Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-06-10

would shortly be given the writer's position
in Emergency Hospital, DR.. Kerr declares
mat ne regrets to say that the evidence
Is to his mind overwhelming that both in
the college politics involved in the matter
ana the interference with his, service in the
hospital the superintendent seems to have
nsd the acquiescence. not te1say the direct
cooperation, of his associates of the hos
Dital staff. L.
Not Responsible for the Scandal,
In conclusion. Dr. Kerr writes as follows:
1T has been truly stated In the columns
Of the press that the existing situa lion in
the hospital is scandal but do not nro
pose to be held responsible for it. 1 de-
piore the necessity of any occasion of the
Washing OF dirty linen, but L would be more
IMAM human to rest quiet under the abuse
"hich mas been hcaped upon me. The
ORGANIZATION OF the institution, its bylaws
ana rules, provide plain remedy fer thu,
removal OF any member of the staff whose
removal may be thought to.;be required in
the interests of the hospital. Those who
have been pursuing me have seen fit to
ignore the provisions IN this respect and
have gone about their own way in trying
to get rid of me. 1t is plainly provided that
upon charges properly made two-thirds of
the staff. No charges have been made
against me and none can be truly made
Those who desire to obtain my place for
another at first contented themselves with
calling for my resignation, in terms specifi-
cally disclaiming any imputation upon my
fitness; and, failing to obtain my acQuies-
ence in this maneuver, they transferred
their fields of operations to the directory
where, however they still refrained from
making charges impugning my fitness
and adroitly conducted their campaign upon
the line that inasmuch as the staff wanted
to be rid Of me l must necessarily be in
fault, as though 1t were l and not they
who have caused the trouble. And now, be-
cause l decline to assist them in putting
stigma upon myself, l am denounced as I'M
professional in conduct and inmical to the
true interests Of the institution On the
real issue between my opponents and my
self can await, with perfect calmness and
confidence. the Judgment of all unbiased
persons: and not only do not fear the
result of the most rigid investigation in the
premises but court such investigation as
due to myself and the interests of Justice"
DIR. Kerr, in the course of his communica-
ton, refers to many letters and statements
| which accompanied 1t in support of his
declarations, but expresses to President
Boardman the wish that they shall not be
made public at the present time.
Statement of the staff.
,, DR.. Swan NJ. Burnett, who is president Of
the staff. and who voiced, by authority,
| the sentiment OF every other member of 1t
except DR.. Kerr. was seen by Star re-
porter this afternoon in relation to DR..
| kerr's letter.
| of manliness in ascribing all the unfortu-
| nate conditions he has been mainly instru-
| mental in creating to a woman, especially
when she is absent" said DR.. Burnett. Il
can say, as preface, that Miss West, the
| former superintendent against whom DR..
| Kerr levels his deadly lance, Is a most ex-
| cellent and exemplary woman in the first
| place, who stands at the head of her pro-
fession in this country, and who has occu-
pied the most prominent and responsible
| POSITIONS in four hospitals In this city and
! Philadelphia. She also has the warmest
friendship and the complete professional. as
! well as personal respect and confidence of
| every member of the Emergency Hospital
! staff. always excepting Dr. Kerr.
| There is little necessity for sensible
| man addressing Sci sbie people to deny
| such an absurd proposition as that put
| forward by Dr. Kerr; that woman could
| SO influence six members Of a learned pro-
| fession, who are regarded as intelligent
| representatives Of 1t, to such an extent
that they would band together in dark
| conspiracy to ruin another Intelligent men,
Der Of the same profession. against whom
| they could have no ennitE; whose down.
| fall would not benefit them, in the slightest
degree, and who could not possibly have
| any base Or Interior motives to satisfy.
! AS for DR.. Kerr's inuendoes and slightly
yelled aspersions upon his associates on
| the staff" continued DR.. Burnett, land
particularly his fling at myself, where he
| speaks of the most agreeable friend hav-
Ing changed to his bitterest opponent I
have only to say that DR.. Kerr was mainly
| indebted to me and DIR. G. L. Magruder
for his appointment here. Events that
| have transpired in the past two years have
proven to my satisfaction. at least, that my
judgment Of DR.. Kerr, led away by my
| sympathy with him, was sadly erratic. I
believe that is all 1 care to say about DR..
Kerr. The most dgnifed course the staff
can pursue will be to leave him alone in
MS cheerful occupation of fitting against a
defenseless woman. The medical profess
sion and the general public can best give a
| wise and sensible verdict in this case, and
we will rest it before that joint tribunal"
| Operation on Fendrick.
The boy George Fendrick. over whom
| the most recent clash of authority between
Dr. Kerr and his associates on the hos
pital staff occurred, was operated on this
| afternoon for chronic hernia at the hos
pital. The operation was performed by
DR.. Stands, under the direction of DR..
| Hawkes..
Naval Movements.
The Monongaheia and the Bancroft have
passed the Canes bound out with the