New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-08-11
Quoted, it will be so accepted and the
charges dismissed

charges dismissed.
"Let it be understood, however, that
the dismissal of the charges must in
no way whatever be considered an in
dorsement or approval of the course
pursued by Mr.. Brown. He is ac-
quilted of any wilful misdeed or
wrong intent. Undoubtedly he acted
Of motives. He conducted his Office on
a plan of his own, but with no criti-
cism from the Commissioner or the
Board of Health. So far so good, but
from this time forward it is to be un-
derstood that the director of the bu
reau of food and drugs shall func-
tonate as the active head and con-
trolling spirit of the bureau. He will
be expected to know his employees, to
actively superintend and direct their
work and to be conversant with the
details of the bureau
at is his duty to attend the meet
ings of the board of promotions, the
committee on health districts and, ex-
cept for special and temporary rea-
sons, not to delegate his authority to
be. Absences from the department
are to be arranged for, and when the
time of employees is to be used for
unusual purposes there must be full
explanation of the purpose on file in
the Office.
Disapprove of Conduct
We must say in all frankness that
such conduct of the bureau as this
examination has revealed, if practised
under our administration, would result
disapprove Mr.. Browns conduct of the
hut nF
not permit us to infiict undue punish
ment upon him for the neglect of his
disciplinary superiors to exercise, in
their turn, such oversight of the de-
partment as to prevent such faulty
bureau administration. His superiors
certainly failed to observe his meth
DDS, or else their conception of the
Office differed radically from ours"
The decision reviews in detail the
answer of DR.. Brown to the various
charges, absolving him from any
wrong intent" but at the same time
denying that his answer satisfactorily
explained the accusations.
"While the explanation of DR.. Brown
may be sufficient and satisfactory to
him." the board said, at does not de-
scribe manner of administration that
could possibly prove acceptable to the
Board of Health, as at present con-
stNuted. Our conception of the office
held by DR.. Brown pictures it as an
executive position, with duties largely
administrative.
"It is expected, Of course. that the
Director of the Bureau of Food and
Drugs shall initiate and advocate meth
DDS for increasing the efficiency of the
Department of Health. He should for
mulate and present for adoption good
and sufficient standards for food and
drug preparations. He should repre-
sent the department in a public way
when called upon to do SO by the COM
missioner or the board.
Use Help for Any Purpose
"When so commissioned, it will be
considered proper to use the employees
either for the collection of material or
for it's collation.. But, in general, it
bound to be unpicturesque, place of
routine activity, dealing with problems
of milk control, food and drug adulter-
alton and protecting the public against
fraudulent and harmful products.
desirable as may be the sort of re-
search INDUCED in by DR.. Brown, and
useful to humanity as may be it's re-
suits, the fact remains that his par
ticular bureau IS not organized for
such a purpose. In scientific pursuit
of any sort the arch temptation is to
follow every attractive side path that
opens into the main highway. 1t may
be deadening to the scientific spirit to
be restricted in the direction of travel
but DR.. Brown must have understood
the limitations when he applied for
appointment"
Among the charges, which were
taken up and discussed in detail were
neglect to recommend the adoption of
food definitions and standards" "del-
egation Of authority to the assistant
director and others and failing to ex-
ercise proper and effective control over
the several divisions of his bureau"
Djvested Self of Duties
Referring to the latter charge, the
board said that, "as a matter of fact,
Dr.. Brown Invested himself of practi-
cally all the duties and functions Of
his office, and left himself free to de-
vote his time to his own inclinations. "
The board added that it was fortunate
that Assistant Director Salthe was
capable of taking charge of the bu-
reau, "as it is the opinion of the Board
of Health that disaster was averted bv
reason of the activity of Mr.. Salthe.'
Failure to attend the meetings of
the Boar of Health. the meetings of
the Committee on Control of Health
Districts and preparation of material
in business hours for various lectures
were included in the charges.
DR.. Brown, when seen at the Chem