New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-04
NATHAN STRAUS GOES OUT.
AND MICHAEL C. MrRPHY COMES IN.


NEW HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
APPOINTED BY THE MAYOR.
Nathan straus Yesterday resigned the office OF
president OF the Board OF Health. sending to the
Mayor the following letter:
Hon Robert a. Van Wyck; Mayor
Dear Sir: ] hereby tender my resignation from
the ONCE OF president of the Board OF Health II
is with great regret that find that the pressure OF
time give the Office the time and attention
that my interest In II would dictate. and that tne
public interests require. Wishing your administra-
e''' remain NATHAN sTRAUs
The Mayor Immediately appointed Colonel Mi
chael c. Murphy 10 the office. Colonel Murphy Is
the Tammany leader in the Ist Assembly District
lie has been the leader Of that district for gen.
Grafton or co. with the exception Of the time when
he was supposed TO be dying. disease OF the
digestive apparatus changed him from corpulent
man to a walking skeleton. and for years the only
nourishment he received was introduced INTO MS
stomach with tube. He confined TO his bed
for a long time He lost his appetite for food. but
not for office His partial recovery from the dis
ease was regarded as wonderful by his political
and personal friends He had been in the state
Senate before he was i'll. and when ne was aoie 10
walk about ne became an Excise commissioner
Later he was clerk OF one of the district courts
but he resigned that place to accept the presidency
OF the Health Board yesterday. His case seemed
for years to be one OF tubular dispatch
Mr.. Straus was appointed president Of the Health
Board on January /. He is member OF the hrm
Of L. straus & Sons. No ~ TO As Warren-st'' ana
also OF the house OF r. II. Macy Co he was
Park Commissioners in the former Tammany au-
ministration and was nominated by Iammahv 10
run for Mayor in 1894. but retired from the race
During several seasons he had stands for the sale
OF sterized milk in the parks and al otner places
in the city but the stands were discontinued las.
summer on account of trouble with the Health and
Park commissioners. His brother. Oscar 5 straus.
was United States Minister 10 Turke! IN flesiuen'
Clevelands first Administration.
Since the appointment OF Nathan S'raus TO the
office OF president OF the Health Board there had
been reports that he intended TO retire rom .I'
Office 10 make room for Colonel MURPHY out Mf'
Straus contradicted the reports Last week '"e
runor that Mr.. Strsus would retire was rehe"eu
I'm consequence OF friction between the Mayor ara
the Health Board. The Mayor sent for trial pal
ance and the Health Commissioners could not fur-
nish one The Mayor wanted TO know the reason
why, and Mr.. Straus sent subordinate 10 inc
City Hall 70 explain. The Mayor got angry ana
would not talk to the Health Department empioye'
Then Mr. Straus went TO the City Hall himself
and there was the biggest kind OF a fuss ne
Mayor said he could not talk with the suporuiha.S
OF any Department about the business OF tns w
straus was angry. Next day the Mayor sent an
expert bookkeeper to eSamns me s,mate and
Apportonment was asked to appropriate money iHr
the the p s4vS OF on Se HcSS
after the Board had refused TO provide means to
nav them Mayor Van Wyck said. with much
warmth: II 1e Health Department has had an the
money IL is going get. II may as well UNDER
sta nd now that Il is going to have no more want
10 saw that the Health Department Is unable 10
furnish this office with monthly trial balances
They must pay this money out or their approprid-
ton go, -. o. o,,.a the
money asked for and that action. together WIN
the MAYORS disapprovaL was believed by pollll,,
clans at the City Hall Yesterday to nave hasleheu
me To TeWspaper men Mr. straus said he had
signed because OF the pressure OF his business
affairs. III. coi, ., Ia sstd
Suppose there was war with SPAN ne sa1;
81 could not attend to the Health Board, as an
nv time would be required in my private business
which would be increased. ,,N.
Mr. Stralls said he believed that Colonel MURPHY
would be a satisfactory president OF the HeaI1h
BOARD lie said that II he could OBTAIN me con,
eent Of the Charities Commissioners he Would spehu
fhe salary he had received since January lol d
eterilized-u milk depot Randalls Island. ne sau
mat II the money not sufficient ne wouo iut,
nish the rest needed and he declared tnat ne nau
offered 10 build one last year. but the tharlties
commissioners had refused He said that me MIX
would have saved many lives and that DIE per
centage OF the infants there died