New-York tribune., 1918-04-22
DR.. Park Says $4,000 Lab
oratory Saving Will
Reduce Efficiency
Hearing on Bureau
OF Education To-day
Organized Labor Expected
to Fight Changes in Pre-
ventable Disease Branch


experienced men and q reduction in the
service of the Bureau of Laboratories
of the Board of Health to physicians
engaged in fighting disease in the city
are the only ways in which its expenses
can be reduced. according to letter
from Dr. William H. Park head of the
bureau, to James f. MacBride, presi-
dent of the Civil Service Commission,
made public yesterday.
In making public this letter Mr.. Mac
Bride says he is informed that DR..
Louis l. Harris, director of the Bureau
of Preventible Diseases, is prepared to
show where the expenses of his bureau
may be cut from $4,000 to $4,000,
This is exclusive of the extension Of
factory inspection work. arranged for
by the Mitchell administration, but not
made effective, after organized labor
had established the fact that its COM
plants of bad conditions in factories
were neglected because of the present
inadequate facilities of the bureau.
DR.. Park, in his letteX pointing out
where by reducing the quality and
quantity of the work the bureau may
save $4,000 for the city, makes the spe-
cific point that "the funds now allowed
the laboratory are not excessive for the
work the laboratory should do" and
that "every cent expended gives more
than it's return to the city" Among
the better known activities of the bu-
reau which will be limited is the eX-
animation of specimens from typhoid
and suspected typhoid cases. rated
by physicians as among the most inn
portant work of the department., en-
abling them. as it does. to determine
with exactness the existence of the
disease and the detection of dangerous
carriers" responsible for many epl-
denies who apparently are in perfect
health.
Hearings Set for To-Day
DIR. Park also make the point that
the attack on the department is hav-
ing bad effect. This he does in ex-
pressing the hope that "any reorgan-
ization which may take place will take
place at once because it is very diff
cult for those in charge to carry on
the work properly when the employees
in authority are not fully known"
The Public Health Committee of the
Academy Of Medicine will take up this
proposed change in the Laboratories
Bureau at special meeting at the
Academy late this afternoon. 1t also
will be represented at the hearing be-
fore Mr.. MacBride on the proposal of
that official to eliminate the Bureau
of Public Health Education. This
hearing is scheduled for o'clock in
the rooms of the Civil Service Com
mission in the Municipal Building.
The Committee of Twenty-cne also
uvil ho &c
doubt as to whether or not all who
wish to protest can be heard at one
session.
So far as has been made known,
DR.. S. S. Goldwater, former Health
Commissioner, whose protest against
the abolition of this bureau was
printed in yesterday Tribune, is the
only physician of standing who has
been invited by the Investigators ia
appear. That he has been asked to
appear to-day was made known in a
issued last evening.
Statement by Mr.. MacBride
The letter of Dr. Park was made
public in the form of statement from
Mr.. MacBride. This statement reads
III part, as follows:
"Dr. William H. Park. Director OF
the Bureau Of Laboratories of the De-
partment Of Health, has recommended
reduction of $4,000 in the payrolls
of his bureau. ! am informed that DR.
Louis l. Harris. Director of the Bureau
of Preventable Diseases, has prepared
recommendation for reduction
which will amount to between $4,000
and $4,000.
"Ihese recommendations are made in
response to request from the Munci-
pal Civil Service Commission and the
Commissioner of Health, who spcci-
iically specified that in making such
reductions there must be no reduction
in the service given the people and nc
elimination Of functions which it is
proper for the Department OF Health tc
perform.
DR.. Parks Letter
DIR. Parks letter, which is dated
April 12, 1918, was received bv the
Municipal Civil Service Commission on
Saturday, April 20, 1918. 1t is as fol.
lows:
"I have carefully considered since
your request Of yesterday in what way
the laboratories could fulfil their pur.
pose and at the same time lessen the
expense.
wish to most earnestly state thu,
the funds now allowed the Laboratory
arc not excessive for the work which q
laboratory should do. believe every
cent expended gives more than it's re.
turn to the city. On the other hand.
reaiize that we are at war, and that
tnings which are suitable in ordinary
times must be given up at this time.
There are certain of the more
highiy paid positions for which those
al lower pay may be substituted. The
pathoiogist is in the Federal service.
nave arranged with DR.. Summers, path.
oio4'st to Bellevue and Allied Hospi-
tsis, to allow his laboratory assistant
Ar. Rogers, TO submit to him tumo,
preparation. This will mean saving
Of $500.
Not to Replace Experts
:" 'Dr. Taylor, in the diagnostic labora.
torres, VIII soon leave for the Federal
service. at salary higher than his
present salary. believe l can take
czre Of mis- work with the present force
This VIII mean an additional saving OF
1880.
BY cutting down the stool examina-
tionz in typhoid fever TO those con
nected with the handling Of food. some
thing will be lost, but probably not suf-
1ciept TO make it inadvisable TO do this
This will nave a laboratory assistant.
DR.. Abramson, who has given cx-
trcmcDy valuable service, Is probably
leaving 10 take charge Of the new la-
boYatories in New Erunswick, Canada.
During the war, ! think, his position
could be left vacant. This means n
sayIng of 81 800. BY replacing the sal