New-York tribune., 1918-04-19
Says Grand Jury Found 2
Inspectors Got $4,000
From Oyster Men
Asserts Co-Between
Told of Payments
Doctors Praise District At
torney, but Oppose Cloud
ing of Hylan Issue

investigation of the Health Department,
which has aroused widespread protest.
He told of assertions made before the
grand jury that two Health Department
inspectors obtained $4,000 in graft
from oyster dealers, who wanted to
sell Princess Bay oysters in the months
prohibited by the department for fear
of sewage contamination. The pros
pect of inquiry into criminal charges
was welcomed, although critics of the
Mayors programme urged that no graft
inquiry involving minor officials be per-
mitted to obscure the main issue.
A man said by Civil Service Com
ton Market dealer who acted as go
between was the principal witness
before the grand jury. After grilling
at the hands of Mr.. MacBride and AS
sistant District Attorney John T. Dool-
ing, which lasted all of Wednesday
night, the witness is said to have bro
ken down. and told story of collecting
one cent bushel from the shippers
and another cent bushel from dealers,
ana to have declared that after taking
out 10 per cent for himself he turned
the money over at various intervals to
the two inspectors.
Accused Men Live in Bronx
According TO District Attorney
Swami, the accused inspectors each
draws salary of about $1,500 and lives
in The Bronx. The go-between said
he should have collected $685. in COM
missions on the graft. but one of the
firms went broke" and in consequence
he actually received only $15s5O.
eve have ample corroboration," said
District Attorney Swami. Give of the
shippers and dealers together have ad-
mitted they gave cent bushel to
the go-between.'
The grand jury took no action yes
terday. The two inspectors were
brought to the District Attorneys
Office and were questioned for several
hours by Mr.. Dooling and Mr.. Mac
Bride. They made no effort to OBJ
tain legal advice and they were not
arrested. According to Mr.. MacBride
they fatty denied the accusations.
One of the inspectors belonged to
the "oyster squad of the Bureau of
Foods and Drugs, of which DR.. Lucius
P. Brown is director. The other was
on DR.. Browns special staff of in
spectors. District Attorney Swami,
after a lengthy conference with
Health Commissioner Amster, sent for
Dr. Brown. The oyster squad inspect
or told Mr.. Dooling part of the water
of Jamaica Bay was polluted, but the
rest was of pollution not regarded
.as dangerous. Dr. Brown, when ques-
toned by Mr.. Dooling, said he con-
sidered all the water of Princess Bay
of such a character as to debar the
sale of oysters between April l and
October l.
Bribery and Extortion Charged
Mr.. Swami said the charge against
the inspectors would be bribery and
extortion, with the between" as
the complaining witness. Mr.. Mac
Bride told newspaper men that Police
Commissioner Woods, then a member
of the Board of Health, had employed
William j.. Burns to get evidence
against alleged grating inspectors in
the oyster squad last September, but
no report had been made of the in
vestigation. Mr.. Swami said he had
no knowledge of Mr.. Woods's activity
except rumors regarding it.
"lndications are" said Mr.. Mac
tire Bureau of Foods and Drugs, of
which there are several divisions, en-
ploying eighty inspectors. Unless the
information which we have is all
wrong, this investigation will show
who were the ultimate consumers of
this graft. Our information is that
one director of bureau of the de.
partment-not that of Foods and
Drugs-had personal knowledge of d
payment of 5000 to the accused in.
spectors' and after the money had
been passed in an uptown hotel he put
IN telephone call for Delmonico's $
cafe"
Oppose Clouding of Issue
The Intervention of the District At
,orney was welcomed by those who
nave opposed the Hylan programme of
aboishing the bureaus of the denart-
ment. They insisted, howeIer rSpd, that #
no graft proceedings, which Mr.. Mac
bride admits were an afte.thought
should be used to cloud the issue or to
permit crippling of the department un-
der cover of the dust that MAY be
raised
"lf there is graft, and it is difficult
10 keep IT altogether out of inspection
forces said one of the members of
the committee of 2l, eve hope hey will
get all of the grafters. But they must
not be allowed to use these graft cases
the efficiency of the department is
destroyed or reduced"
DR.. s. S. Goldwater, who has been
much interested in the maintenance of
the several departments, Yesterday
made public letter he had received
from Mayor Hylan, in which that Off
cial assured him of his intention to CO.
operate with the medical fraternity in
settling any technical questions that
may arise in connection with the
health department.
Mayor Hylan's Promise
II prefer" said the Mayor in his let
ter. mot to discuss the Department
OF Health matter until such time az
receive reports from officials who arc
investigating some branches Of that dc
partment.
"Complaints have been made of al.
legged violations of law, blackmail graft
and discourtcsy Of employees to pcr-
sons who were Obliged to do businea,
with the Health Department, which. II
true, must be ended once and for ali
"The Health Department must be
healthy within before it can properly
administer health without II does not
require person trained in medicine
To correct these abuses. When the
question arises concerning the eff