New-York tribune., 1918-04-30
Anlster Quits
Health Board
InHylan Row
DR.. Copeland, Homeopath,
Named to Succeed Him;
Mayor Ignores u. S.
Continued from page 1

That he had ordered the discon-
tinuance of the baby health stations.
That he had refused to prov de
the department with funds with
which to secure antitoXin.
That the Mayor had ordered the
abolition of seven OF the nine bu-
reaus of the Health Board, and over
the protest of the Commissioner re-
ferred this matter and graft evil
dence discovered by DR.. Amster to
commission headed by James E.
MacBrde.
Thot. in the matter of transferring
the Otisville Sanitarium to the ma
tional government, he was not con-
suited, though it is. under his juris-
diction
That. despite these handicaps, the
death rate for the city for the first
months Of the year shows a decrease.
Resignation Is Accepted
The receipt Of this letter created a
commotioa- in the Mayors Office Gro
yer Whalan, the Mayors secretary, at
first denied that DR.. Amster had re-
signed, following this with an an
nouncement that the resignation had
been accepted after Dr. Amster's let
ter had been made public by that Of
fetal
In answer to Dr.. Amster, the Mayor
declared he had been forced to con-
clude that he was not proper man
TO head the department. charged neg
lect of duty, limited at control by
"outside sources" and charged that DR..
Amster had shown a spirit of antag-
onism to his wishes.
DR.. Amster meantime was in con-
sultation with friends. to whom he told
the story OF his break with the Mayor
Later, in his office. he repeated the
story to q Tribune reDOrter
Mayor Hylan telephoned that he
wished to see me in his Office at once"
said DR.. Amster "On my arrival
tfrere, ne told ME to drop DR.. Abraham
JacobfI~one of the best-known medical
experts in this country, from the Medl-
man of his professional standing
should be dropped, and he asked if /
knew his history and was aware that
he IS the father-in-law of George Nc
Aneny: that McAneny was connected
with The Times which had been
against him for Mayor, and had op-
posed him since.
Not a Matter of Politics
"'I told him that this was not mat
ter of politics and that political diff
ferences should not be allowed to
figure in the affairs Of the department.
Furthermore, I told him I valued DR..
Jacobs services very highly, that DR..
Jacobi's dismissal or retention rested
on my judgment and not on his, and
that he would not be dismissed.
Then the Mayor brought up the
name of Dr.. Goldwater DR.. Goldwa-
administration, and he said he wanted
10 one around whose political views
differed from his.
Il told him the retention of DR..
Goldwater, as in the case of DR.. Ja-
'cobi. was a matter for professional
Judgment, in which politics should not
be permitted to figure The Medical
Advisory Board, I toli him, was not a
paid body; It was constituted to give
the city the benefit of the best medical
advice in any emergency or epidemic
that might develop, and the only con-
slderatlons entering into the selection
OF ITS members were fitness and pro-
fesslonal standing
I'm any city the possibility of emer-
gency or epidemic is always present,
more especially at time when the
country is at war. In such times the
best OF medical advice and assistance
is needed. sand it is the part of wis
dom to Ignore politics in preparing
for such times. The Mayor would not
agree TO this, but insisted on nv posi-
tion.
Warns Mayor Against Chaos
Our opinions differ told him.
but | must insist on retaining the
services of these men,
II then warned him that if the
chaos now existing in the department
were permitted to continue Federal in
terVentlon would surely follow. that
the government would be certain to
take charge of the department, at the
same time asking him if he had re-
celved Surgeon General Blues tele-
gram prMted N the morning papers.
He replied:
Il don't give darn for those Fed
eral government letters or from other
people interested in public health edu
eaton. As long as I am Mayor of
the City of New York the Health De-
partment will be run as / see fit.'
Ihen l told him that / had about
reached my limit, and that interference
Win my work as Health Commissioner
must cease.
IF you continue I said, 'thereIl be
- clash between you and me pretty
soon. Then I left him y
WAS Mr.. Hylan cool during this
interview? - reporter asked.
IL was not exactly a cool discus
slon,' DR.. Amster replied.
Letter of Resignation
The publication of DR.. Amster's let
ter OF resignation confirmed reports
current for ten days that Mayor Hv-
lan's interference with the affairs Of
me department was seriously interfer-
ing with its functions. The letter fol-
lows: 'o'
April 20, 1918.
Hon. John F. Hylan,
Mayor of the City of New York.
Dear sir:
Slightly more than three months
OF lncumhency OF the office of Health
commissioner under your admins
tratlon has convinced me that | can
not longer with due regard to self
respect and my professional ideals
continue at the head of the Denart-
ment of Health.
II did not. seek appointment as
Health Commissioner. but consented
reluctantly to assume the office on
your assurance that my administra-
ton OF the department would not he
nampered. and harassed by outside
interference. 1t was on that under
standing that, at your request / suh.
mltted formal application for the an
poiutment 0 "P-
Contrary to your promises 10
me-. you have continuously in.
terfered by petty direction and arbi-
trary inaction in the conduct of the
department. Of Health. immediately
after had takop M, ou.x