New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-01-05
WOMAN MAY BE
SANITARY OFFICER
DR.. Bakers Eligibility for
Examination Stirs Up
Opposition.
HEAD OF BUREAU
OF CHILD HYGIENE
knOtty Problem in Health De
partment Must Be Solved by
Civil Service Board.

Civil Service Board.
The possible eligibility Of Dr. s. Jose
phne Baker. head Of the Bureau cf
Child Hygiene Of the Department of
Health and suffra gist. TO take me
civil service examinations for two posts
in the department secondary only 90
the Commissioner Of Health has
brewed storm Il ere which may
break al any moment. The vacancies
in question are those of sanitary super
intendent and general medical officer
Many persons in that arm of the
city's ser ice, 1t was learned yesterday,
are opposed. on the ground Of her be
ing woman, 30 Or. Bakers taking
either one of the examinations. When
asked about il yesterday, she said:
II cannot say anything about it,
The whole question of eligibility IS
now suuarely up to the Civil Service
Commission. and Mayor Mitchels new
commissioners will have this knotty
question TO unravel in the early DAYS
Of their administration. Frank Spcn-
Ger. secretary of the commission. SAID
yesterday that the commission would
have 10 decide who was eligible to
stand the examination.
Dr. Bires's Post Also Vacant.
Or. Walter Bensel was formerly SAN
itary superintendent and DR.. Hermann
NJ. Biggs general medical officer.
It was in October that DR.. Walter
Bensel, after long period OF differ
ences with Health Commissioner Led
erie retired on half pay. He lfad been
receiving 5000 year, but IT is said
that with his retirement the salary le-
Nerted Ddck 10 S','N' Nhcic ~ i""
been before it was raised during the
Mcclellan administration.
Since the retirement of DR. Bensel
the place has been hlled by Acting
SANITARY Superintendent Alonzo Blau-
welt.
An official of the department said
Yesterday that while ii was expected
that the FIVE assistant sanitary super
intendents would he eligible. 1t was also
thought that DR.. John s. Billings, head
Of the Bureau Of Infectious Diseases,
and Dr. Baker, two of the NTH, or
highest grade. medical inspectors in
the department. would also be eligi-
BILE.
II is known that the opposition 10 Or.
Baker has been strong by some OF the
profession. but no one has noticed
worried expression on her face. In
fact. there are so..le who venture the
opinion that she is enjoying the pre-
dicament.
Jobs Rank Next to Commissioner.
The place left vacant by Dr. Biggs is
that of general medical officer AT the
last meeting OF the Board Of Health he
was retired on pension OF $1,000 and
made honorary general medical officer.
He had given notice OF his retirement
some time previously. The two jobs
are the most important I'm the depart
ment outside that Of Commissioner.
DR.. Baker has for a number OF years
been i'm charge OF the child hygiene
work Of the department. Cooperation
with all cl Id welfare organizations
was one OF her plans. and IL is now in
existence in the Babies Welfare Asso-
citation. q clearing house as It we're.
through which many organizations
work for infants welfare.
The Department % Health. besides
having vacancies in its two import an.
administrative Offices. has also had
sixteen other retirements In the last
month or more. No attempt has been
made Ia hold competitive examinations.
and IN the aggregate they present an
other problem from the same arm OF
the city service which must be consld-
cred soon by the Civil Service Commits
sion.