NEW YORK SCANDAL.

Northern Advocate, 17 February 1912, Page 3

NEW YORK SCANDAL.

ALLEGED ILL-TREATMENT OF IMMIGRANTS.

Much political excitement was caused in New Yo 'k at the end of Decemler by the publication of an official letter written by Governor Dix, of New York, State, demanding the imnrediate resignation as health officer cv' the port of New York ©f Dr. Alvah H. Doty. In the opinion of practically the entire medical profession of New York State Dr. Doty (says the 'Daily Mail" cerrespondent) is the ablest quarantine officer New York ever had, and deserves the highest praise for saving the State last summer from an epidemic of cholera.

Mr Dix, however, declares his view that gross incompetence was displayby Dr. Doty as health officer. "It iv.ust be considered providential," he ■sp.ys, "that the dread disease was not scattered,far and- wide throughout ,the If nd." The Governor* sserts that the conditions prevailing at Hoffman and Swinburne Islands, where immigrants arc quarantined are such as shock everyone's sense of decency and make Americans ashamed of their country.

He goes on: "The immigrants are housed and fed amid intolerable filth, and the officers employed ill tfce quarantine service are permitted to commit outrages upon them, especially upon women, that defy description. Apart from the prevailing immorality, practices o\ the most inhuman character are tolerated.

"Orderlies art permitted to carry I in their arms the bodies of α-oiul children, covered with sheets, from the hospital to the mcrgue. Whenever this occurs—the orderlies being obliged to pass through the open grounds—mothers who have not seen their sick children in the hospital and do not know their condition follow the orderlies, hysterically waeping and wailing and trying to pull off the sheets to ascertain whether or not the lodies ""° those of their own children. Mr Dix states that. Dr. Doty has nut made any attempt to disprove the c-harges of mis..:ondact, dishonesty, depravity, and immorality against his administration; therefore he must refcign immediately. Dr. Doty's position is worth £2500 a year. He vas originally appointed by the Republicans in 1895. He has always maintained that he is too busy lighting disease to pay any attention to the "nonsensical evidence concoct-j cd at the hearings of the commission." 1