Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1917-03-20
Stan CORRESPONDENT

DOVER, March 20.-Wth the eN-
animation OF Clifford L. Iszard, the
expert accountant employed by the
board. and several other witnesses. the
special legislative committee. Of which
Senator Wharton is chairman. named
10 investigate the Stale Board OF
Health. completed its work at hear
ing in the Senate chamber last night
j. Austin Ellison, former secretary
Of the Wilmington Board OF Health,
furnished the most interesting testi-
mony at. the final meeting last night
Mr. Ellison said that while he was
secretary Of the Wilmington Board OF
Health. Dir. Frantz. secretary OF the
State board. named him deputy regis
trar OF vital statistics and pShl him
10 cents for each death record that
he turned over to him.
DR.. William p. Orr, president OF the
State board. was also an interesting
witness, telling Of the scarlet fever
epidemic at Rehoboth I'm 1903, when
Or. II. r. Burton, a former witness,
claimed excessive charges were made
by DR. Orr.
Mr. lszard, who was named by the
committee as expert accountant to eX-
anime the books and accounts OF the
State board, said that examination so
far as the efficiency OF the bond IS
concerned" made a favorable impress
sion on him. Mr.. Iszard will make a
further examination 10 try to clear
away a financial discrepancy pointed
nut by Senator Hickman, who pointed
nut that money appropriated by the
New Castle County Levy Court did not
appear i'm the boards accounts.
The committee. now that the eXami-
nation is concluded, will probably pre-
pare a bill TO be presented as sub
btitute to make some changes N the
ronduct OF the State boards business
1t Is generally rumored that Two
things arc likely to be recommended
BY the committee. One is 10 separate
The bureau Of vital statistics from
The State Board OF Health, and the
pther TO establish the general ONCE
Tor the board in Dover,
Mr.. Iszard read a long report OF
what he learned as a result OF ms IN
Vestigation, which, in short was
blanket exoneration Of practically all
acts OF the state board
Mr.. Iszard's Favorable Report
In his report. Mr.. lszard went into
ali tho expenses OF the board during
the two years. 1915 and 1916, includ-
Ing salaries Of the secretary and the
clerk. money expended fordiphtheria
pnti-toxin expense of combating the
Infantile paralysis epidemic, stamps,
stationery and other incidontals' ana
also gave q list of the receipts from
registration of deaths, births and
marriages and other sources. In the
case OF the infantile paralysis cpl
demic he gave the number OF men
employed by the board, the places
where they We're stationed how
many days employed and the amount
Maid TO each man. lie declared that
the expense of fighting this epidemic
had cost the state Board S2,9912l,
iust coming within the appropriation
of 81. 600 made for that purpose.
After the report had been read,
Robert G Hartman. attorney for the
committee asked Mr.. lszard II GOV
-crpor Miller had approved the plan
al the board to employ men and sla-
ton them in various parts OF the
State during the infantile paralysis
epidemic. The expert accountant DC
clared that he did not know, as there
was no evidence that the Governor
had approved it other than his sig
nature approving the bills. He said
that the minutes of the board showed
that the Governor was to be consulted
IN the matter.
In mentioning the fact that his in
xcstigation had made a favorable Inn
pression upon him. Mr.. lszard had
stated that some criticism could ne
made OF the boards method OF book
keeping relative to diphthefia anti
toxin. Mr.. Hartman asked him TO eX-
plain this statement and he replied
that when anti-toNin is shipped 10
each station in the State il is charged
MP to the stock account OF that sta
ton and when il is sold it is credited
20 the stock account This control,
however. is not exercised over the
supply of anti-toXin in the main Of
fee and he recommended that the
same control be exercised in the main
office as in the distributing stations
Replying TO Mr.. Hartman, the ac
countant stated that the clerical worl
Sn the Office OF the State Board eou'
be pcrformcd with less labor, but tina
the expense could not be lessened. HI
said he had no recommendations a
to how the work OF the board coul
be conducted upon more economical
basis.
In answer to questions propounde
by Mr.. Burris, Mr. Iszard stated ina
he had looked over the minutes OF tn
board during the two years, and tina
there was generally only one or tw
members absent at each meeting. IL
eould not remember how many mem
bers composed the board
aflos-ns I~rQcSfNa Charges.
DR.. James Martin, of Magnolia
stated that he thought the boar'
could be run more economically ant
that the Office should be in Dover IL
i. started to tell OF some alleged over
changes at Bowers Beach in connec-
ton with the issuing OF certificates