New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-07-20
Health Commissioner to
Quit Hyan Administra-
ton Because of Refusal of
Rockefeller Gift, Report
Authorized by the Mayor
Acted on His Authority in
Soliciting Buildings, Let
ter to Foundation Says


land, it was said last night by his
friends, will resign unless Mayor Hy-
Ian and Controller Craig find way to
accept the gift from the Rockefeller
Foundation of the war demonstration
hospital buildings, fifteen in number,
at Avenue A and Sixty-fourth Street.
In correspondence made public yes
terday by the Rockefeller Foundation
Commissioner Copeland writes DR..
George E. Vincent, president, that he
is authorized by the Mayor to go for
ward with the negotiations looking to
the reception of this property by this
department"
Commissioner Copeland now finds
his official action repudiated by the
Mayor.
At Commissioner Copeland's office it
was said yesterday that he would not
make statement until the early part
Of the week. His last utterance, made
Just after the refusal of the Board Of
Estimate to accept the gift, had placed
him in an embarrassing position, was:
"The action of the board1is entirely
hnwarranted. l solicited this proposed
gift from the Rockefeller Foundation,
expecting that the city would be glad
to avail itself Of the buildings. 1 will
not stand for this action to-day, but
shall take time to think over what is
best for me to do"
Correspondence Made Public
The foundation yesterday made
public the correspondence it had had
with nine different heads of institu-
tons that the foundation people i'm
agined might make use of the hospital
buildings as gift.
Form letters concerning the avail
ability Of the buildings were sent to
the following: DR.. Hermann M. Biggs,
Health Commissioner, State of New
York; Lawson Purdy, secretary Char
ity Organization Society; DR.. Henry
Barton Jacobs, secretary National AS
ISOLATION for the Study and Prevention
OF tuberculosis; Mr. John M. Glenn,
chairman Home Service Section, Amer
general director Association for I'M
proving the Condition of the Poor; De-
partment of Civilian Relief, American
Red Cross; DR.. W. Gilman Thompson,
public health committee, New York
Academy of Medicine; DR.. James A.
Miller; DR.. E. H. Lewinski- Corwin, ex-
ecutve secretary public health COM
mittee, New York Academy of Medi-
cine.
from the foregoing, the foundation
Graham Mulhall, of the advisory board
on drug addiction, Department of
Health, City of New York, requesting
that the foundation consider the gif.
Of these buildings to the City Of New
York.
Miss Graham-M ulhall's Letter
Miss Graham ulhall wrote:
In view Of the lamentable lack of
facilities for the care and treatment
of drug addicts it occurred to me that
you might feel disposed toward offering
these buildings to the New York City
Health Department or to such other
governmental or private agency as
would make provision for the proper
use of them in surroundings most con-
ductive to the best possible results
in the rehabilitation of drug addicts
There is possibility of obtaining the
use of the property at Warrick, Orange
County, n. Y, owned by the city
which is ideal in many ways for the
purpose contemplated"
Secretary Edwin R. Embree, Of the
Foundation, replied:
"The buildings are fifteen in mum.
Der Of varying sizes, and composed
reception building, administration
building, two wards, operating room
isolation building, laboratory, Kitchen
mess, laundry, storeroom, recreation
building, orderlies' quarters, nurses
quarters and maids quarters. Plumbing
and interior equipment are complete
IF it appeared that these buildings
were available for the purpose yor
outline we should be very glad indeed
TO give special consideration to any
request for them that may come from
the Department Of Health of the City
Of New York.
DR.. Copeland's Letter
Commissioner Copeland in letter t
Or. Vincent, under date of May 20
1919, said:
Eve have reached a point in thu
solution Of this problem where it il
necessary for US to have an institution
in this country where convalescent
nary treatment in the local hospitals
We now have at Riverside Hospital
North Brother Island, 100 patients
ready to be taken to some outsid,
institution, and there is no place TO-
their reception. Your buildings ar
admirably fitted for the uses we hav
In mind. The Board Of Health will
greatly appreciate the gift Of the Wa
Demonstration Hospital buildings, AM
/ am authorized by the Mayor to e
forward with the negotiations LOOKING
TO the reception of this property b
this department. As I understood gu
conversation tho Rockefeller Founda
ton ls willing TO move the building
and set them up on city property. A
the present moment it Is our plan t.
make use Of the Warwick farm for thi
purpose"
Assuming that the transaction was a
good az completed, DR.. Vincent, unde1
date Of May %. wrote Commissions
Copeland:
Your letter to the Rockefeller Foun
Cation was considered yesterday b,
the board Of trustees, who voted TO ap
prove the transfer of the war demon
aration hospital buildings TO the De
partment Of Health and authorized tn,
sxecutiYe committee TO make the neces
sary detailed arrangements and provid,
Innds to q reasonable amount for tn.
Eking down, moving and recrcction O.
,,ae structures on a site TO be provided
by the city"
Wilson Signs 100000