Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-06-17

Charges Of Maladminist.
ration.
WHAT rs SAID BY BOTH THE FRIENDS AND oPpo-
NENTs OF THE PRESENT ARRANGEMENT.

The board of directors of Columbia hospital
have been, for two nights past, conducting an
investigation into the general management of
that institution. No formal charges have been
made against the physician in charge or his
management, but rumors, tnnuendoes and
charges ofa general nature have been circulated.
committee was appointed to look into the
matter for the purpose of ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS or
not an investigation should be held. After some
Investigation by the full board. and it was be-
gun Monday evening. It was decided also to
Say Evening the taking Of f testimony S co
menced, and 1t was continued last evening,
from which time the board adjourned until
next week. Some of the assistan physicians
and attendants were examined, and further
evidence will be heard
There are two distinct factions. it appear, in
the board, and their views, respectively, as to
the proper way Of conducting the hospital, diff
fer widely. One of the trustees, who has been
pital for number OF years, said to STAR re-
porter: "This is but the continuance of the
old fight. AS long as twelve years ago we APP
pointed an advisory board of physicians. They
went through the hospital from time to time,
and recorded on each occasion in their visitin g
books that everything was going ON well and
report they recommended that the hospital be
turned over to the physicians control. That
signed in a huff: Another was appointed, and
they, like the first, recorded over their own sig
natures the highest concentration of the hos
p1tal and its management, but they too wanted
the character of the management changed, and
resigned because it was not done. The hos
pital has been attacked in the most shameful
manner. The vilest charges have been anony-
mOusiy made against the management, and q
few years ago a committee OF physicians was
appointed to make a thorough investi-
cation. They did so, and had to re-
port that the charges were groundless. The
hospital is for the treatment of a pecu-
liar class of complaints, and the board have
not thought it wise to alternate the physicians
In charge of it. Outside of the charity feature
many of the best ladies of the country go there,
and it stands to reason that they would not like
to be treated by one set Of physicians this week,
another set next week and SO on. 1t has been
deemed wisest and best to have physician in
charge, and venture to say there is not hos
pital of the same kind in the country that can
show so good a record for ten years
past. This is the same old fight to bring about a
change in the character OF the management.
For my part think the investigation will end
as the last one did. The hospital is admirably
and skillfully conducted"
Another member Of the board, one of the
congressional trustees, said to-day that, so far
as he could judge from the testimony already
taken, he thought the matter wore q serious as
pect. He said the charge of drunkenness against
the physician In charge was the most serious
one, and that it had been sustained by the testi-
mony of some of the assistants. He added that
the board was determined to make q thorough
Investigation, and that it would act promptly
If it found that there had been maladministra-
tiOn