The half-yearly meeting of the Ontario College of Pharmacy was opened in
the college buildings, Gerrard Street East, Toronto, on Tuesday, August
6th, at 3 o’clock p.m. There were present: Mr. John A. Clark, Hamilton;
Mr. J. E. D’Avignon, Windsor; John J. Hall, Woodstock; G. S. Hobart,
Kingston; Andrew Jeffrey, Toronto; L. T. Lawrence, London; John McKee,
Peterboro’; J. H. Mackenzie, Toronto; C. H. McGregor, Brantford; A. B.
Petrie, Guelph; J. W. Slaven, Orillia, and Henry Watters, Ottawa.
On the motion of Mr. John McKee, seconded by Mr. Andrew Jeffrey, the
President, Mr. John A. Clark, Hamilton, was appointed Chairman.
The Chairman called upon Mr. Isaac T. Lewis who read the result of the
election of members to the council and the number of ballots cast for
each and the same was approved.
President Clark said that when he undertook the duties of president two
years ago, he realized that it would be a task of considerable
difficulty to discharge the duties to the satisfaction of the members of
the Board. He hoped the meeting would not be characterised by any
unpleasant feeling such as had been manifested in the late Council.
Nominations for Vice-President having been declared in order, Mr. J. E
D’Avignon moved the appointment of Mr. W. B. Saunders, and Mr. C. H.
McGregor moved Mr. J. Hall. Mr. Hall was elected, only one ballot being
cast for Mr. Saunders who was not present.
The Vice-President, in the course of a brief speech, expressed the
reluctance he felt in opposing Mr. Hall. He would reserve his reasons
for doing so until Mr. Saunders was present. It was necessary in giving
effect to the new act that men who held office before should be
identified with the Council. He would do his best to secure for the
college any of the benefits obtained from the act.
On the motion of Mr. J. H. Mackenzie, seconded by Mr. L. T. Lawrence,
Mr. Isaac T. Lewis was re-elected Treasurer and Registrar for the next
two years.
The Chairman stated that the auditor, Mr. Daniels was away in England,
and that it would be necessary to appoint another for the unexpired
term. On the motion of Mr. J. H. Mackenzie, seconded by Mr. J. McKee,
Mr. W. A. Hargreaves appointed for the unexpired term.
Mr. H. Watters, seconded by Mr. John McKee, moved that a committee
consisting of Messrs Slaven, Hall, Jeffrey and the mover and seconder be
appointed to strike standing committees.
Mr. C. H. McGregor, seconded by Mr. J. J. Hall, moved as an amendment
that Messrs. Hobart, Watters, Petrie, Mackenzie and McGregor receive the
appointment. The amendment was lost by eight votes to four.
Mr. D’Avignon moved the adoption of the minutes as printed in the
Pharmaceutical Journal for February.
The Chairman—I object to that, as part of them recorded there not true.
I refer to page 117 of the journal where it says: “The President rose to
a question of privilege referred to some statements made in the World
with regard to his connection with the Pearen matter.” I object to the
manner in which that is put in.
Mr. Lewis, Registrar, at the President’s request, read the minutes as
recorded in the minute book as follows:
“The President arose to speak on a matter of privilege, and
explained to the council the action he had taken in the matter of
the attempt at alteration of the Register of Apprentices by J. M.
Pearen, and read to the Council the letter in the World of February
8th, and claimed the statements therein were not in accord with the
facts, and he thought it was due to him that the Council should not
allow them to be uncontradicted.”
Mr. Davidson—Then I infer that the report in the Journal with that
exception is correct?
The Chairman—As far as I know.
Mr. D’Avignon, seconded by Mr. Watters, moved that the minutes of last
meeting of the Council be accepted as read, the inference being that
they were read from the minutes and not from the Journal.
This was agreed to unanimously.
The Committee on Standing Committees reported as follows:—
Executive and Finance—Mackenzie, Petrie, Slaven, Hall, Hobart.
Education—Jeffrey, D’Avignon, Watters, Petrie, Slaven.
By-laws and Legislation—Hall, Hobart, D’Avignon, McKee, Lawrence.
Infringements—Mackenzie, Watters, Hobart, Lawrence and Saunders.
Mr. Mackenzie thought the whole Council should act on such an important
branch as the Infringement Committee, but Mr. Watters pointed out that
this was contrary to the constitution, which limited the number to five.
Mr. Hall and Mr. Hobart seemed to favour the amendment of Mr. Mackenzie,
stating that it was difficult to cover the districts in any other way
without the appointment of a private prosecutor or detective.
Mr. Jeffrey thought the Council should not undertake such work.
The President sustained the by-law, and ruled Mr. Mackenzie’s motion out
of order.
