New-York tribune., 1918-05-10
Delay in Preparing Charges
Said To Be Due to Fail
ure of Investigators
Mayor ReportedRe
To Let 1t Fizzle Out
Coler Brands as Traitors
All Who Encourage Health
Bureau Friction

That the Hylan administration is
having serious difficulty in framing
the charges on which Dr. Lucius Polk
Brown. director of the Bureau of Food
and Drugs of the Board of Health. is to
be triedfor his official life was the word
passed around City Hall yesterday.
DR.. Brown was suspended one week
ago last night When he was suspend
cd Health Commissioner Royal S. Cope
land announced that the case had been
referred to the Corporation Counsel's
office for the preparation of charges on
which he would be tried. These
charges, it was then said, would be
served not later than midweek.
They were not ready yesterday, and,
what is considered significant in view
of the report of difficulties encountered
in making case against DR.. Brown. is
the fact that at the Corporation Coun-
sells Office all knowledge of the case
is denied. Counsel for Brown, George
Gordon Battle, has been unable to
learn that any one in the office has
been detailed to the case.
Seek Proof Against DR.. Brown
Meanwhile the Investigators put in
DR.. Browns Office by Commissioner of
Accounts David Hirshfeld Immediately
after his suspension continue at work.
From two to five searchers have been
in the bureau continuously, and others,
it is understood, have been working
outside the bureau tracing various
leads. Mr.. Hirshfield will not discuss
the matter, nor will his subordnates.
What is now being sought is proof
to bolster up the charge that DR.. Brown
is lacking, in executive ability, because
it virtually has been decided in view
given DR.. Brown by District Attorney
Swami that it would be impossible to
make charges based on any other
grounds stand up. The belief, based,
it is understood, on some rather fiat
footed declarations of DR.. Copeland,
that something stronger than prima
facie case will be necessary to secure
his approval of any charges explains
some of the anxiety to obtain definite
proofs.
Men who are reputed to be close
to the Mayor say he is heartily sick
of the hornets nest his drive on the
department has stirred up. the more so
as interests he had counted on going
the limit with him have shown ten
dency to line up with the hated "ex-
perts." Some Of these, notably the
labor men, have come out into the
open. Others have let their position
become known in less spectacular ways.
His greatest cause of worry. however,
is said to be DR.. Copeland and the
other medical member of the board, DR..
Leland E. Cofer, Health Physician of
the Port. DR.. Cofer, who has remained
in the background during the troubles
of the board, is member of the United
States Health Service loaned to the
State of New York for this work.
Police Commissioner Enright the
third member Of the board, has likewise
kept out of the row, and has done moth
ing to indicate his position. 1t is be-
lieved that he would be inclined to
listen to the opinions of the medical
members of the board on any question
involving the fitness of medical Of
ticer.
Some of the political wiseacres were
inclined to think yesterday that Mayor
Hylan would seek way out of the en-
against DR.. Brown to fzzle out. In
doing this, they pointed out, he would
not only relieve himself of embarrass-
ment, but in way make answer to
those who have charged he is playing
politics with the department..
An indication Of the sensitiveness
the administration is developing in
Health Board matters was given yes
terday by Bird S. Coler, Commissioner
Widowed Mothers Fund Association at
Delmonico's, undertook to defend
Mayor Hylan's action.
'It is," said Mr.. Coler, "absolutely
reasonable for any newspaper or any
newspaper editor to try to start trouble
between the Federal government and
the City of New York. If this sort of
thing continues. you might as we'll un-
derstand now that we are going to get
those responsible. The Federal govern
ment and the officials of New York
City are cooperating in war work in
every possible manner"
New Copeland Version
After declaring Mayor Hylan had no
new version of the manner in which
DR.. Copeland became Health Commits
sioner.
When the vacancy occurred in the
Health Department" said Mr.. Coler II
took DR.. Copeland by the nape of the
neck and led him over to the Mayors
office, and before he knew what had
happened he found himself the new
Health Commissioner"
The version of DR.. Copeland, hitherto
accepted as the real story Of how he
Mayor met him on the way to the sub
way and wished the position on him.
DR.. Copeland preceded Mr.. Coler at
this meeting, speaking briefly on pow
erty in New York as viewed by
stranger and the interest of the Health
Department in child welfare and hos
pital work.
Earlier in the day DR.. Copeland ad
dressed the Homeopathic Hospital unit
at the Strand Theatre and snar+ somo
time in the bureau of laboratories with
DR.. William H. Park, the director. He
approved acquisitions for $4,000 for
material needed. largely glassware, and
expects later to approve other requests
for $4,000 more.
DR.. Copeland said the antitoxin fund.
for which $4,000 has been asked. is
short because after the allowance Of
the department was cut that amount
last year Mr.. Mitchell allowed the fund
to be drawn upon. -N""
Naming of Hubbs Sfirs
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