New-York tribune., 1869-01-13
THE DIFFICULTY IN THE BOARD Oh
HEALTH.
RESIGNATION OF SUPERINTENDENT DALTON AND
SEVERAL INSPECTORS

RESIGNATION OF SUPERINTENDENT DALTON AND
SEVERAL INSPECTORS.
The determination of the Health Commits
soners to get work out OF the gentlemen who COM
pose the Sanitary Department OF the Board Of Health
and to whom is allotted the work Of inspection OF tene
menthouses unhealthy streets. and insaubrty In gen.
era has resulted in an rupture in the Board At
the meeting Monday resolution, fixing hours OF ser
vice for the superintendent and Inspectors disposed
OF In such to show that Commissioners
the stronger party and that action Immediately fol-
lowed by the resignation Of DR.. Dalton and or
eight OF the Inspectors Of the Sanitary Department The
history OF the difficulty is as follows:
The Board OF Health Commissioners lately instructed
the Visiting Committee 10 report the number OF hours
given by the superintendent aud the Sanitary Inspectors
to the performance OF their several duties The report
showed that these gentlemen had been In the habit OF
avocations the public business though the Superin
tendent drawing salary Of 5000 aud the Inspect
ors salaries OF 81 apiece resolution accordingly
passed requiring the Sanitary officers to be at their work
from a. III. to D. The Commissioners on this re-
port came that the officers and Inspect
do not devote enough OF their time 10 the interests
of the Board; that for the salary they receive
performed IN "a s1perfcia and routine manner. which
destroys the efficiency OF the department The only
ment was performing their duties Commissioner
stone President Lincoln In his remarks 70 the Board
authority that most Of the officers who physicians
vate practice and n was evident that with such state
OF affairs the inspections In their various districts must
moned before special investigating committee, and t
had been ascertaned that there large number OF
tenement houses In their several districts which had never
inspected 1t had also been ascertaned that the s
perntendeEt and anunDcr OF the Inspectors were holding
positions Professor Of Colleges and attending physl-
clans various hospitals which multiplication Of abors
the Commissioners claimed seriously nterferes with he
stating the hours 70 be given to service wiz from 70 81
having been served on superintendent Dalton and ms
assistants he with most OF the Inspectors resigned The
designations Of the Inspectors have been accepted The
superntendents resignation having been laid on the
Dalton appeared before the Board and made personal
request that his resignation be acted on urging It's ac-
ceptance, and it accepted. One OF the Inspectors
appointed Actingsuperintendent until Dr. Daltons
successor shall be appointed.
To give the view OF the officials resigning may state
desirous Of interfering with the discipline and manage
ment OF the Sanitary Department They claim that Dr.
Dalton by patient and untlrng devotion 20 the depart
ment has brought 10 such state OF efficiency that IL
will compare fayoraby with any other Institution OF Its
kind In the world Dr. Dalton at the close of the war
Medical Inspector OF the Army OF the Potomac and on
Gen. Grants STAFF In this important position he had
entire charge OF the hyng hospitals location hospitals
and IN fact full control OF the Sanitary Department OF the
army. When the Board OF Health organized he was
appointed Sanitary superintendent on the reeominenda
ton Of Gen. Grant. In organizing his department
Ec devoted his entire time to IL night and day, until he
felt II had been brought TO that state OF efficiency when
would enable him To battle successfully with cOnta
glOus epidemic that might break out During the cholera
OF 1896 the Bureau was worked night and day
and II only during the Fall and Winter months that
inspectors able TO devote any time TO their phi
yate interests as professional men superintendent Dai
ton does not think 10 possible 10 nLd capable ana EN-
olent physicians who for $3.50 year VIII consent
tO do duty AT just such hours as the commissioners may
select They perform their work according To the exi-
gencies Of the service. None Of them, however, are
grown rusty their profession. not knowing when they
may be removed Dr. Dalton denies that he has devoted
ms time 10 his private practice To the dctnment OF the
Interests Of the department lie believes that some Of
the Commissioners are too exactng and hence he Is un
willing 10 longer remain In embarrassing position. He
Is fixed IN hts determination not O reconsider his resgna
ton, having detected intention among the Commis
sioners hamper him In the administration OF MS dc
partmcnt. -,
have thus given both sides OF the trouble as stated
fttf.r .sf.I Al
neresis In matter OF sanltary Inspection viii not
suffer by remaining unattended To, may state that
over applications for the vacant nspectOrshps from
phyciaDs OF standing have already been received by
the Health Commissioners.