New-York tribune., 1918-04-21
Decision to Abandon Secret
Inquiry Announced After
Tammany Leaders Visit
MacBride Urges One
Bureau Be Abolished
Hylan Refuses to Consider
Boards Plan for Scien-
tific Investigation

There were several Developments of
Importance in the Board of Health dis
pute yesterday These were:
l. The abandonment by the Hy-
Ian administration of its secret in
vestigation of the department. Be-
ginning Monday the hearings will be
open to the public.
2. The recommendation made by
the investigation, headed by James E.
MacBride, president of the Civil
Service Commission. to Mayor Hylan
that the Bureau of Public Health Ed
ucation Of the Board Of Health be
abolished.
3. The formal disavowal by Dis
trict Attorney Swami that he is con-
Quoting an inquiry into the affairs of
the Board of Health.
4. The refusal Of Mayor HyIan to
consider the suggestion of Dr. Charles
A. Beard, of the Bureau of Munich
pal Research, that scientific inves-
tigation of the entire public health
question be made at this time.
S. The announcement that any
search for graft or other irregulari-
ties in the Board of Health hereafter
will oe conducted by Commissioner
of Accounts Hershfield, acting with
the District Attorneys office.
Tammany Leader Acts
The announcement that the plan Of
secret hearings, which had aroused
wide public protest, had been aban
doned, followed a visit to Mr.. Mcbride
by Alfred Z. Smith. president of the
Board Of Aldermen. The Tammany
leader went to Mr.. McBrde's Office
after the reporters had asked him what
action would be taken by the Board of
Aldermen on Tuesday on the Socialist
resolution, calling for an investigation
by the board.
"I'm going over to see what the hell's
in all this, anyway" he said, on leaving
City Hall for the Municipal Building.
Later, when asked about the inter-
view, he refused to talk.
you've seen McBride's report to the
Mayor, haven't you?" he asked. "Well,
chat speaks for ITSELF
The report of the Mayor, described
by Mr.. MacBride as preliminary. is
signed by the members of the Civil
Service Commission, Health Commits
sioner Amster, Secretary Monaghan, of
the Board Of Health, and Charles l.
Stengle, secretary of the Civil Service
Commission. In it the charges of
graft, made after the public protest
against the star chamber methods had
become general, are repeated and the
recommendation is made of q "reor-
ganization of the department which
will compel more direct accountability
and place the Commissioner in closer
touch with all Of the activities of the
department"
Would Abolish One Bureau
After considerable space devoted to
a discussion of the evils of graft, the
is not coordinated body, that there
is much duplication of work which can
be eliminated.
"There is," said the report, zone bu-
reau which is useless and should be
abolished at once. That is the So
called Bureau of Public Health Edu-
cation. Stripped of its hgh-sounding
title. it is the press agent of the Board
of Health. Circuses need press agents,
but city departments do not.
"The head of this department gets
$4,000 a year, and he testified before
the commission that one of his prin
cipal duties was to grant interviews
to the reporters and write articles for
the newspapers and magazines. There
are six other employees in that bureau
and the payroll totals $11 ,480 a year.
"The publication of weekly health
bulletin, records Of vital statistics and
such other matters as should be pub
lished at the expense of the city can
very properly be handled by a $4,000
year clerk. We recommend that this
bureau be abolished at once"
Violations of Civil Service Law
In the matter of violations Of the
civil service law the report SAYS many
violations have been found, among
them the promotion Of ten medical in
spcctors from positions paying 81 500 a
year to places paying So 900 and the
employment of a pharmacist as a food
inspector.
"On Monday" the report says, "our
part OF the investigation that has to do
with the reconstruction of the Depart
ment af Health will be thrown omen to
the public and they will be notified to
gestions. We hope to hnve Ai" the All aid
along constructive lines Of the leaders
in the medical profession."
When Leonard NJ. Wallstcin, chair.
man o. the Committee of Twenty-onc.
formed to protest against limiting the
departments usefulness was shown the
Mcbride report he declared the public
owed Alderman "Al" Smith debt of
I'm, fjn19IDI m, 1oof oauuD HnI,,,no, r.