On the motion of Mr. Watters, seconded by Mr. Hall, the motion to
approve of the committees was carried unanimously.
The council then heard communications, accounts, notices of motion,
educational committee’s report, special committee’s report, regulations
for examiners and applications from apprentices, after which they
adjourned till Wednesday, at 10 o’clock, a.m., the business of
considering the reports being referred to the various committees.
Wednesday Morning.
The Council met at 10 o’clock, President John A. Clark in the chair.
The Chairman read some correspondence he had with Mr. E. R. Beckwith,
Secretary of the State Board of Pharmacy, at Petersburg, Virginia. He
(the Chairman) remarked that there had been a difference of opinion in
the Council regarding the Pharmacy laws. The desire of the writer was
that those who passed the examinations before competent Boards could
pass into and practise in any other State without re-examination, and
that the certificate of the Secretary should suffice. Seventy-five per
cent of marks were suggested as requisite. It was proposed to call a
convention of State delegates to arrange the matter, and that the vote
of two-thirds of those so assembled should be sufficient to give power
to act. He (the Chairman) wrote Mr. Beckwith on June 13, giving him the
names of colleges with whom the Ontario College interchanged
certificates, namely: the Philadelphia, New York, Chicago, Massachusetts
and California Colleges, and with the Board of Pharmacy of the City and
County of New York. As regards the scheme of interchange so far, the
States reported as follows: Delaware considered unadvisable; Tennessee,
yes; Nebraska does not favor; Pennsylvania, undesirable; North Carolina,
yes; Michigan and Minnesota, yes.
Mr. A. B. Petrie said that in many of the State Boards four or five men
met together and granted diplomas, while many of the colleges were
private enterprises. While the Ontario College was desirous to raise
the standard, a step of this kind might be injurious if not dangerous.
Mr. G. S. Hobart thought it would prove a benefit to go into the
arrangement as more young men crossed into the United States to practise
than came from the United States to this country.
On the motion of Mr. Andrew Jeffrey, seconded by Mr. H. Watters, the
following resolution was put and carried:
“That the communication of E. B. Beckwith, of Petersburg, Virginia,
referring to the holding of a convention of State and other Boards of
Pharmacy, be received, and the President of the Council be instructed to
watch the proceedings, and if he deems it in the interest of the College
he is hereby empowered to attend such convention.”
Mr. Lewis read the Registrar and Treasurer’s report as follows:—
“I beg to report that since 1st February, 1889, the following
medical practitioners have taken out registration:—Wm. Spencer
Harrison, Brantford; James Switzer Freeborn, Lionshead; R. G.
Montgomery, Forest River, Dakota; W. B. Nisbet, Angus; Alexander M.
McFaul, Staynor; Richard Allan Clark, Ridgetown; D. C. Leitch,
Dutton; George Veitch, Linwood; Declan E. Foley, Westport; John
Cuthbertson Choffut, Keene; Francis Rorke, London; James McDiarmid,
Hensall; Richard R. Hopkins, Grand Valley; Michael Jos. Keene,
Brantford; Francois Xavier Balade, Ottawa; Wm. Alexander Munns,
Thetford; Duncan McEdward, Thetford; Geo. Johnston Dickson,
Desboro’.
“The number of applications for registration has been 123, a small
number of whom have been registered, the balance being kept in
abeyance for the Council to deal with. The numbers of renewals
issued since February 1st, 1889, were as follows: 1 for 1886, 3 for
1887, 54 for 1888, and 551 for 1889, total 609. The register showed
the members in arrears, 86 for 1888, 200 for 1889, as near as I can
judge. The statement of receipts and disbursements showed balance
on hand at the beginning of the year to have been $5,095.94;
receipts, $3,865.23; disbursements, $5,546.81.”
On the motion of Mr. John McKee, seconded by Mr. J. H. Mackenzie, the
reports were received and referred to the Executive Committee.
On the motion of Mr. J. E. D’Avignon, seconded by Mr. H. Watters, a
committee, consisting of Messrs. Jeffrey and Mackenzie, were instructed
to take an inventory of the books and other belongings of the club, with
a view to insurance, which the Chairman remarked should be done without
delay.
On the motion of Mr. J. J. Hall, seconded by Mr. A. B. Petrie, the
Registrar was instructed to have a circular addressed to each man doing
business in the Province as a pharmaceutical chemist, inviting him to
comply with clause 10, sub-section 1 of section 31, being the recent
amendment to the Pharmacy Act passed March last.
Several members thought copies of the whole Act should be sent.
The resolution was passed.
The Chairman suggested that a solicitor should be consulted in the case
of E. M. Pearen who had been asked to be present that day at eleven, but
did not appear.
