Hartmann Names Dr. Baker Public Works Staff Physician
Civil Service Commission Asked to Approve $1500 Job
ACTION DECLARED ECONOMY MOVE

The State Civil Service Commission has been requested to authorize appointment of a staff physician for the Camden City department of public works at an annual salary of $1500, and Dr. Maurice E. Baker has been named to the post on an ad interim appointment by Commissioner Frank J. Hartmann, Jr.

Dr. Baker, a Democrat, was a candidate for city commissioner last May on the New Deal-Non Partisan ticket, which elected Hartmann and Commissioners Mary W. Kobus and George E. Brunner.

Hartmann said last night that Dr. Baker has been acting as staff physician for the past four days and has made 12 examinations.

Some of these, Hartmann said, were for city employees with frost­bitten toes, fingers and ears, who are claiming compensation, and one was of a woman who slipped and fell on a sidewalk.

"Dr. Baker, of course, is not getting paid a salary now," Hartmann said, "but we hope he can be placed on a salary as a money-saving movement.

"Heretofore the physicians examining city workmen on compensation claims have charged the city $10 for each examination.

"I expect Dr. Baker to make 600 to 700 calls a year, most of them examinations, and thus get the work, done for $2 in each case.

"I expect also to save money on compensation claims by having Dr. Baker make examinations of any new men hired, so that we may be sure they are in good physical condition. As it is a man could receive an injury somewhere else, go to work for the city and then claim compensation for the injury by pretending it happened on the city job.

"Dr. Baker's examinations of the present employees will lead to compensation claim savings also, as we will be in position to make some of these men take steps to protect themselves and the city, where remedial action seems necessary."

Hartmann said all members of the city commission except Mayor Frederick von Nieda have endorsed the employment of a staff physician. "I haven't had a chance to talk to the mayor about it yet," Hartmann said. City Solicitor E. G. C. Bleakly also has approved the move as offering a chance to save money, Hartmann said. 

SCHOOL PHYSICIAN FINDS MANY PUPILS WITH EYE TROUBLES
Baker Urges Board to Name Oculist for Treatment of Camden Pupils
SOME NEED SPECTACLES

''An alarming increase in the number of Camden school children suffering from long neglected and needed treatment for eye defects and failing vision was reported to the Board of Education at its meeting last night by Dr. Maurice E. Baker, chief school physician.

A recommendation that an oculist be employed to examine eyes of children in which defective vision, failing sight and eye defects have long been neglected was received for consideration of. the new board which takes office today ..

Dr, Baker said this condition among children attending the city schools has reached a serious stage, with the possibility that several children are threatened with possible loss of sight because the necessary medical eye examinations cannot be made and because most of the parents cannot afford to pay for spectacles.

"Other school physicians and my self have found ·that hundreds of our schoolchildren suffer from minor and many from serious eye ailments and diseases," Dr, Baker told members of the board.

"The local hospitals cannot take care of these children because of lack of physicians and. required facilities.

Children have to wait from three to four months for examinations and refractions of their eyes.

Cause of Backwardness

Dr, Baker said, he found his predecessors had failed to follow up pupils examined several years ago. A recheck up of these same children, he said, had disclosed that in many instances pupils who had tine marks in lower grades and become backward and "problem" pupils' because many had only sufficient vision to barely read and to write.

"Many of these unfortunate children have had to suffer many years because their parents could not pay to have their eyes examined by oculists," the, physician added, "Most of them are too poor to pay the price for spectacles they need.

"The school physicians think it far more important to have these children treated for eye defects than to give, them examinations for flat feet, rickets and less dangerous ailments.

"Such a condition is costing the city and taxpayers a lot of money every year as long as these pupils are neglected."

Board Urged to Act

William B. Sullender, retiring board member, supported Dr. Baker and moved that his recommendation that an oculist be engaged be considered by the entire board.

“While you are at it, please remember the city does not have a school dentist," Sullender remarked. "The eyes and teeth of our school Children are more important than anything else." ,

Sullender's remark about a school dentist drew smiles from several board members. A dentist was to have been appointed several months ago, but no action has been taken on such an appointment.

Several members commended Dr. Baker on his report for the month of December, in which the various diseases an ailments and the number of cases are listed separately.

Influenza, chicken pox and mumps led most of the maladies, according to the Physician. There were 32 cases of mumps, 45 with influenza and the same number of pupils with chicken pox. Some of the other diseases and the number afflicted were: eye, 8; measles, 7; pneumonia, 5; diphtheria, 2; scarlet fever, 5. No cases of whooping cough were reported.