New-York tribune., 1918-04-19

said Or. GOIdWater, who since retiring
from the office of Health Commissioner
has resumed his former post OF super
/ intendent of. Mount Sinai Hospital. at is
reassuring because it declares the
! Mayor will consult medical men when
that phase of the investigation is
reached"
In preparation for any legal contest
that may be necessary to prevent the
abolition Of seven of the nine bureaus
of the Health Board, the public health
committee of the New York Academy
of Medicine has obtained the opinion
of its counsel on the validity of the
institution of these branches. Mayor
Hylan having raised the point that they
are not contemplated by the city char
ter. The opinion of counsel, it is
stated, is in line with that of Corpora
tion Counsels under other administra-
tions which held the Board of Health
has the power under the charter to es-
tablish and maintain them.
Asks Scientific Inquiry
Professor Charles A. Beard, director
Of the Bureau of Municipal Research,
ing that this is an ideal time for a
scientific investigation of the entire
health problem of New York City. After
reciting at some length the develop
ments of the central bureau sys-
tenn as opposed to borough con-
troll of various phases of health
work and the conflict between the
advocates of the two systems, DR..
Beard suggests tnat the matter may
! be settled for all time by a careful in
quiry.
Owing to these circumstances" says
DR.. Beard, ait seems to the Bureau of
Municipal Research that issues of per-
! sonality and politics should be reso-
lutely put aside. The bureau does not
believe your honor desires to undo
| the excellent work that has been done
during the past twenty years in the
way of centralzation and specializa-
ton.
''It is impossible to conceive that
any Mayor desires to take single
backward step. The health and safety
Of millions depend upon his action.
For these reasons we suggest that you
appoint commission to study the
health problem of the City of New
York in the light of twenty years ex-
perience in health administration and
preventive medicine. To this end we
sion from the New York Academy of
Medicine, the State Health Department.
the United States Public Health Ser
vice, the New York County Medical
Society, the Kings County Medical So
clety and other recognized agencies
concerned in public health and tech
nically informed on the subject. Un.
doubtcdly there would be no difficulty
IN securing, without cost to the CITY
the services of many of the most emf.
nent authorities.
"Such commission should, in the
opinion of this bureau, make a com
prehcnslve study of the present or
ganization of the Health Department;
review the claims made in behalf OF
community services; inquire into the
functions and organization of the
a Board Of Health as now constituted
and bring to bear upon our city prob
lem the experience of all large cities
of the world. After a complete and
careful study the commission shoulo
recommend the proper organization ot
the department, pointing out the spe
ciic changes which must be made ir
the charter to bring our law into
harmony with improved practice. This
or course, should not interfere with
any inquiry now in progress into al
legged misconduct on the part of EN-
ploycs."
Asks for Open Hearings
DR.. Lee X. Frankel, chairman of the
Committee of Twenty one, appointed b,
civic organizations, to call on tho
Mayor in relation to the Health De
partment, when asked what he thought
OF the District Attorneys action. said
= am glad to see the charges OF
graft in the Health Department have
bcen turned over to the District Attor
ney' and that that official has takcr
action. hope every CRATER will be de-
tected and punished.
~ ls important, however, that this
graft investigation should not obscure
the point Of the investigation. While
we desire that the District Attornc,
shall make the most searching inquiry
possible into charges Of graft in anI
department, we still feel that the
Mayor should grant the request of the
committee for information regarding
the opinions of the Corporation Coun,
sel and for open hearings Of the Civil
Service Commssio on the question OF
ihe legality Of the bureaus Of the
Health Department and their possible
reorganization"
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