Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-07-05
EN- ENCY HOSPITAL,

z wi cN " cNSI UOST ] Al.
Mr.. B. q. Warner Resigns as President Of
the Trustees
Causes That Lea to His Taking This Step
and What He Says in Re-
gard 10 It.
For some little time past there has been trou-
BILE among the powers that control the workings
Of the Central Dispensary and Emergency Hos
pital. The facts in the matter have been slow
in leaking out, and to . certain extent an
effort has been made to Keep them back from
the public for fear Of an unfortunate effect
that their publication might have upon the wei
fare Of the hospital 1t Il fact, however, that
the feeling has gone far as to lead to the res
ignstion Of the president Of the hospital, who
has now severed all actual connection with the
institution.
The news Of the resignation Of the president
Of the board Of trustees, Mr.. B. h. Warner, will
come rather in the nature Of Q surprise to the
people generally, for Mr.. Warner has all along
shown the deepest interest in the success Of the
institution and has done all in bis power to
make II a practical success and put 1t well on
Its feet financially Cince it has occupied its new
home.
The trouble all had its start at the time of the
Ford's Theater disaster and the public relief
meeting that was held ON the afternoon
Of that day in answer to an emergency
call issued by the Commissioner. Al
letter was read from the physicians Of the
hospital in which they recited the number Of
casualties cared for ut the Emergency Hos
pital that day and asking for aid to further
continue the work more fully and completely
than they were able to do with the resources at
their command.
Mr.. B. H. Warner, the president Of the board
Of trustees, was present at the meeting,
and he at onos arose and remarked that
there was evidently some Misunderstanding on
the part Of the physicians Of the hospital
As to the character and purposes Of the
meeting. The hospital, he thought, was in a
condition TO prosecute the work without asking
any aid from the people who were there to raise
funds for the immediate necessities of the in
jured and the bereavsd familissL He, there
fore. asked that the letter receive no consider
alton st their hands and requested Of the news
paper men present that no mention be made Of
it, receipt
THoUoRr rHKY WERE AFTRoNrED.
The authorities Of the hospital took umbrage
at this and the result was that few days after
ward Mr.. Warner received . letter signed BY
Mr.. Il. Randall Webb, DR.. H. z. johnson and DR..
VIM. r. Hawkes. ~ . committee representing the
executive committee Of the hospital This letter
has not been made public, but it was to the
effect that ct q meeting OF the executive com-
mittee Of the Central Dispensary and Emer-
sency Hospital, held on June 8, the day Of
the disaster, COMMITTEES was appointed
to draft statement to be presented TO the bus
mess men Of Warrington at their meeting in
connection with the disaster, and requesting
that some action be taken by them in
order to provide for the injured then
in the hospital in . better manner
than the limited resources of ths hospital
Afforded. In view Of Mr.. Warmers action In
msnt, snd that there was no necessity for II
they felt that they had been personally
adPoutsd. They suggested that at the
next meeting Of the board Of directors the
q07etiou b discussed and answered, HAS the
president Of the osntral Disponsary and Emer-
eepcy Hospital the authority on his own indi-
viduA responsibility 10 Oppose and render null
and void the work Of duly appointed commit
tee representing the executive COMMITTEES Of the
hospitsl?"
The result Of this letter w.s that Mr..
Warner refused to discuss the matter at all,
and ended the whole matter by sending in
his resignation at once. To STAB reporter
who called at his ofhce this morning Mr..
Warner said that he was unwilling to say
anything about the affair for fear that any talk
or notoriety that II might receive would tend
in some way to hurt the institution, for whose
good work he had the greatest respect He
said that the Emergency Hospital had made 4
place for itself In the city that could not be
filled, and that It deserved all the support it
had ever received, and more beside.
WHAT NE. wARNER sAYs
However, when his attention was called to
the fact that the reporter was in possession OF
the contents Of the letter, Mr.. Warner said:
~ consider the communication in which the
three gentlemen indulged a. ill-timed aud un-
called for as any action I may have taken to
preserve the hospital from unnecessary and un-
deserved criticism could possibly have been.
81 suggested the withdrawal Of q commuui-
cation 1t the meeting Of business men held that
Friday afternoon for the purpose of afford
ing immediate relief to the sufferers by
the terrible accident, because it was evi-
dent to me that It would bring forth
TO be an interference with the real object for
which the meeting had been called should
have been glad to explain my action
at the next meeting Of the board
but the letter which they saw At to
send suggested to me that whenever there is q
directors and the chief executive officer
which becomes serious enough TO de-
mand the debating Of such question
as they propounded for consideration
1t was much better for the head Of the ins,itu-
tion to give way and to allow new administra-
tion to come in. where the danger complained
Of would not be repeated. There are times in
the world when II is better to waive
the question Of etiquette and forget
the possibility Of personal slight rather than
discuss either. think such an occasion arose
that Friday afternoon. do not, however. de-
sire to be connected with an institu-
ton whose interests might be jeopar-
died by my position as chief executive
officer, and only consented to retain the Office
because Of my desire to see the institution en-
tirely free from debt during the coming year.
am very friendly 70 this worthy institution,
but life 10 too short to consume ii in discussing
points Of etiquette whom there il 30 much bust
ness TO be done. The hospital has . great
mission"
THE GUNBOAT MACHIAs,
She WIN Break the Record ~ - Time Of
Availability.
The gunboat Machias will be put in commits