New-York tribune., 1918-04-16
Heads of Medical Societies
Protest Against Mayors
Health Moves
Aversion to Experts
Causes Apprehension
Fear Expressed New York
Will Be Made "Intolera-
BILE, Except for Rich"

The fight on Mayor Hylan's pro-
gramme to economic by limiting the
activities of the Board of Health took
on renewed force last night when. af-
ter a conference of leaders of the
medical profession at the Academy of
Medicine, formal statement was is
sued warning the people of New York
that any failing off in the quality of
the work done by the Board of Health
will make New York City an intolera-
Bile place of abode except for the rich. "
= This statement, signed by DR.. Wal
ter B. James, president of the Academy
Of Medicine; DR.. Howard Canning Tay-
lor, president of the Medical Society
of the County of New York; DR.. Fred
erick c. Holden, president of the Med
ical Society of the County of Kings,
and DR.. Abraham jacob, dean of the
local medical profession, protests
against conducting the inquiry into
Health Board affairs in secret, warns
that the specialists now at the head
Of the several bureaus cannot be re-
placed at any price, and says Mayor
Hylan's bitter aversion to all experts
must now cause a shudder of apprehen-
sion among all intelligent persons"
MacBride Withholds Names
This statement, in the form of a let
ter to the editor of The Tribune, fol-
lowed a statement earlier in the day
by James E. MacBride, president of the
Civil Service Commission, who is con-
Quoting the inquiry, that the evidence
on which he based charges of graft
within the Health Department on Sat-
urday was furnished by private detec-
tives and men who, lie says, claim to
have paid money for permission to
continue in business. The names of
the men, the nature OF their business
and the agency which Is said to have
secured dictaphone recorc of meet
ing where money was paid were with
held.
DR.. Lee X. Frankel, chairman of the
committee of twenty-one appointed at
Saturdays conference of social and
philanthropic workers to get into touch
wsth the Mayor and request public
lion, did not see Mayor Hylan yester-
Gay. He was advised by Secretary
Hrover Whalen to write a letter. This
.etter. not made public, was sent yes
!erday afternoon. 1t is understood to
oe very brief and merely to ask for a
hearing.
Pending the receipt of the Mayors
answer. the committee is marking time
otner organizations were preparing
70 carry the fight to a finish in the
event any attempt is made to cripple
.ne department. under the guise of eff
eslency- To this end the Peoples Con-
public forums of the city advised. and
II necessary will arrange for public
mass meetings Of protest, in which or
sshized labor through its leaders has
Promised to join.
Doctors Letter of Warning
The letter of the heads of the med.
zeal societies warning against any let
.ihg down in Health Department stand
sIuy oT, OF work reads in part as follows:
me proposal on the part Of the city
suamihlstration few days ago TO dis
sharge the directors Of seven of the
u.he bureaus Of the Department Of
.ea'th' a' hfst as sweeping measure of
eohony and later, following an out
Duls' OF public indignation, on the
sioahd that these bureaus are illegal,
yves 70 The people Of New York and
especially TO the poorer people food
i's serious thought
ndamental plank in the plat
I'm ol me successful party in the last
maiheipas election wag the promise to
.ii aAc s"eeplng economies and abolish
an needless Offices. To wise pro-
sasmme lam along these lines surely no
~ so.a CITIZEN viii object, and certainly
40. she medical profession.
a, nu' the Mayors bitter aversion to-
ss,asp =, experts testifled to IN numerous ut
frances both before and since the cleo
non must now cause shudder Of ap
snehsion among all intelligent per-
,a vns. IL y were conceivable that as
Ssaote :. a9 Of economy all experts arc to
a,'sscharged from the Croton and
,a.Hi water supply system, from the
m""'"ays' me Fire and Police depart
~sa., .ms ane the Health Depa rtmcnt, then
10y nose people who were able TO
~ 70 20 would ahun greater New York as
anrnyercuS place Of abode.
MN. me Sew York City Health Depart
h.sns lssa has aiwayz been the acknowledged
,sA"sf among health cepa rtments Of
.ns country and has been used az g
,',Sa s,Sasl IN the development of countless
Saved $1,000 Lives in 1917
4. y mas never had 20 be ashamed Of
senieTefncnts. Under its adminis-
dss,s ds,'eh the death rate, especially the
.sm s. rate of children, has steadily de-
thas,sd ~ until now New York has one OF
r.,. "wess in the world. The sickness
~ among tKe children Of the poor
fs..nnss nssn enormously lowered. Typhoid
an once seourYe here, has become
laimoxt rare maiAdv Tuberculosis,
di..s.s di,.ss 'niantun. dipbtheria and other
efses 81 ali show corresponding los.
T.. "ystmners, and to-day one may give TO
I'm ns.is children w,tn confidence water
g,na m ihs tap and milk from the corne
a. and il can 10 longer be said
AZ ~ Sen YORK yorr babies are not
sa, phiess you can BUY bottled water
a., .tsm Or raise their milk on your
=" Earn. This has not been brought