New-York tribune., 1919-01-16
Copeland Resents
Charges by Critics
Of Health Board
Defends Removal of Divi-
sion of Industrial Hygiene
From the Bureau of
PreventabIe Diseases

Commissioner of Health Royal 5
Copeland issued formal statement
yesterday defending his removal of the
Division of Industrial Hygiene from
the Bureau Of prevcDtable Diseases,
headed by Jr. Louis I. Harris.
Commissioner Copeland also took ex-
ception to the regret expressed IN yes
terday's Tribune by Dr. Warren Cole
man, chairman of the Health Boards
committee on prevcntable diseases
that changes were being made in the
machinery Of the Health Department.
The Commissioner did not comment on
Dr. Coleman's charge that this was
the first admins stration which had lg-
nored the advisory committee.
After explaining that he considered
it advisable to enlarge the work of
that he felt it properly touches sew
eral bureaus, Dr. Copeland said:
at seems to me it would be much
wiser for the critics of the department
to wait until they see whether or not
this plan works 0 in practice before
rushing into print to criticize it with
out knowing what the plan is or with
out attempting to discover what it is.
No Outside Complaints
II wish to state that no man, woman
or child outside of the Department of
Health has come to my Office or writ
ten to inquire just exactly what is to
be accomplished by this new enterprise.
Furthermore, no executive order has
been issued making arrangement for
this new plan. The whole disturbance
started from New Years letter which
sent to my colleagues in the Depart
ment of Health, stating the disposition
which, in my opinion. should be made
of various disputed questions.
II have the ambition to make the
environment of the men who labor
more comfortable, more healthful, and
in every way adjusted SO far as it is
within my power to decrease the jeop-
ardy and hazards of the workers.
know as well as | can know anything,
that when the laboring people in this
city fully understand the honest desire
have to improve working conditions,
there will be applause and not criti-
cism.
"Reverting now to the Bureau of
Preventable Diseases, one would sup
pose, form the articles that have been
written, that it is the bounden desire
Of the Commissioner of Health to take
away from this bureau all Of its func-
tions, or at least the important part
of its work. AS matter of fact. with
what problems does the Bureau OF Pre-
ventable Diseases have to deal?
ut is understood by the public that
this is the bureau that has to protect
the citizens Of this city against diph-
liberia, scarlet fever, smallpox, typhoid
fever, lnfantile paralysis, pnuemonia
n t,1h
real diseases. hydrophobia, cholera,
typhus and all the dreadful infectious
and contagious diseases with which
man is afflicted?
Thinks Harris Busy Enough
ut seems to me that this bureau
has a very large contract on its ands
without taking over the new division
which in no way whatever supersedes s
or destroys the functions the Bureau
of Preventable Diseases has always
had. The head of this bureau has a
mans job right now, and when he does
tull justice to that job and has added
to 1T the great campaign against VEN
ereal diseases that is going to be waged
from TINS time on in this city, and
throughout the civilized world, he has
all the work that one man should do.
NO matter how willing he is or how
ANXIOUS he may be to assume this par
ticular vitality important and interest
ing problem, as his chief l know that
he IS already just as busy as man
should be: Doubtless it is disappoint-
mr. mt to his many friends in laborinp
circles that Dr.. Harris. a sympathetic
and devoted friend of labor, should not
be the one selected to do this particular
piece of work. But let it be under
stood that so far as the application of
the knowledge is concerned, the vital
problem, which is that of dealing with
occupational diseases, is not removed
fr I'M the Bureau of Preventablc Dis.
eases.
Therefore, I cannot for the life Of
me see why any one has the slightes ST
reason in the world to express discon.
tent over departmental policy. So ia,
as the origin Of the plan is concerned.
accept the fullest personal responsi.
bllty. l have never discussed DR. Har.
rls with the Mayor, and he has never
by direct statement hint or suggestion
directly or indirectly, made reference
to Dr. Harris. His attitude toward The
plan of extension of the work in in.
dustrial hygiene was most sympathetic
and he manifested his Endorsement b,
his voice and vote in the Board Of
Estimate"