The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-12-02
HOSPITAL FEE
PAID FROM THE
PATIENTS POCKET.
MEMBER OF the Northern Pacific
Beneficial Association at Fanny
Paddock Hospital Receivers TO
Find Money Taken From Him.

Jonn Byrne, an honest-appearing Aborer
on ire Northern Pacific railroad. has a
grievance against the Fanny Paddock nos
pliai at Tacoma. The grievance involves
s-s. which B5rne says was the last money
ne had with which 10 get started again fl
tie world, after IA protracted sickness with
typhoid fever.
According to Byrne's story he was sent
TO the Fanny Paddock hospital from Lester
By the local railroad physician. He was 100
sick TO be sent to the railroad hospital at
Misso'iia. When he arrived al Tacoma he
had $50 In his pocket. Typhoid fever con-
fined him In the hospital for seven weeks
When he became oonvalescent, he asked for
MS clothes and got them, but the pocket
OF the Clothes was empty Of the $40 The
authorities stated that they had retained
the amount in payment for services
Mr.. Byrne does not know whether or not
to deny taat the ospitai ought to be- paid
But he cannot get IT into his head by what
authority the hospital people proceeded TO
help themselves TO his funds without con-
suiting him. He expects to ask an at
torney TO explain it TO him
Said he
I'm not disputing their bill at all, but
! don't know what right anybody TO
whom l owe money has 20 shove his hand
down In my pocket and take out what /
may happen TO have there"
Another interesting point which Mr.
Byrne makes is that ne himself does not
owe the money. He is member of the
large organization known as the Beneficial
Association OF the Northern Pacific Rail-
road, whose express object Is 10 take care
OF Northern Pacific railroad employees when
they get into the unhappy condition of H.
ness into which Mr.. Byrne fell. Every
employee OF the road contributes 10 this as
ISOLATION what is known as the hospital
( fee." the amount OF the fee being graded
according to the wages. The proceeds OF
the fee are devoted TO the support and car
of the sick or the injured.
Says Byrne:
II went to work for the railroad last
April. and from the beginning paid my
monthly hospital fee of 30 cents There
are about 900 other men paying this Zee
or a larger one each month, and IL 1t is a
fellows misfortune TO get lad up aftef
has been with the road only Il short time
there IS supposed 20 Toe enough money from
The contributions Of the io,o" others to see
him through.
''On October 20 or 81, while al work at
Lester. in this state. was taken down with
severe typhoid fever and was In such Il
condition by the time the doctor reached
ME that | wasn't able TO a say word as
10 where they should send me. My tenn
pefetnre was up 10 loo. The doctor con-
Guided i wasn't safe to send me over the
mountains 20 MissOua, and 80 sent me tenn
porariiy 10 the Fanny Paddock hospital.
After had been at the Fanny P9ddock
few days the physician IN charge teie-
graphed % the surgeon IN chief of the Rem
eficia Association. Or buckley. 10 know
what should he done with me. Or. Buck
ley replied that ! should he sent 10 Mis-
SCUBA To this Or. McCutcheon answer,
that ! was still a pretty sick man. ana "a
he had found that had some money In nv
pocket. and had some st.f due me from the
railroad. he would take his chances upon
Al H.sip ms