New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-07-04
PRICE FOUR CENTS.
GARFIELD'S PHYSICIANS.
ATTACK UPON THEM IN THE SENATE.
PROVISION MADE TO MEET THE ExPEysEs OF THl
LATE PRESIDENTS MORTAL IIIsyss--coRRE

LATE PRESIDENTS MORTAL ILLSHss--coRRE-
sPoNDENcE IN vINDIcAuoN OF DIR. BLISS.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSEl
| WASHINGTON, July 3-Senstor Vest made q fu.
rious onslaught in the Senate this afternoon upon
Dr. Bliss and his late associates in the treatment Of
President Garfield, rehearsing all the stories that
were current in the sensational press at the time
with all the bitterness of comment his vivid imagi-
nation could conceive and his remarkable vocabu-
larry could express. The occasion the discussion
of an amendment made by the Appropriations Com.
mittee to the General Deficiency bill, creating
commission of Treasury officials to audit all the
penses growing out of attendance upon the dying
President and appropriating $75, 900 for their pay
ment, $50. 900 of which was to pay the physicians
including Drs Boynton and Edison.
Senator Vest declared that the President had
been hurried TO his death by malpractice, the ply
sicians having devoted their attention TO a pus
cavity, while the bullet of the assassin never for
moment came under their attention. He asserted that
DR.. Bliss crowded himself into the case; and in
proof of this statement he caused to be read the
letter of Dr. Boynton, which was published sew
eral weeks ago, to the effoct that President Gar
field said at some time during his illness that
he did not recoilect having requested Dr
Bliss to take charge Of the case, and Mrs.
Garields Endorsement of this statement He said
the questions which confronted the doctors were not
of poultces pills or plasters. They were ques-
tioDs of the structure of the human body, and be
w no treated one part or ono wound. when the seat
of the disorder was elsewhere like the carpen-
ter who didn't know cellar from garrett; like the
shipwright who couldn't distinguish mast from rud-
der He a quack, whoever he might be. Mr..
Vest declared that If such bills for services were
submitted to any probate tribunal in the country.
they would be pronounced exorbitant. He wished
the claims first TO be brought against the estate Of
the late President. when they would be tried by the
courts and he pledged himself to vote for an appro
prIation to discharge the claim.
The physicians ably and eloquently defended
by Republican Senator's Senator Hale defended
the action of the committee. He said he didn't
propose to be the medium of the jealousy the
spite of any man. If there were men who thought
they did not have proper part in the treatment Of
the late President 1t was not hitting thing TO b<
discussed now. Not one of the physicians had pre-
sented claims no court could adjudicate such .
case. There was no legal claim against the Govern
ment. The physicians had not approached the
committee or its members. The committee, how
ever recognizing general expectation on the part
| of the American people that these ex-
| penses should be borne by the Government, had
made this provision He referred ID terms
of warm praise to the unceasing which through
| long days and nights the physicians had given to
| the President.
Senator Garland defended the reputation of tho
doctors, but wished to have the claims adjudcated
by the committee, and reported to Congress for
action at another time. He proposed an amend
ment to this effect. which was lost.
Senator Hawley said the subject indescrib-
ably painful to him. as it is to the great of the
American people. The physicians who had that
case in charge had the profound and prayerful SYM
pathy of their professional friends all over the
country, and they were, at least, entitled
| in some common charity to kind and
| courteous treatment. No man had any JUS
| tifcation for reflections upon their personal
character or motives. Never since the world
began had the actions of men been watched
with greater anxiety than were those of the men
and women who moved about that bedside. The
electric wires auIvered from minute to minute bear
ing the suggestions of professional men from all over
the world. He had personally known DR.. Bliss for
twenty years. During the war he had under his
charge in the Armory Square Hospital sometimes
thousands of poor fellows from the bat le-felds.
He would not for moment discuss the
skill or lack of skill displayed In tho
treatment of the President by DR.. Bliss. He bad
spent the whole three months at that bedsde,and at
any moment he would have left that house, never TO
return again. had it been hinted to him by anyone
having right do that his services not de-
sired He spent his strength and constitution there.
II any man has secret belief that the sum ap pro-
prated ought to be $50 less or more, he begged be
would hold his tongue forever. The people did not
want that closed grave opened again, IN order that
the filthy fingers of pettifoggers might be thrust
into those open wounds.
Senator Hoar said that the one principal object in
the settlement of these matters by Congress was To
prevent any presentation of these claims against
I4Io Of ba lafa nd
amendment making the acceptance by the physi-
clans and Others of the appropriated bar to
any claims against the estate
Senator Sherman said 10 would be very distaste-
full to the American people to have these claims
presented against tho estate to trouble the widow
and children of the dead President. lie thought
the amounts proposed to be paid to the phys clans
were extravagant, and said that il an amendment
was proposed limiting the amount to $25 900 for
the doctors he would vote for it.
Upon motion of Senator Cockrell the limit for all
expenses was fixed at S57 500. the doctors Dropor@
ton being 1886 OOO Senators Sherman, ingalls,, Ro+
Inns and Van Wyck voted for this amendment, all ths
other Republicans voting against it, The Demo-
Gratis voted for it In body.
This discussion was wholly gratuitous and un-
necessary. Senator Vest. who brought it on, said
he knew nothing personally about it, and he stated
nothing new or that had not been discussed aud
settled months ago in the public mind. His charge
that Dr. Bliss had crowded himself into the case
was the most serious and the most direct one. and
upon that there is happily some aud convincing
evidence in refutstion of the charge. On May 20.
1882, Dr. Bliss wrote Mr.. Lincoln, the Secretary
of War, as follows:
As one OF medical advisers OF the late President
Garfield, take the liberty OF addressing you BREEZY
upon matter Of both pubic and private interest Ger
tain statements made by parties OF presunable credence
in portion of tho Of the country calculated
TO inspire minds with doubt as TO whether the
wishes General Garfield aud his wife, together with
of frlends reapecteu ana IOl-