The sun., 1894-02-19
THE sTA1E BoIRD or HEALTH.
Loose Management witch the Senate Cor,
mittee VIII Investigate.

Loose Management which the Senate COM
mittee VIII Investigate.
ALBANY. Feb. 12-Senators Smelzer, Staple.
ton. and o'Donnell. the special committee ap-
pointed by the Senate to investigate the ad-
ministratlon OF affairs In the state Board oi
Health. will begin work on Tuesday afterno Don.
For the past year or SO there has been any
thing but good understanding between the
members Of the Board and it's Secretary. DR.
Bach. and this is the main reason why an ip-
vestigating committee was appointed by the
Senate. The Executive Committee OF the
Board. comprising DR.. ". + MIlbank OF Al
bany. DR.. +. q. Donohue OF Syracuse. and
DR.. ii. c. Wolcott. have sent q letter to the
special committee In which they say that they
will render IL all the assistance in their power
In making q thorough examination OF tho
Board and Its workings The Executive Com
lnittee says:
To this end. as affecting particularly one
branch o: the service. We bog to submit for
your rconsideratiop>ste enclosed copy Of a re-
port and certain recommendations made by
President F. o. Donohue. which report was
submitted to our Board on Jan. IL. 1904 and
acce pied at the next meeting. held on Fob.
q. You will note that the Investigation made
by the President was in accordance with q
resolution OF the Board. BY it's acceptance our
Executive Com mittee was empowered and de
rooted to make certain radical changes in the
management OF the Bureau OF Vital Statistics
and in tho com pepsation OF the employees In
that bureau. The saving to tho State under
tho piece plan Is referred to. Work costing
$40. 75O will hereafter. or after March 1. be
done for $500. a saving OF almost one-halL
II We may be permitted at this time to
make u suggestion. we would request that you
give your particular attention to n branch OF
the service. one OF the most important. affect
ing as 1t does tho health OF all classes OF our
citizens. We refer to the examination. Of
department will show the work accom- piished
In this particular branch. and We are satisfied
tina, unon examination you Will he convinced
powers TO the Board. to meet this most serious
condition"
President Donohues report shows that the
registration Of deaths was nearly two years
and two months behind. and the registration
Of births two years and seven months 6emind'
Not single registrar had done the full lIuots
OF work. AZ were more or loss behind; some
considerably more than others. Yet, in face of
this. they were allowed to do extra work. for
which they drew extra pay. Copies Of cards
Received rec we d. 81 7Gi for work Which eouli be done
by tho piece for 81 .pi5. a loss to tho State of
shoaS cost any
state 81 .l.O72. After citing u numter OF these
:" ihe work actually accomplished. for which
been done for nearly half To be more partic-
ular there were written up IL books and 1877
pages OF deaths. books and az pages OF
births and books and as pages OF marriages
At tho rate of 500 book for the births and
deaths and S225 book for the marriages the
entire cost Of the work would be 80. S.jU. There
was actually paid for the work S1O75o; differ
The financial condition OF the Board Is
such that Immediate attention must be given
TO IL. For tho fiscal year com mmen ncinR Oct. 1.
1893. there was an appropriation OF $40 OOO.
with an urexpended balance on food and drug
and tuberculosis appropriations OF last year.
which were all gathered into one. making an
available sum to draw upon for all purposes
for the year Of S42. .S,5j: but on Dec IA there
was only remaining to the credit OF tho
Board S25,UO3ii5 Over Sl7.OOu had been
expended in two months OF this S0.OQO
was expended for general state SAINT
tary inspection. In view OF the antici-
pated visitation Of Asiatic cholera. u contin-
grncy which was not provided for by the Leg
islature In its appropriation. II such con-
dition is allowed to continue, the funds Appro-
priated for the use OF the Board Will soon bs
AZ a mestinG OF the State Board Of Health.
held In New York on Feb @. 1t was resolved
that;
"All registrars shall. as compensation for
services to be rendered. reeeiye the sum of 81
per page tor registering certificates OF births
and deaths. and sl. 70 Per page for registering
The Board thinks that the orders recently
Issued will enable the records oi vital statis-
tics to be kept up to date hereafter.