The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1882-05-25
The Garfield Funeral Expenses.

The country would gladly sustain the
largest measure of liberality at all con-
sistent with justice, in providing for the
expenses attending the case of the late
President Garfield during his protracted
and painful illness, but there will be a
very general disposition to complain of
the bill reported by the majority of the
house committee.
The appropriation of $50, 900 to Mrs.
Garfield, less the amount drawn GA &C.
count of Presidential salary, is in accord
with the uniform action of congress I'M
der like circumstances, and none will
dispute the propriety of the appropria-
ton. The award of S25, 900 to DIR. Bliss
will be assented to with some misgiv-
ings as to its entire justice. The
appropriation of $4,000 to each of
the consulting physicians, Doctors
Agnew and Hamilton, will be regarded
as a reasonable compensation. DIR. Ag-
new was the only surgeon who performed
important operations when necessary,
and DR.. Hamilton is pre-eminent in his
particular line as a physician. Their two
months of attention to the President
whenever needed, and the value of their
professional services to themselves,
make the amount closer to justice than
to generosity.
With these awards for medical attend
ance on the President, the lines of JUS
tice fade oat in the long list of extrava-
CANT appropriations. Doctors Reyburn,
Boynton and Edison are each rendered
SIC, 600, not one of whom ever earned 30
much, and probably not half so much,
in any year Of their lives, and it is alike
unjust to the country and to the profess
sion to pay such enormous fees. DR..
Reyburn had little care and less response
bility in the case, and DR.. Boynton and
DR.. Susan Edison were simply friends
and nurses. They did not pretend to ex.
ercise any medical skill 10 the treatment
of the case, although they were valuable
In the tender and intelligent care of the
patient.
But the most Objectionable feature of
the bill reported by the committee is the
proposed promotion of Drs. Barnes and
woodward in the navy, to enable them
to be retired on the largest pay. The re-
tired list of both the army and the navy
u one Of the most unsatisfactory provis-
ions Of our military and naval laws,
and it is most unwise to relieve
two discarded physicians in the Presi-
dents case, by unmerited promotion to
make them enlarged pensioners upon the
nation for life. II they rendered any
service, professional or otherwise, deserv-
ing of pay, let them be honestly and
literally paid, bat the grave of Garfield
should not be employed TO give promo
tions which could not be attained on the
score Of merit. Unless the additions to
the army and navy retired list shall be
increased with scrupulous care, the day
is not distant when forebearance win
cease to be virtue and congress will be
compelled to abolish the whole system.
On one point ali viii agree. The Gar
field funeral expenses should be prompt
~ audited and paid. and even extrsva-
gAnce will b preferred to the naksd ex-
posurs Of al he tricks of cunning and
greed TO plundsr the treasury under The
veil Of . naEioa's soer0w. Whn1oves b 70
BE- dons, ~ Il - promptly done snd 81
~ natesf. Phil. Iines.