The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-11
BROWN REINSTATED
TO HEALTH BUREAU
Board Says Director Was In
fluenced in Conduct by
Former Superiors.
CRITICISM OVER CHARGES
Changes in Administrative
Methods of Food and Drug
Work Urged.

The Board OF Health unanimously re-
instated Lucius p. Brown yesterday as
director OF the bureau Of foods and
drugs OF the Department Of Health and
ordered him to report for duty Monday.
He was suspended May 2s by DR. Royal
s. Copeland, Commissioner Of Health.
on charges OF alleged neglect Of duty.
inefficiency and incompetency in office
Action was taken after the Board OF
Heath. which Is made up OF DR.. Cope
land Richard f. Enrlght, the Police
Commissioner. and Leland s. Cofer, the
Health Officer OF the Port. reviewed the
hearing held on Browns case July and
his answer to the charges filed that day
The accusations upon which he was
suspended followed an investigation by
James f. Mcbride. then Civil Service
Commissioner. and included allegations
that Brown had failed to recommend
the adoption OF food standards to the
Health Commissioner: failed to frame
amendments to the Sanitary Code neces-
sary for the effective supervision and
control of the sale of food and drugs:
failed to exercise control over his sub
ordinates; that he neglected to attend
meetings Of boards OF which he was a
| member. and that In 1916. he failed TO
make a thorough investigation of al
legged bribery among subordinates and
that he absented himself from his office
In his defence Brown said his actions
were Endorsed by the former Adfninistras
tlon. In its decision rendered yesterday
the Board Of Health severely criticises
Brown on each count Of the charges flied
against him and makes recommendations
as to the policies It favors in the prem
| ises. In conclusion, however. the board
unanimously expresses the opinion that
Brown was Influenced in his conduct by
his former superiors. The decision says
in part:
Brown Is that his conduct of the Office
received the implied IL not the ex-
pressed. approval OF his disciplinary SUI
periors. As has been said. DR.. Gold
waters letter had no word of commen-
cation for the methods OF admin,st RI ton
OF the bureau, but related wholly to the
circumstances OF Mr.. Browns appoint
ment. In the absence OF any commune
cation from the other two Commissions
ers under whom he served, it may be ad-
mitted that AR. Browns methods Of adj
ninlsfration were satisfactory to them.
This defence is incontrovertible and must
be accepted as a sufficient answer to
the charges. In spite Of our own con-
viction as to how the bureau should be
conducted. IL will be accepted and the
charges dismissed.
We must say in all frankness that
such conduct of the bureau as this eS-
animation has revealed. II practised I'M
der our administration. would result In
! immediate dismissal. We seriously dis
approve MIR. Browns conduct Of the Of
fice. but our sense Of justice will not per-
init US to infiict undue punishment upon
trtN f.. L.. -t,x1i
superiors to exercise In their turn such
oversight OF the department as to pre-
| vent such faulty bureau administration.
His superiors certainly failed to observe
his methods. or else their conception OF
the office differed radically from ours"
Brown was appointed June %. 1915.
after he had passed a civil service ex-
animation. Prior TO coming here he held
ar executive position in the Health De-
| pnr,ment OF the State of Tennessee. The
Board OF Health has not announced
whether or not Brown will receive his
| salary for the time he was suspended.
| Or. Brown at the Chemists Club, So
East Forty-f1ret street. last night made
the following statement:
Il doubt that It would be proper for
| me to comment 10 the press upon either
| the statements as OF fact or the reason
ing of my official superior. the Board OF
Health. in its opinion as to my admin
istration OF the bureau OF food and
drugs under the policy OF Commissioner
! Copeland's predecessors.
Although l could have wished the
tone and occasion OF the announcement
different. 1t should be and is enough
for me that tho criticism It makes OF
that administration and policy and its
! statement as to what would have hap
pened to me had such a policy been an