New-York tribune., 1918-01-29
Shift Gives Hylan Chance
to Name Medical Ex-
aminer He Wants
Will Pass Over
Three Heading List
Question of Illegal Exami.
nation Causes Lively
Row at Hearing


Chief Medical Examiner o. Manhattan
at a SALARY Of $500.
Ex- Coroner Patrick D. Riordan -,
pointed Chief Examiner by the Mavor
on January ], is almost certain to be
dropped from consideration. His tom
porary appointment expires Januar, ao
To facilitate the appointment of Dr
Larkin, who did not gain place On
the eligible list when the examination
was held under the Mitchell administra-
tion, the commission has given him
rerating, increasing his percentage so
that he gains third place on the list.
thus displacing Dr. Douglas Symmers.
who through the change is "out of the
race"
Larkin Gets Better Rating
After he lost out IN the examination.
Dr.. Larkin appealed against the ratings
given him. The commission submit
ted the experience papers to Dr.. Fran
els c. Wood and to DR.. William H.
Woglom, of Columbia University, for
a rerating. These physicians recon-
mended that Dr.. Larkin receive rat
ing Of 50 per cent on experience in
stead Of the IS per cent given him bv
the former commission. The commits
sion then examined the record of the
oral examination Of DR.. Larkin, and on
the recorlme ndation Of the acting
chief examiner reratcd D.. Iarkin,
giving him So per cent on experience
and 80 per cent on the oral
This rerating," said President Mac
Bride, was 10 correct manifest error
OF the examiners. On me recommends
ton OF the acting chief examiner. the
commission gave Dr. Larkin total OF
$3.50 per cent. The correction OF this
error places Dr. Larkin third on the
list, and Dr.. Summers fourth
Under the law, Mayor Hy Ian can take
any one OF the first three names 1t is
understood that he VIII pass ovcr pr.
Otto II. Schutze and Dr. Charles Nor
ris, and appoint Dr.. Larkin.
Court Fight Expected
The Citizens Union. the CITY Club
and the Civil Service Reform Associa-
ton are expected 20 oppose the dis
placement OF DR.. Summers. as hrough.
about by the Civil Service Commission,
and battle in the courts Is looked for.
William Travers Jerome, former Dis
trict Attorney; Leonard NJ. Wallstoin,
counsel to the Citizens Union; George
7. Kcyes and Henry w. Hardon, repre-
Senting the Civil Service Reform AS
sociaton and Richard {. Harrison,
secretary of the City Club, we're all on
hand yesterday at the Municipal Civil
Service Commission Offices to give bat
tie to the commission over the matter
Of abolshing the eligible civil service
list for chief medical examiner Of Man
haitian.
Mr. MacBride, as president of the
commission, presided. With him we're
Commissioners Morris Cukor and Will
lam brennan. At Mr.. MgcBride's elbow
was Edward S. Malone, Assistant Cor
poration Counsel, who steercd the CON-
missioner through the legal and techni-
cal shoals.
Question of Illegal Autopsy
Mr.. jerome argued at length about
the discretionary powers Of the COM
MISSION the fitness of the three doc
tors on the eligible list, the absence Of
anything more than the commission Of
to the alleged illegal autopsy Drs.
schultze, Norris and Symmcrs are said
to have performed when taking their
civil service examination, and then,
with smile, he continued:
lou cant make the public believe
that these men. who have won their
standing on the eligible list in open
competition. are united to be appoint
ed TO the position of chief examine.
ou may put this over, but it would
lot be wise. viii you not take second
thought and consider What is best for
TINS new administration and for ths
interests of the city ."
ou may rest assured, Judge, that
mat is just what this commission will
40, replied President Mac Bride.
Jerome Asks for Time
Mr. Jerome then asked Tor weeks
time in order that his clients might
prepare an adequate answer to the
charges. This was denied by President
MacBride
President MacBride called for Or.
Symmers. and then DR.. Norris each OF
Whom declined to take an oath or to
answer questions. When Dir. Schultz
vas asked whether he would answer
questions he replied that the commits
slonerS on Wednesday last had prom
lsed to give him a list OF the questions
he would be asked, and TO allow him to
be represented by counsel Re oeelined
10 answer questions on tae two
grounds that the comm ssiencrs hsd
not carried out their agreement. and
that his counsel advised him not to an
sWer
Defends Cancelling Examination
After the hearing President Mac
BRIDE gave out formal statement
which in substance was that all the
iacts relating to the civil service cS-
animation for chief medical examiner
had been submitted to the Corporation
Counsel. with a request for an opinloa
on whether the performance of autop-
sles IN 'iolation of law by the cand'-
dates IN that examination is legal JUS
tlhcatlon for cancelling the entire cS-
animation and> calling for new eA-
animation
There is no doubt in the minds ot
the commission that there is every
justification in decency and public
morals for the cancellation of this es
aminati.n," said President MacBrldr'
here Is no doubt that Chief Med
cal Examiner who would deliberately
violate the law and permit unauthof.
lzed persons to dissect the bodies o.
women, as we'll as men, in his CUSTODY
as was done in this case. would be SUI,
Ject TO immediate removal. 1t shonii
be equally true that the man who =
seeking the Office should be disqua !,
tt.,1 f.4t