New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-02-19
THE STATE BOARD OF HEALTH.
PROMISES THAT HEREAFTER MORE SAIlsfAC-
TORY WORK WILL BE DONE AT LESS
COST 70 TAXPAYERS


TORY WORK WILL. BE DONE AT LESS
COST 70 TAXPAYERS
s,b,nv Feb lS-1he Executive Committee OF the
State Board of Health. comprising Dr.. W. H. MIL
bank of Albany: DR.. F. O. Donohue, of syracuse
and Dr. H. G. Wolcott have sent letter 10 ''e
special committee of the State senate whIch WAS
appointed last week to investigate the adm'isua-
ton OF affairs in the State Board OF Heal'h' III
which they assure the committee That theY VIII
render it all the assistance in their power in making
a thorough examination Of the board ana us
workings TIE Executive Committee says:
s~ro this end as affecting particularly one branch
Of the service we BEG - submit for your consdera-
ton the inclosed copy of a report ana certain
recommendations made by President i. o. Dono-
hue which report was submitted to our board on
January &C. 1891. and accepted at the next meet
ing held on February g. You will note that the
Investigation made by the president was in ac-
coriance with a resolution Of the board
'By its acceptance our Executive Committee was
empowered and directed to make certain radical
changes in the management of the Bureau of Vital
Statistics and in the compensation Of the employees
in that bureau The saving to the State under the
piece plan is referred to. Work costing Sl0.15O Will
hereafter, or after March l proX., be done Tor
$3.50, a saving Of Amos: one-half
eff we may be permitted at this time 10 make a
suggestion we would request that You give your
particular attention 10 a branch Of the service,
one of the most important. affecting as 1t does
the heath Of all classes of our citizens We refer
10 the examination Of cattle for tuberculosis. Inc
records OF the department will show the work ac-
conpllshed in this particular branch. and We are
satisfied that upon examination you will be CON
WINGED OF the necessity of recommending increased
powers to the board - meet this most serious
condition.
In President Donohue's report copies Of cards are
given. showing that one Of the registrars was paid
$3.50 for work which could be done by the piece
for to he q Another
registrar was paid s., 40 for what should cost only
sG7s. a loss to the State OF s072. After citing
number Of these cases the report says:
"The work actually accomplished. for which these
clerks paid big salaries. could have been done
for nearly half To be more particular. there were
written up thirteen books and 1S1 pages of deaths
nine books and seventy-eight pages Of births and
FIVE books and fifty-six pages of marriages At the
rate Of 500 book for the births and deaths and
s225 a book for the marriages. the entire cost Of
this work would be $3.50. There was actually paid
for the work 750 difference. $3.50.
1.-The certificates received on the average OF say
from 10000 TO 1900 a month: namely, 1000 deaths
$500 births and 1000 marriages. There are there
fore in the neighborhood of 10000 deaths. $1,000
births and nearly 5000 marriages unrecorded at
the present time The cost of registering them,
even by the piece would amount to nearly HVC os
of keeping up the current receipts.
The financial condition of the board Is such that
fiscal year commencing october l, 1895. there was
an appropriation of $4,000 with an unexpended
balance on food and drug and tuberculosis appro-
priations OF last year which were all gathered into
one, making available sum- to draw upon for
all purposes for the year Of s 1876. But on the lith
OF December there remaining the credit
of the board only S2j6O} 60. over $1,000 had been
expended in months; 5000 of this ex-
pended for general State sanitary inspection. in
view of the anticipated visitation of Asiac cholera.
contingency which was not provided for by the
Legislature in its appropriation. II such condition
is allowed to continue the funds appropriated for
the OF the board will be exhausted"
At meeting Of the State Board OF Health held
February > az
"Ail registrars shall, compensation for serv-
fees be rendered receive the sum % 81 per page
for registering certificates of births and deaths and
81 % per page for registering certificates Of mar
Tiascs.'
The board thinks that the orders recently issued
will enable the records Of vital statistics 10 be kept
up ia date hereafter.