New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-22
TO BAR OUT ALL But DOCTORS.
SWEEPING PROVISIONS OF BILL AT AL
BANY AFFECTING THE MANAGE
MENT OF CERTAIN MEDICAL
'TIONS

Attention was directed yesterday to the eX-
traordlnary provisions Of measure recently ihio-
duced into the Assembly. II II becomes la"
the election of any person not regularly hcehseu
and registered as practising physician 10 oe an
oicer or director Of a hospital or dispensary Will
be unlawful. When 1t is borne In mind that tne
MANAGEMENT Of many OF these important pubic
institutions of charity Is vested In the hanus "a
non professional men and women. VINO give Valu-
able time and much money TO their support ana 'he
care Of their vested interests, the amazing nature
of the proposed legislation becomes apparent. That
the result II Il is enacted into a law. will he seri-
ousIy TO cripple and greatly harm many worthy
charitable institutions. only In this city but
throughout the State. IL manifest from the sur
prisng provisions OF the measure.
The bill bears the printed number l66i' ana n
dated March &C. Il was introduced by Mr. Hoffman
read once and referred TO the Committee on Cen
eral Laws by the Assembly. The title makes 1t an
amendment to Chapter G6i. Laws Of 1898. as amend
cd by Chapter 9eS Laws OF 1895 In relation 70 pup
lie health The FIRST section contains the ne" mat
ter and reads follows:
II shall be unlawful for any corporation DONG
business within this State the conduct OF wnich
Tor tho members stockholders and directors there
OF 10 elect any person officer. director or
manager OF such corporation, unless such person Is
al the time OF election or appointment prac,,
listing physician or surgeon lawfully authorized
TO practise medicine in this State ana so registered
according 10 law
mits himself 10 be elected director or manager
contrary to its provisions IS guilty OF msde-
meanor and liable a fine OF $3.50 or imprisonment
and further. that the corporation In which the
election IL held does ny the act OF such election
forfeit its charter and the Attorney-GeneraI IS
authorized 10 dissolve IT,
What the Interior purpose OF the measure IS was
not made clear but that It would radically aHec'
a large number OF the most important public IN
stltutions in the boroughs OF Manhattan and BROOK
yn was asserted yesterday by those best quailleu
10 know One OF them said Il believe the PUBL
cation OF the provisions Of this measure VIII ne
sufficient TO prevent It's passage 1t Is an Outrage
10 propose TO shut out from the management or
institutions the persons who contribute largely 70
their support and insist that only professional
men shall manage the funds and affairs. believe
I'm a fair proportion Of medical men I'm the control
OF institutions which require the exercise OF medi-
cal or surgical skill but 20 shut out business men
when business affairs are TO be considered IS I'M
fair The result will be that large decrease IN
gifts will follow. | do not desire TO dlsparase
professional men. but n physician with a IArSe
practice and constant demands upon MS time mas
not the leisure give to business aHalrs nor save
in exceptional cases the training 10 deal with them
properly This proposed legislation Is 50 vicious
and undesirable that 1t should not be suffered 10
become law.