New-York tribune., 1918-04-23
Three Witnesses Declare
Borough Autonomy Sys-
tenn Would Be Failure
Education Bureau
Called a Success
DR.. S. S. Goldwater Says
Lack of Experts Foredooms
MacBride Proposal

After hearing these witnesses protest
against the proposal to abolish the
Bureau Of Public Health Education of
the Board of Health, the board, headed
by President James E. MacBride, of the
Civil Service Commission, which has
been investigating the Board of Health
in secret session, yesterday examined
DR.. S. Josephine Baker, head of the
Bureau of Child Hygiene.
The shutting off of testimony in ia
vor of the continuance of the Educa-
tion Bureau while large number of
witnesses were waiting to be heard
was explained by Mr.. MacBride as due
to a desire to hear Miss Baker and
end the examination of bureau chiefs.
All the other bureau chiefs were ex-
amined in secret.
The protestants who testified were
Dr.. S. S. Goldwater, former Health
Commissioner, under whom the Bureau
of Public Health Education was .estab-
lished; DR.. Abraham Jacob, dean of
the medical fraternity in New York,
and DR.. James Alexander Miller, of the
Academy of Medicine
DR.. Goldwater pointed out that it
costs but one ten -thousandth of the an
nual budget to maintain the health
education bureau, and that nationwide
education propaganda was now under
preparation. DR.. Miller explained that
the health education system being in
stltuted in France was modelled largely
on the New York bureau
Opposes Borough Autonomy
DR.. Goldwater opposed the proposal
to change the Board of Health system
from one of centralized direction to
one of borough autonomy, largely be-
cause of the lmpossibility of getting
highly skilled experts. Dr.. Baker also
opposed the suggested changes.
lnsistence on opinions as to the bor-
Bride, who conducted the examination.
gave added strength to the belief that
the administration proposes to substi-
tute one of these for the existing CEN
tralized organization.
Concerning this proposed system, DR..
Goldwater said:
After few years of careful prep
aration it might be good thing; but
1T would be calamitous to apply it at
once, because properly trained officers
to administer such districts cannot be
had in large numbers"
'Dr. Goldwater said one trouble with
the Health Department as a whole was
the difficulty for the average citizen to
understand its complications.
I'm order to impress the average cit
R,Jo
to be gross misrepresentation of fact"
That's your statement" snapped the
witness.
Questions MacBridc's Statement
The witness and Mr.. MacBride
clashed again over long and involved
statement by the commissioner. Or.
1oldwater .Si challenged its correctness.
Many of your questions assume
things that are not true" he said
What do | assume that is not true ?"
demanded the commissioner.
well, Tor one thing" answered the
witness, your questions assume that
the Tn organization and work of the
health Department is as simple as A.
BIC. 1t is not"
What do you think of borough au-
tonomy in health matters?" Mr.. Mac
Bride asked
~ VoJecIloH TO IL is that it con-
templateaA five Boards of Health. Anv
scheme that assumes it possible to nJ nat
the number of experts this scheme
would require is assuming too much"
Dr. GoldWater added that insofar "a
the management of hospitals was con,
cerned. the borough scheme was hone
less this class of work especially re-
curing ccntralization
MIR. MacBride then took up the oues-
tlon Q Abolishing the Bureau of Pub
llc i ~.sh Education.
ne educational work must % on y
sald Or. Goldwatcr, who explained that
IN the last few years several statcs
nave established similar bureaus. "You
could far better afford to cut tho
amount out of any department. of tho
city from the Mayors office down than
to eliminate this bureau"
DIR. jacob Testifics
~ has not been intended to end the
work OF public health education. Nj
MacBride told the witness. at is in.
tendcd to continue the work in an
other way that is better, because moro
eticIent and economical"
On the basis of fifteen years of
STUDY as the Commissioner of Health y
sald the witness, ~ do not hesitate to
say that the work can best he dono ~, v
the existing bureau" ~
~ "; Abraham Jacob, dean of New
Iork's medical fraternity, followed Dr.
GoldWatcr. He believed, he said. that
the Health Department was vcrv Of
clent organization. N'''
Don't you think it might bo i'm
proyed?" asked Mr.. MacBridc. I'M
DO not believe there is anvhodv
IN this room that could not be i'm,
proVea, ne answered, amidst applause
Or. James Alexander Miller, who has
uohe much IN the tight on tuberculosis.
3o 3aio ne had found the work of tho
bureau OF Public Health Education to
pe most ciflcIent, that it had made it
sely 'nuch easier Tor various organiza-
t'ons TO cooperate in the matter Of
eoucation on health lines and had
mace IL much easier to get information
OF value before the public.
DIR. Baker for Bureau
DR.. S. Josephine Baker, hend of tho
bureau of Child Hygiene. who bcoan
IN the Department of Health Mt S30 n
montb, the only one of the burcau
heads not examined in secret, told of
the work of her bureau, which, amonr
other Mings, looks after the wclfare
Of l,000,0 900 school children. She stood
strongly for the Bureau of Puhl;c
Health EDUCATION. -
ut is not" said she, "a question If
whether you can do the work without
this bureau. but can you do it eff
GENTLY" N'''
Questioned as to the merits of Tho
proposed borough system. she declared
il WoulI bc "i,nnnco;ll.. - -"