Mr. D’Avignon alleged that the charge against Mr. Pearen was alleged
forgery, and if that was so, that he should be prosecuted. The fact that
the register of apprentices had been altered would interfere with their
proper registration as druggists afterwards.
Mr. H. Watters—The question is, can we prove it?
The chairman said he concurred with Mr. D’Avignon when he said that a
lawyer should be consulted.
Mr Lewis was reluctant to tell the Council the exact facts, but said he
would inform a lawyer of the whole matter. He felt more annoyed that he
had been beaten, so to speak, by Mr. Pearen than from any other cause.
On the motion of Mr. H. Watters, seconded by Mr. J. E. D’Avignon, the
mover, with Messrs. Petrie and Lewis, were appointed to consult a
solicitor and report.
Mr. J. M. McKee moved, and J. W. Slaven seconded the following
resolution:—
“That whereas the report of the Registrar-treasurer of February 16,
1889, shows that the fees from students of this college for the
past year have been $5,756, of which sum $4,378 by this statement
is due to the professors, and only $1,378 retained by the College,
according to agreement (See Sept. Journal, p. 23), which agreement
we recommended be cancelled, and the Professors forthwith be
notified by Registrar accordingly in view of the rapidly increasing
revenue from students and the large amount of money paid out to the
Professors, we believe we are warranted in readjusting the salaries
so that each of the Professors be paid by the Executive of this
College a definite sum according to work performed. Therefore, be
it resolved, that the Educational, the Executive, and the Finance
Committees do at once confer with the Principal and teaching staff,
and endeavour to make satisfactory arrangements with regard to the
same. Failing to meet this, or arrive at a satisfactory agreement,
that they be further empowered to report as soon as possible upon
some plan whereby such an arrangement can be effected.”
The mover pointed out that when the school first commenced the amount
received by the teachers was only $108. It had been gradually
increasing, and although not doubting the ability of the teachers he
thought each one only had a right to be paid for what he did. He did not
know, however, where they could find another college making so much
profit. Last year there had been a profit of $1,388, which the
matriculation fees had brought up to $1,600. It was a question whether
they could do so with reduced salaries. A cheaper staff might spread an
influence against the college.
Mr. A. B. Petrie said that in Philadelphia the scholars were certainly
attracted by the prestige of the professors, but in Canada they were
obliged to come to the college in any case.
Mr. J. E. D’Avignon pointed out that no one was obliged to come until
after the Act had been passed this year.
Mr. J. W. Slaven pointed out that the institution was now $14,000 in
debt.
The resolution was carried and the Council adjourned at noon.
Wednesday Afternoon.
The Council met at 3.25, Mr. John A. Clark in the chair.
Mr. Watters reported that along with Mr. Petrie he had been to the
office of Messrs. Edgar & Malone, barristers, and saw the former
regarding the case of Mr. Pearen. Mr. Edgar thought the correction made
in the books was necessary in the interests of the young men.
Mr. Watters, therefore, seconded by Mr. Petrie, moved the following
resolution:
“Mr. Pearen not having complied with the request of this Council to
appear before the Board to explain the irregularities with which
his name has been associated, acting on legal advice it is deemed
unadvisable to take any further action in the matter, and it is
hereby resolved that no further action be taken.”
A communication from Messrs. Edgar and Malone, barristers, was filed
along with the resolution stating that in the action of Mr. Pearen, in
regard to the apprenticeship of Mr. John A. Dunbar, there was no
evidence to sustain an action against him under the Pharmacy Act, and
further, that such being the case, no action could be taken under
Section 20, looking to have his name erased from the register, and that
the firm thought it unwise to press matters against Mr. Pearen.
The resolution was carried.
Mr. A. D. Weeks, chemist, Uxbridge, handed in a letter and an
application on behalf of Mr. T. C. Nicholls, B.A., Uxbridge, claiming
clemency of the O.C.P. The Chairman, after Mr. Weeks had been heard,
told him that as was usual in such cases, the application would be
considered by a committee.
An application from John J. Watson, for time served in Hazelton was then
lodged and also remitted to the committee.
The following notice of motion was made: Moved by Mr. John J. Hall,
seconded by Mr. L. T. Lawrence,—
“That the mover hereby gives notice of motion that he will be at
the next semiannual meeting, bring in a by-law to carry out the
provisions of sub-section 3 of section 1 of the amendments in the
Pharmacy Act, passed March, 1887, providing for the holding of the
elections to this Council by districts, and to amend No. 10 in
accordance therewith.”
Mr. Slaven moved, and Mr. McKenzie seconded,—
“That the reports of the Executive and Finance Committees be
adopted. Accounts amounting to $56.35 were passed for payment.”
H. W. Watters moved, Wm. Lawrence seconded, the following resolution:—
(Continued on page 10)