Health Officer Resigns After Board Feud
Dr. George H. T. Sparling clashes with the Board of Health over budget disputes and professional judgment.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
At a regular meeting last evening of the board of health, Dr. George H. T. Sparling, city physician, took exceptions to the adverse criticisms of two members of the board and resigned. While Dr. Sparling was reading his monthly report, Dr. Shannon criticized a bill for $6 which the city physician paid an expressman to transport a smallpox patient to the pesthouse. Dr. Shannon and Holmes were also displeased because the physician purchased $9 worth of file cases without prior permission. Furthermore, the report showed that $10 had been expended hiring experts to condemn unhealthy beef. Dr. Sparling stated, 'Gentlemen, if you cannot rely upon my judgment to know what is wanted and get what I consider necessary for this department, you had better get some one who will fill the position more to your satisfaction.' Dr. Sparling later suggested the move was a political effort to make room for a Democrat.
“If you cannot rely upon my judgment to know what is wanted and get what I consider necessary for this department, you had better get some one who will fill the position more to your satisfaction.”
Internal squabbles between municipal health officials and political boards are a recurring theme in Seattle history, echoing modern debates about the autonomy of public health agencies versus political oversight.
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