New-York tribune., 1918-04-29
New Bureau Under Over
man Bill May Prevent
Changes Here
Mayor Gets Protests
From Leading Doctors
Physicians Say Proposed
Reorganization Would
Tend to Inemciency

fore Congress, is the legislation de-
pended upon to supply the necessary
authority for Federal intervention to
prevent any lowering of standards in
the New York Health Department.
According to advices received in high
medical circles in this city yesterday in
me reorganization Of Federal depart
ments permitted under the terms Of
this act, a national health administra-
tor probably will be appointed to con-
serve the public health. Under this
administrator, it is expected, system
IL national health work standards will
be established below which the public
Health Department of no city of i'm
rortance will be allowed to fall.
For obvious reasons the source OF
this information or the primary re-
cipients of it in New York have not
been disclosed. 1t is understood, how
ever, that the entire matter is part of
the scheme OF national health conser-
vation worked out IN this city some
weeks ago at a conference of Is of the
most eminent sanitarians IN the coun-
try. Not much was allowed to leak
out from this conference. but it is
known that as a general proposition it
was decided to adopt the New York
Health Board as it now exists as a
standard.
Many Conferences Held
Since this conference various men,
aers of it have been in almost con-
tinuous conference With prominent
Federal officials IN Washington work
ing out the details of the scheme. They
were in conference when Mayor Hy-
lans plan to change the department
became known. 1t was from members
of this conference that hint went to
the administration last week advising
it to 90 slow in the matter of making
changes.
One of the things the conference
agreed upon as absolutely necessary
was public health education. now the
special target of the board headed by
James E. MacBride, president of the
Civil Service Commission The model
taken by the conference for this work
was the Bureau of Public Health Edu-
cation, which Mr.. MacBride's board has
advised the Mayor to abolish.
According to the advices from Wash
ington there is no intention to inter-
fere with local health boards except
where they are inefficient.
Should the Overman bill fail of pass
age-and this is considered a remote
contingency-it is understood the Bu-
reau of Public Health will be the body
under the authority of which national
health conservation will be sought.
DIR. Blue Wires Protest
DIR. Victor Blue, the head of this de-
partment. has wired Mayor Hylan, pro-
testing against the abandonment of the
Bureau of Public Health Education.
His message, made public yesterday by
DR.. Charles Loomis Nelson, reads:
Publicity is an essential of public
tail activities of City Health Depart
ment of New York in informing public
concerning disease and disease preven-
ton"
Dr. Charles II. Mayo, the famous
Rochester, Mimi, surgeon, now in the
army, has written to Mayor Hylan fol
the American Medical Association, Of
which he is president, declaring the
proposed changes in the department,
WOulQ De Calamlty.
II understand" he writes "your honor
is about to abolish the Bureau of Pub
lie Health Education. Such proceed
ure would indeed be a catastrophe al
any time, but especially now, wher
more than ever it is necessary to safe
guard and maintain the health of the
citizens of the United States.
Bureau Saved Many Lives
"The information concerning dis
eases and methods of prevention is MOI
oniy Gs great Importance in the pro
lection of your citizens, but these re
ports are sent out quite generally owe,
the country, so that the information
contained IN your weekly health report
IS not only good for the citizens O.
your community, but for the public ir
general.
During the prevalence of poliomyel
IT'S IN your city in 1916 you lost an
proximately $500 from the disease
However the death rate from prevent
ioie diseases was materially reduced
from the year before and of children
under the age Of ten approximate,
i:ooo more were saved through thu
dissemination of news and greater ef
tort on the part of your public health
licity. pun
y nope for the good of the people
and as war time conservation meas.
ure you will not take any steps to re.
duce the protection your citizens nov
enjoy" Wv"
In an editorial published in the lates,
number OF "The journal Of the Ameri.
can Medical Association" the suvpes.
sion is made that the present attack
on the Bureau of Public Health Edu.
cation is inspired by patent medicine
interests and quacks, who have so ef.
7ectiyeiy been exposed by the bureau
Quacks Behind Opposition
Such reorganization would not
only give to .hc new administration =
great opportunity for the distribution
of political patronage: it would also
make il possible to PUT in the place
OF those now acting as directors Of the
various bureaus individuals who would
be more solicitous of various big busi-
ncssea whose activities are opposed Ia
public health. II may be assumed that
under Political organization there
would be no Bureau Of Public Health
Education. such as that now headed by
DR.. Charles +. Bolduan. This bureau.
one OF the most important in the de-
partment. has been unrcmitting in jta
efforts to give the New York public
information regarding the nostrum evil
and quackcYy. Needless To say. il has
aroused tremendous opposition on the
part OF the quacks and nostrum ven
ders.
1T In tn be hoped that the best Gle
rents OF the City Of New York wilt
get together and prevent the present
higaIy efficient health administration