New-York tribune., 1919-07-19
Board of Estimate Refuses
to Accept War Demon.
n
stration Hospital After
DIR. Copeland Asked for 1t
Appropriate$15, ,438,OOO
asa Items Passed i'm Dav
That Started at 10 A. M.
and Ended at 7:l5 p. M.

The Board of Estimate and Ap-
portionate, with Mayor Hylan presid-
Ing, did these things yesterday:
l. Turned down a proposed gift from
the Rockefeller Foundation that cost
that institution something like $500, 900,
after Health Commissioner Royal S.
Copeland had solicited the Rockefeller
interests for the gift, the War Demon
stration Hospital building at Avenue A
and SiXtyrfourth Street, to be used for
drug addicts at Warwick Farm, in
Orange County.
2. Appropriated $15,43s,o0o for
urgency" Improvement projects agreed
upon in executive session of the Com
mittee of Budget and Finance of the
board in previous sessions.
3. Handled the largest calendar in
the history of thu board, containing
Unanimous consent" items, covering
all the time from 10 o'clock in the fore
noon until 7:15 last night. with an hour
out for lunch.
The days work would have been
Father tame, in spite of the money
spending, but for the fireworks" at
tending the proposal, sponsored by
Commissioner Copeland, to have the
city. take over. as gift from the
Rockefeller Foundation, the demonstra-
tlon hospital at Avenue and Sixty
fourth Street. This came at the close
OF the days work, and when it was dis
posed Of the city had rejected the offer
Of the Rockefeller interests, and Health
Commissioner Copeland was covered
with embarrassment. Charities Com
missioner Coler, who led the attack
against the proposal to accept the gift
backed by the Mayor, was jubilant, but
the criticism of the Borough Pres-
dents who voted for the acceptance of
the buildings was emphatic
Profanely Unbrotherly
"That was damned unbrotherlv
thing for you to do" said Commissioner
Copeland, to Commissioner Coler, as
the two bumped against each other in
the corridor outside the council cham
Der.
"Oh, that's all right, Commissioner"
returned Coler. "The city could not
afford to accept gift from the Rookie
fellers."
"Rot," said Commissioner Copeland.
No. 70 was the number of the reso-
luton on the printed calendar.
.! am opposed to this resolution"
said Commissioner Coler, getting the
mayors eye. 1here Is nothing IN the
charter that allows the Department of
Heahh to maintain outside of New
York City a hospital Tor anything ex-
cept communicable diseases
IF the city accepts this proposal it
is for the Department of Correction
TO take it over rather than the Health
Department. The Rockefellers are not
giving this in good faiths If these
buildings were offered to the city with
out string to them there might not
be objection to taking them over. But
they are not. l have report of the
Rockefeller Foundation, and there is
nothing in it to indicate that the in
stitution does anything directly for
any person. 1t aims to influence the
thought of the nation.
What the Rockefeller Foundation is
endeavoring to do is to fasten it's
grip on the habits of the nation, the
same as it did with prohibition. Be-
sides, the buildings it proposes to
turn over are not worth 100000 If
we take these buildings from the Rock
efellers every principle upon which
we came into power as an administra-
ton will have been violated. Taking
the Health Department out of the city
OF New York amounts to turning it
over to the jurisdiction of the state.
DR.. Vincent, of the Foundation, is con-
stantly advocating an appropriation for
taking the Health Department away
from the cities"
President Moran, of the Board of Al
dermen, said there were no conditions
attaching to the gift.
- don't see how the city stands to
lose anything when it gets something
for nothing" said Mr.. Moran.
Il shall vote against the resolution" !"
said the Mayor
IF we take the buildings we are
committed to policy that will in
fringe upon the jurisdiction of the De-
partment Of Corrections" said Control
Ter Craig.
Or. Copeland then got his inning.
The buildings are to be given to
the city without reservation, and they
can be transferred to the custody of
the Department of Corrections, if that
seems desirable" he said.
-"Cast-off Clothes"
III we need money for buildings
Tor any department | am ready to vote
y, nnt am opposed to the city taking
ON the cast-off clothes of the Roctc,
teller Foundation," said the Controller
an an favor Of taking the build
11ngs, said Borough President Dow
ing, of Manhattan. Il never have
been strong for the Rockefellers. as
every one knows. I didn't roar nv
mead, off for them or for Carnegie in
the last municipal campaign, but
can I: see any harm in taking these
buildings as gift"
~ we don't like them after they are
sty ses-uy IN warwick we can go up and
stam hre," said President Moran.
TheY Mayor voted against the resolu-
ton, and the Controller and Commis-
sionsx Gnider, sitting for Borough
frssident Riegelmann. refrained from
Voting at all. Mr.. Moran and the bor-
cngh presidents voted for the rcsolu-
YEP eut 1t WAS lost by vote of to 3.
Calder voted in the affirmative. MAKING
10 ayes, 6 noes
Secretary Haig ruled that it required
Twelve. votes to pass the resolution.
This killed it.