No Action Taken on Racial Discrimination in New Jersey Sanatorium

Following a series of conference held during the week, the Board of Frecholders, the governing body for all county institutions, took no definite action relative to complaints of anti-Jewish discrimination at the Essex Mountain Sanatorium, county institution for tubercular patients. Cognizance of the complaint charges was taken by County Supervisor Ernest Reed in a communication sent to Director Hines of the Board in which the former demanded “action” and a clean-up of alleged unsanitary conditions and administration irregularities, which, he claimed, existed at the institution.

The Freeholders, however, granted a three months’ leave of absence to Dr. Byron M. Harman, superintendent of the sanatorium, whom Mr. Reed charged with direct responsibility for the socalled intolerable conditions extant at the institution. Dr. Harman was dismissed from his post last February by Mr. Reed, and has been holding the position since then, without pay, pending the outcome of an appeal to the State Supreme Court. Under decision of the Board, the superintendent now receives $3,500 back pay and a three months’ leave with full pay.

Dr. Harman’s absence from the institution, it is expected, will enable the clean-up requested by Mr. Reed to take place, and that should discrimination be found to exist, every effort will be made to weed it out. Belief has been expressed here that this last action of the Board was designed to afford the superintendent an opportunity to relinquish his post in an inconspicuous manner.

There have been rumors that a group of former and present Jewish patients have been requested for statements to the effect that racial discrimination does not exist at the institution, whereas another group has been sought after to affirm intolerance, but these rumors have not been traced.

Celebrating its fiftieth anniversary, twenty-eight years of which have been spent in its present location, Beth Jacob Congregation. Pittsburgh, Pa., opened a week’s festivities with Friday evening services. Saturday morning Joseph Katz, president of the congregation, and Rabbi A. M. Ashinsky, spiritual leader for twenty-five years, and now of Detroit, Michigan, were the principal speakers.

Beth Jacob was granted its charter by the State of Pennsylvania in 1883 after conducting services and meetings for a period of four periods in a private residence. The present location was purchased in 1901.

Isaac Kasman died at his home at Silver Sands, East Haven. Conn., on August 16. Mr. Kasman was chairman of the finance committee of the Jewish Home for Children: member of the board of directors of the Jewish Home for the Aged and former president of the Hebrew Institute.