Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-09-23
DOCTORS, BILLS.
Speculations as to the Expenses Of
the Presidents illness.
The Government should and
VIII Pay all Bills.

Long Branch Letter to Troy Times, lIth.l
Among many other things, the CON
versations which take place almost
hourly in Private Secretary Browns
room between correspondents, the
nursese, members of the staff, the doc
tors, and even Cabinet Secretaries are
of a cosby sort of interest which
makes them valuable when, as at pres
emit, matters 60 we'll enough with the
President to render special dispatches
supcrfuous. For instance, the talk
yesterday afternoon at Mr.. Brow2's
cottage concerned the question OF
who was to pay the bills Incurred dur
ing the Presidents illness. At the
time there were present several mem
bers Of the Presidents staff, an army
officer and two newspaper correspon-
dents. 1t was mentioned that econo-
my was one of the Presidents objects
in dispensing with the services Of the
three physicians and Mrs. Edison. 81
do not think" said the army man
present, whose name | do not feel at
liberty to give, as the conversation
was Of a half-private nlture, that
economy can be the real reason, un
less the President meant to be eco
nomical of the nations money; for
most certainly he will not be called
upon to pay any of the bills. As Pres
ident he is the chief officer of the
army, and as such entitled TO surgical
and medical treatment at public ex-
pense. 1t is quite certain that he
was shot as the head of the nation,
and the nation should take care Of
him. If he had not been President
he would not have incurred Guiteau's
animoslty. There can be no question
as to the alaerity with which Congress
would pass an appropriation bill pay
ing all the expenses of this unhappy
affair" But" said listener, does
not the President take the risk OF
such dangers? If Postmaster Gener-
al James should be shot down to-mor-
row by a disappointed applicant for a
postofiee, would the government be
expected to take care ofhimP' Most
certainly" was the answer. THE
Postmaster General and the Presi-
dent do not agree for SO much salary
to allow themselves to be used as tar
gets during their terms Of Office. Ifa
merchants laborer gets hurt while
handling heavy boxes, it is not usual
for the man TO be turned adriit to die.
Yet the man may have brought on the
accident by his own %carelessness or
want of skill. In the Presidents
case the same argument is stronger.
He incurred Guiteau's luminosity
by doing his duty and refusing to con
slider the applications for Office of a
man known to be vicious and incom-
petent. The country will be only too
glad to pay the bill incurred
The amount Of these bills was thu
next topic discussed, aud Secretary
Brown, after figuring up for a mo
ment, estimated that the cost of the
Presidents illness would not be fai
short Of $250,000. The doctors, he
thought, with the exception of Barnes
and Woodward, who as army sur
geons are expected to attend the Pres.
ident as part of their official duties
should receive at least 100000, and
perhaps much more if the conya-
lescence is a long one, as it is now
likely to be. DIR. Reyburn hos been
in attendance sixty-eightr days, which,
at 800 a day, would entitle him Ia
$1,000. DR.. Bliss will probably re-
ceive $4,000. Drs. Hamilton and
Agnew's bills will not, it is thought,
be more than $4,000 apiece, unless
the case should keep them busy for
months longer. 1t must be remem-
bered that the professional fortunes Of
all these men are made by their con
nection with this case, and there is
not a surgeon in the country who
would not attend the President day
aud night for months for the mere
honor of the thing. "a singular
thing" said Mr.. Brown, "and one
which indicates the feeling of the
people in the matter, is that we ex-
p%erience the greatest difficulty in get
ting bills from any one. Even per-
sons who render services which are
usually paid for at once, such as fur
nishing food carriages, medicines, in
struments, etc., refuse to send in theiI
bills, and | do not know of a single
bill yet GENT in for services or goods
rendered to the President during hii
illness"
1t is generally thought that the
plan to be followed when Congress
meets and the President is completely
eonvalescent will probably be to send
a circular to every person who has rem
dered services to the President, re.
questing that a bill shall be sent, and
then an appropriation can be made
fer the whole sum. The President is
very scrupuleus in wanting everything
paid for, and wishes all the articles
sent by tradesmen as presents to him
at the White House either to be re-
turned or bought and paid for, if they
are considered as worth keeping.
1.-THE truth is" said Mr.. Brown, speak
ing Of this. that not one OF the arti.
cles out Of the scores | receive every
day is worth anything. On an average
l get FIVE or six medical connections
warranted to cure the President nc
matter what his condition. Then
there is the patent furniture men, who
send beds and chairs and yentilators
and foot rests without end. Unless
they are paid for in advance ! refuse
to receive them, for the bills for ex.
pressage are sometimes formidable.
One lunatic sent a full set of articles
for a sort Of gymnasium at home
trapeze, swinging bars, spring board,
etc.-expecting the President to get
well by practicing with his devices.
Here is a queer article l received to-
day." said Mr.. Brown, pulling out a
sort Of an enormous rubber handker.
chief, which the article was intended
for. "The mar who sends this writes
that every man can be his own wash
woman by using this handkerchief
for no other washing is Needed ex-
cepting to throw it into the water and
wiring it out. It keeps down the
wash bills you see. The inventor
says he hopos the President will use
it, because it is the first one made
after the patent was granted. If there
was any danger Of the Presidents
stock of handkerchief giving out we
-.s.lA 81. ~.ILor apdkarohfo