New-York tribune., 1918-04-20
Mayor Refuses to Hear Pro-
test Against Limiting
Department Activities
Letter to Frankel
Makes Graft Charge
MacBride's Office Hints
Men "Higher Up" Are
Involved in Frauds


ceive committee appointed at last
Saturdays conference of representa-
tives of labor unions, social welfare,
medical and philanthropic societies to
protest against limiting the activities
of the Board of Health The confer
ence will meet on Monday, at the Acad-
emy of Medicine, to consider ways and
means of carrying on the fight to
maintain the efficiency of the board.
The call for this meeting was issued
last night at meeting of the execu-
tive committee of the conference, which
had before it the Mayors letter to DR..
Lee K. Frankel, chairman of the COM
mittee, declining to receive its mem
who resent any interference with the
efficiency of the board as the repre-
sentatives of various trusts seeking
special privilege"
In this letter, after making various
graft charges, Mr.. Hylan personally ac-
cuses DR.. Frankel of knowing "better
than any one else some of the causes
that make it necessary to conduct a
thorough examination of the Health
Department."
DR.. Frankel Replies to Mayor.
In answer to this letter, DR.. Frankel,
speaking for the committee, urges Mr.
Hylan to do all he can to unearth
grating, but declines to allow the
Mayor to cloud his original intentions
by charges Of graft. He insists that
the hearings before James E. Mac
Bride, president of the Civil Service
ing that he has any special knowledge
of conditions in the Health Depart
ment, suggests that the Mayor have
him called as witness before Mr..
MacBride.
The exchange of letters was the chief
event in the developments of the day
in the Health Department matter. Dis
trict Attorney Swami continued his in
vestigation of Mr.. MacBride's graft
charges, but caused no arrests to be
made. From the District Attorneys s
been checking up the bank accounts
of men mentioned in the graft charges,
that some progress had been made, and
a few deposits found that seemed to
corroborate charges of payment of
money from oyster growers to inspec-
tors of the department.
There were intimations from Mr..
MacBride's office that men "higher up
were involved in this checking up
progress, but definite charges were
lacking:
Swann's Intervention Unwelcome
1t became known that District Attor-
ney Swann's intervention in the Health
Departments affairs was not at the in
vitation of any one representing the
city administration and was not alto
gether welcome. Mr.. Swami, acting on
the charges made by Mr.. MacBride that
violations of the Penal Code were in
volved, called upon that official to pre-
sent his evidence for action by the
grand jury.
Another development was the report
in circles close to Mayor Hylan that he
purposed to displace Health Commits.
sioner Amster just as Police Commits
sioner Bugher was disposed of.
1t is an open secret that Mayor Hy
Ian is displeased with DR.. Amster be
cause that official declined to follow
the Hylan economy" programme with
out first obtaining advice of the Law
department. 1t also has been talket
about the department that DR.. Amste
has refused to take orders from Dr.
James F. Monaghan, who before he be
came secretary of the board was Mayo
Hylan's family physician.
In this respect DR.. Amster's case par
allels that of Commissioner Bugher
who refused to run the Police Depart
ment on lines laid down by subordi
mates who had the confidence of Mr.
Hylan.
Monaghan May Succeed Amster
Dr. Monaghan is spoken of as the one
most likely to succeed DR.. Amster as
head of the department, with DR.. Pat
rick O'Rlordan, whom Mayor Hylar
fought hard to make head of the Med
lcal Examiners Bureau, as secont
choice. O'Riordan as the foe Of "ex
perts" stands high in Mayor Hylan'.
opinion.
The letter of Mayor Hylan to DR.
Frankel follows:
"Your letter requesting an appoint
ment for committee to see me rela
tive to an investigation now being con
Quoted by the Board of Health i,
received.
II do not care to discuss the health
investigation until such time as / re
ceive report from the officials wht
are conducting some phases of that in
quiry. Complaints have been mad,
alleging violations of the law, black
Wdli, RTdIt ana ClScourteSy OF empIOye!
to the public who are obliged to dea
with the Health Department, which, il
true, must be stamped out
"The Health Department must bt
healthy within before it can propcrl,
perform it's functions for the health
and benefit of the public.
you know better than any one com
prislng the committee who desire ts
see me some Of the causes that max,
1t necessary to conduct q thorough in
vestigation Of the Health Department
and 1t might be we'll for you to convc,
your information to the less informed
members of your committee.
Investigation Will Go On
Nothing you or any one in you
committee can say will in any wa,
stop thorough and farreaching in
yestigation Of the Health Department
which I consider the most importan
department in the city.
"The attempt made by those who ar.
desirous OF stopping the investigation
by their propaganda in the press, en-
deavorinH to mjslead the people into
the belief that am interfering will
the safeguarding Of the health Of Tho
people of the city, will fail when the
truth is known.
"The complaints made alleging viola
lions Of the law, biaekmail, graft, etc.
do not require the attention or advice
u trained medical men or the atten
4tnu nr adyicn of any c1nmiftee