New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-14
Probes
Soldier. Dead
Burial Charge
Hylan's Health Department
and u. S. Public Health
Service Blame Each Other
for Treatment of Bodies
Criminal Action Urged
Federal Prosecution Will Be
Suggested ON Findings of
Investigating Committee

The American Legion yesterday took
up the charge made by the joint leg
islative graft investigating committee
that there had been prohteering in the
burial of unclaimed bodies Of soldiers
who died in the hospitals in this city
from wounds received in France.
Colonel Cornelius w. Wickersham,
chairman of the committee appointed
by the American Legion to investigate
the treatment of soldiers in hospitals,
forwarded the charges, which had been
sent to him by the legislative commit
tee to the state Legion, with the sug-
gesticn that the Department Of Justice
be called upon to act.
At the headquarters Of the state Le-
gion in the Hall of Records yesterday
it was said that Immediately on re-
ceiving the charges from Colonel Wick
ersham it had started an investigation
of its own, and that it expected to
complete it's inquiry on Friday, when
it would forward its report to the De-
partment Of Justice.
The buck was passed rapidly yester-
day by those charged with responsible
ity in the alleged burial scandals.
Blame Put Upon City
DR.. j. O. Cobb, senior surgeon in
charge of the hospital at Fox Hills,
S. L., which is maintained by the United
States Health Service, laid the blame
at the door of Mayor Hylans Depart
ment of Health.
DR.. Cobb said that the Federal au-
thorities were assured by the New York
City Health Department that proper
investigation would be made Of The
permits granted.
The Federal official said that he first
learned Of the burial OF two and three
at once started an investigation. These
soldiers, it is understood, died of
wounds at the Fox Hills institution.
Colonel Wickersham said yesterday
that his committee could not properly
investigate the burial of the soldier
dead two and three in grave because
the American Legion had appointed his
committee solely to look after the well
fare of ex-service men who were in
hospitals.
Dir. Royal 8. Copeland. Commissioner
Of Mayor Hylan's Health Departm ent,
gave his department a clean bill Of
health in the matter, saying that the
burial of soldiers is solely a Federal
activity
While Senator Schuyler NJ. Meyer,
chairman Of the legislative committee,
said that the blame lay primarily with
the United States Public Health Serv-
ice, he also accused the New York City
Health Department for not checking up
on the burial of the soldier dead.
Copeland Answers Never
DR.. Copeland in replying to Senator
Meyers charges said that the allega-
ton that burial permits we're issued
by the Departm ent of Health without
any check or follow-up system was
false and misleading. he said that the
burial of three soldiers in one grave
was not illegal, and that If it was done
by the undertakers engaged to bury the
soldiers one in a grave that was not
the fault of the Health Department.
"The matter relating to the burial
of soldiers is solely Federal activity"
said DR.. Copeland. at relates to an
agreement between the United States
Public Health Service and the under
contract between these parties and
with which the Department of Health
has nothing to do.
ut is pity that if the Meyer Com
nittee is looking for constructive proc
esscs regarding city Offices that it did
not make some attempt to discover
what, If any, were the rules and reeu-
lations governing this particular mat
ter before criticizing where there was
no basis for criticism"
The legislative committee announced
yesterday that it would go ahead with
the investigation Of the local health
departments part in the burial of the
soldier dead.