New-York tribune., 1919-01-25
Copeland Firm
In Decision to
Denote Harris
Protests of Physicians and
Labor Against Change in
Hygiene Bureau Denied
Move Effective at Once
Didn't Want Health job.
Asserts the Commissioner.
but Gam Doing My Best

Health Commissioner Copelands do.
termination to remove the Division of
Industrial Hygiene from the control Of
DR.. Louis |. Harris, its founder, resist
ed three hours and half of debate
and numerous protesting resolutions
yesterday in the assembly room of
the Health Department. Commissioner
Copeland told labor leaders after the
meeting the new plan would be in ef
feet to-day or tomorrow.
Physicians, heads of civic organiza-
tions and representatives Of labor
bodies joined in protest at what thew
term unwarranted interference with An
expert, and were answered by Commis
sioner Copeland.
The man to whom you are going 10
turn over DR.. Harris's work. said DR..
Ira S. Vile, "has failed in getting out
the Health Department bulletins. as
evidenced by the fact you have relieved
him of that duty. If he isn't fit to do
that work, why is he eminently the
right man to step in and manage
division which neither he nor you cre-
ated, Commissioner, but which was
fathered by DR.. Harris?
Divided Rule Denounced
"The statement that you arc going
to leave little of the authority in Or.
Harris's hands makes the situation
worse than ever. Divided authority
will undoubtedly kill the work The
reason DR.. Harris is now overwerked
Is that there are four division chief
taincies vacant in his bureau and
nobody but you has authority TO I'll
them"
81 am really friend Of yours. COM
missioner, and | change YOU that if
you persist in this change you viii be
credited by the public not with ere
ating, but with Decorating, this dlvi-
sion. You should give DR.. Harris the
assistance lie needs instead Of strip
Ping him Of power"
Commissioner Copeland, in his re-
plies to critics, said he did not want
.he job of Health Commissioner. H.
felt him untitled for it. IL was
forced on him by the Mayor as "a
patriotic duty and he would give some
body $500 to get the Mayor to accept
his resignation. lie estimated his
financial loss by leaving private prac-
tice as $1,000 month.
Il am trying TO do the right thing
by labor and the community" h. said,
land know that two men, no. one.
should do the work of preventable dis
eases and of industrial hygiene
Hygiene Force Cut in Half
Dr. Harris said he used to have four
men for Industrial hygiene work, but
recently had had only two.
How many did you have for this
purpose during the influenza epdem-
&c % he was asked.
Two" was the reply.
DR.. Sidney Goldstein. rabbi OF the
Free synagogue. asked if the Commis-
sioner would allow q committee of eT-
perts to confer with him on the pro-
posed change in the industrial hygiene
division, and Commissioner Copeland
shouted:
II shall surrender none Of my rre-
negatives! l am charged with running
this department, and ! shall run IL
You are a biassed witness anyhow. a
friend of DR. Goidwateri"
a voice from the crowd asked
whether this inquiry would not be
NaiuaOle II the commissioner intended
to get rid Of DR. Harris.
THAT is an embarrassing question"
said Commissioner Copeland, smiling
Leonard n. Wallsten, president OF
the Citizens Union. said after the meet
ing
at seems to me the purpose in call
ing this meeting was to get DR.. Harris's
friends together and try to dscrcait
him with them. The fight to save the
division of industrial hygiene viii be
continued"