be making
charges against the board before the
investigating committee 10 discover
what basis there was for an inyCsti-
cation.
Or. Richie requested the commit
tee TO summon any person, persons or
organization that had asked Senator
Hickman TO introduce the bill ahol-
ishing the State Board OF Health
Senator Wharton said he would gladly
undertake 10 have any accusers OF the
Board OF Health summoned before the
committee 10 discover N there was
any basis for the rumors that had
been heard from time to time about
improper conduct OF the boards af-
fairs.
The meeting adjourned subject TO
the call OF the chairman. II being eX-
planned that another meeting could
not be held until some time next
week as some members Of the conf
mittee desired 10 go to Washington to
attend the inauguration OF President
Wilson.
Most OF the time OF the hearing last
might was occupied with examina-
ton OF DR.. A. u. Frantz. secretary Of
the board There we're present Dr.
w. =. Orr, OF Lewes. president OF the
board; DR.. A. ID. Frantz. secretary OF
the board; DR.. W. r. Haines, OF Sea-
ford; Dr. Charles A. Richie and Or.
70, r. steele, OF Dover Or. J. w.
Cliften, OF Smyrna and DR.. James A.
Draper were not present.
Members OF the joint committee OF
the Senate and the House OF Repre-
sentatives comprised Senators Charles
NJ. Wharton and Harvey Hoffecker
and Representatives Martin B. Bur
ris, w. Truxton Boyce and william
| NJ. Connolly, Senator Hickman, al
though not n member Of the commit
tee, was present.
DR.. Wharton acted as chairman of
the meeting. Senator Hoffecker as sec
rotary. Robert G. Hartman acted as
counsel for the committee. AT the
request OF Or Wharton, Senator Hot
fecker read the joint resolution pro-
viding for an investigation
DIR. Frantz Explains Finances.
DR.. Frantz. secretary OF the State
Board of Health, was the FIRST witness
He testified that the State Board OF
Health was allowed by law $4,000 per
year OF which $500 was for the sal
airy Of the secretary OF the board,
the other $1,000 being used for ex-
penses. The travelling expenses Of the
secretary, he said, amounted usually
to about SIPS year The salary had
been the same for ton or fifteen years,
he said, and was fixed by resolution
OF the board.
The State meteorological Labora-
tory received by law $500. or this
amount $4,000 was used as salary for
the State Baeteriologist: $500 as sal
airy for the assistant and about $500
for general expenses.
Robert G. Hartman. counsel for the
committee, took some time trying tC
bring out the point whether Or. Wat.
son, State Bacteriologist, had any au.
thority 20 pay bills or incur expenses
without the authorization OF IN,
board. Upon a question by Repre-
sentative Burris il was brought oui
that the money was all paid through
the State Treasurer.
Or. Frantz then testified that $4,000
was appropriated by law for purposes
Of the bureau OF vital statistics As
secretary OF the State Board OF
Health, DR.. Frantz said he was alss
State Registrar. OF this amount
$1,000 was used for salary of the reg
istrar The amount of money ex.
pended under the jurisdiction OF tn,
registrar, he said, was trivial, but al
! amounts were subject to the revision
Of the board. All expenses in con
nection with certificates OF various
kinds. such as health certificates ant
the like we're drawn from this $1,000
The sum Of $500 was appropriate,
for diphtheria anti-ioxin, DR. Franti
said. This amount could be drawn OIL
yearly II wanted but as a matter o
fact the $500 never had been used hu
once. That was about three year
ago. he said.
Mr. Hartman brought out that les,
amounts than the $500 might hav,
been drawn from the appropriation
but Or Frantz insisted only $500 o
the appropriation had ever beer
drawn from tho state He said Thu
$500 had been deposited and bill
paid from K as they were presented.
There also was further ap,
preparation. with tho approval OF the
Governor OF $4,000 20 he used in case
OF serious epidemic. This appropri
alton has never been drawn but once
DIR. Frantz said. II had all been uses
for quarantining i'm the State anc
getting up forms necessary for carry.
ing on the business OF the boart
/ in connection with the infantil'
paralysis epidemic last summer.
/ Tells Of Fees Received.
All OF the bills. he said. had beer
approved by the Governor Steps were