New-York tribune., 1918-04-21
Health Bureau
Hearings To Be Open
ToPubHc Monday
Continued from page 1
gratitude for his part in bringing about
public hearings.

gratitude for his part in bringing about
public hearings.
"The single recommendation thus far
made by the investigating body, name-
ly, that the Bureau of Public Health
Education should be abolished, should
give the public of New York serious
cause for reflection" he continued. "At
this time, when thousands Of physicians
have withdrawn from private practice
in order to serve their country, it would
seem to be more than usually impor-
tant to maintain an experienced and
efficient public agency for keeping the
people informed as to the prevention
and checking of disease. Unquestion-
ably, the proposal to abolish the bureau
will be the subject Of discussion at the
conference of civic, labor, medical and
social welfare organizations to be held
at the Academy of Medicine on Monday
at o'clock"
Asks New Date for Hearing
AS this meeting at the Academy Of
Medicine, called on Friday, conflicts
with the hearing set for tomorrow,
Mr.. Wallstein wrote Mr. Mcbride ask
ing that the hearing on the abolition
of the Bureau of Public Health Educa-
ton be left open for later date.
DR.. S. S. Goldwater, superintendent
of Mount Sinai Hospital, under whose
direction as Health Commissioner the
Bureau of Public Health Education
was instituted, last night declared its
abolition would be grave mistake.
"The matter of public health educa-
many times. department of that
sort, properly developed, results in
diminished expenses in other places.
For example, hospital expenses are di-
minished.
"There is a very much better un-
derstanding of the nature of disease
than there ever was before, and this
is due primarily to the educational
work of the Board Of Health and SINH
lar agencies elsewhere.
"The value of the work is reflected
in the dispcnsaries where infected
wounds are now rare, better under
standing of the nature of infection and
the need of keeping wounds clean re-
sulting in diminution of the amount
of surgical work necessary.
"Instcad of decreasing the expend-
ture for this work, we ought to in
crease it, because it is the very best
investment any city ever made"
Mr.. Swann's Statement
District Attorney Swami issued Il
formal statement yesterday defining
his position in the Health Department
tanglc. which by many was regarded
as a diplomatic notice to the public
that he does not wish it to appear that
he is going out of his way to boost
Mayor Hylan's plans. The statement
follows:
The District Attorney is not making
any general investigation Of the Depart
ment of Health or any of its bureaus hut
he is confning his attention exclusively to
specific instances OF graft which have come
to his attention. The Investigation has
nothing to do with the internal admins-
traticn of the department or any of its
bureaus, or as to the necessity of any bu-
rcau OIL the department or to their CT
nciency.
"The fact that the grafters against whom
the District Attorney is gathering evidence
arc in the Health Department is a mere
incident, and their presence there, in itself.
hns nothing to do with the District Attor-
neys activities
Assistant District Attorney John T.
Doolng, the Investigator" Of the pros
ecutor's Office. spent most of the day in
the private office Of Dr. Brown. He
said he and DIR. Brown wer going over
mass of records and papers in his
search for corroboration Of the story
told by the ego between" who has ac-
cused two inspectors of the department
of taking $4,000 graft from oyster
growers and dealers.
Dr. Brown again declined to make
any statement.
Mr.. Dooling said he probably would
be ready tomorrow to go before the
grand jury with more witnesses against
tho tVO inqnnCtOra