New-York tribune., 1902-12-28
TO ABOLISH coRoNERs' OFFICE.
Bill Prepared by County Medical Association
Completed-To Apply to New-York Only.

The bill to be introduced early in the leg1sia-
tive session at Albany 'abolishing the office OF
coroner In New-York was carefully prepared
by the committee of the New-York County
Medical Association at it's November meeting
and 1t will be referred to DR.. Harris. the CHAIR
man of the legislative committee of the state
organization and after careful scrutiny by that
committee it will be sent to some member Oh
the Senate for introduction. A reporter OF The
Tribune called yesterday at the office OF James
Taylor Lewis, legal representative of the State
Medical Association, and was informed that the
bill is now completed. and provides not 1or
bill is now completed. and is not a general
State BILL but refers only to New-fork CITY
Mr. Lewis said THE City Record SHOWS
that the expenses of the coroners oIice
are as follows: In the Borough OF Man
haitian 100000; in the Borough of The Bronx
$4,000; in the Borough of Brooklyn, SZ9'Uoo'
in the Borough of Queens, S1SOO0 and IN the
Borough of Richmond, $4,000, making in all
total of about S146,000. AS against this, the
proposed bill will possibly require the expendi-
ture of $4,000. The plan of the new law is
largely based on the law in force In the state
of Massachusetts, and in measure on Chapter
ST. of the laws of 1902, which was bill aooi-
ishing the office of coroner in the city OF 6ul-
falo."
Mr. Lewis coutended that there Is to-day no
reason for a coroner "All that is needed, ne
added. ''is a medical examiner, who Will furnlsh
to the public an accurate, complete and I'M
mediate certifcation of the cause of every suspi-
cious DEATH purely from a medical point OF view
There is no occasion for the doctor making tiie
examination to deal with the criminal slde oI
the case but the examination should be Ihdue
in the presence of a representative OIL the foilte
Department and of the District Attorney ; o.
fee who shall have full power to detefliiliie i
whether or not there is the suspicion or a crime
in connection with the death. If the Dlstrlce
Attorney believes that a further inquiry snould
he had or If any Ierson who is accused OF
crime in connection with a suspicious ueat III
desires to have inquiry made INFO all the IactS
surrounding the case, such an investigation may
be held by a magistrate
s'AIl the physicians who are appointed undeI
this act and STYLED medical examiners, shouid
he under the Civil Service rules. and should De-
as far as possible pathological experts. Inc ap-
pointment of these medical examiners VIII De III
the hands of the Board of Health There is d
preceder. for the bill to be presented in the
abolition of the Police Board and believe tnat
there can he no possible question as TO the con-
stitutjonaIity of the act. There is no occasion
for publishing the bill until it is introduced as
nrecticaIlv all of its provisions are outlined ana
there are some details which will probably pc
modified by the legislative committee or tne
state Medical Association. The matter has alb
soIuteIy nothing to do with politics, and is orlgl-
mated bv the great medical organization or the
State solely upon the grounds of progress econ
omy and expediency.