Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-01-03
Retention Of Coroner
System Supported
By Senator Burton
Medical Examiner Plan
Opposed by Ohioon
As UneconomicuI Move

Retention of the coroner's Office in
preference to the medical examiner
system OF investigating deaths in
washington was recommended yes
terday by Senator Burton, Repub-
lcan of Ohio, in a formal report
filed with Senate subcommittee.
While disappearing the medical
examiner plan, the Ohio Senator
suggested further study of the ad-
visibility of abolishing jury inquests.
The bill on which Senator Burton
was reporting died with adjourn
ment of the old Congress two weeks
ago. but the report will be on file for
the information of the District Com
mittee if the question is revived this
year.
COroner's Office Praised.
Senator Burton praised highly the
administration of the coroners Office
by ORA. Magruder Macdonald, and
indicated this was one of the factors
that led him to decide against sub
stitution of the medical examiner
system. He based his conclusions on
lengthy hearings last spring. visit
to the District Morgue and observa-
ton of how inquests are conducted
here.
A medical examiner makes a SCI
entif1c study of the cause of death
and reports his findings to the
prosecuting officer without the inter-
mediate step of an inquest. Senator
Burton summed up his recommen-
dation as follows:
After careful consideration of
the above material I came to the
clear conclusion that in my opinion
1t was not in the best interests of the
public to pass the proposed law,
certainly at this time, for the reasons
that the coroner's Office is now be-
ing conducted in an exceptionally
compe ,ent and economical manner
under the direction of DR.. A.
Magruder Macdonald, who has
served in that capacity for many
years and whose standing in the
community is now recognized by
the fact that he also is president
OF the District Medical Society.
Stohuoku
During his term of Office he has
not only maintained a high standard
which has commanded public con-
fldence, but has succeeded in Secur-
ing for the morgue an up-to-da
and well-planned building which re-
placed the formerly inadequate and
unsatisfactory quarters. He has been
handicapped in developing the full
services of the coroner's office by an
extremely limited bulge and prac-
tically all Of the advantages which
were urged for the conversion of the
office into that of a medical eX-
eniner can be as we'll obtained by
the gran, ing Of additional funds for
the operation of the present cor
cner's office as by reorganization of
1t under the new title
After expressing his belief that
In some parts of the country the
medical examiner system has been
adopted to improve unsatisfactory
conditions, or where the Office of
coroner was political, Senator Bur
ton continued:
I'm the present instance the cor
oner is an appointed officer who
has administered his office with
such credit and with such highly
ccmmendable economy that it not
only would be of little public ad-
vantage to reorganize the office
and, among other things, to risk
the loss of the standards Of per-
Torrance of which he has proven
himself capable, but it might we'll
result in substantial increase of
expenditure at time when pub
lie official who has made a record
of economy in the performance of
his duties deserves the utmost sup
port and confirmation Of his poll
cies.
Claims Lack of Value.
THE most subs antial basis for
criticism on the present system is
the lack Of value derived, from a
legal standpoint. from the coroner's
inquest. 1t apparently in erferes
With, rather than aids, in the pros
ecution Of criminal cases. Its oper-
alton could be greatly abused if the
coroner were to abuse the right
which he has to select jurors. or if
he were to permit, in any way, these
Jurors to be under direct or indirect
influence from the sources other
than those devoted to public interest.
There is sufficient danger of the pos
sible abuse of this system that it
might be we'll for the Bar Associa-
ton Of the District of Columbia,
or some similar body. to make a
further study of the legislation to
abolish it while still retaining the
coroner's office and giving the cor
oner the benefit of such assistance
as is necessary for him to be of
the most possible use to the public,
end particularly to the law enforce
ment agencise of the public.
On the other hand, there is to be
recognized an important function
which a public inquest performs in
maintaining public confidence in
the investigation Of deaths occurring
in an unusual manner. At the pre-
sent time the coroner's inquest, as
conducted in the District of Column
bia, seems to perform an important
function in this regard, giving spe-
cial recognition to the fact that
there are important problems of race
relations involved, in connection
with which the public confidence on
the part of everyone concerned is of
the utmost importance"
Senator Burton made the report
to Senators Tydings, Democrat, of
MARYLAND and McCorro, no,o.,.