New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-01
WOMEN GRADUATE ARMY NURSES.
COMMITTEE FORMED TO PUSH A BILL COM
PELLING THEIR EMPLOYMENT.


committee of experienced women has been
formed as follows to secure by act OF Congress the
employment OF graduate women nurses IN tne nos
pital service OF the United States Army:
Mrs WINTHROP CowDIN. chairman. No. Is West
Elsvsnth,st, NewYork.
Miss MARY z, wADLEY. treasurer, No East Forty
Mrs BAYARD CUTTING. New-YOrk city
Mrs.; WHIT REID. New-YOrk city c,.
Mrs HUNTER RoBB. president Associated Alumu' Of
Miss A. q MAXWELL. superintendent of nurses. Pres
Miss |. D. GILL. Northampton. Mass
MISS "a. A NuTTING. Johns Hopkins Hospital Bait
Miss G. NJ NEvINs superintendent of nurses. Garfield
Ms M H9se1aI W1 4 D. e. :,
Miss LINDA RICHARDS state Hospital for Insane
M Miss IRE, IRENE sUTLIFFE. drectress of nurses. New
Training School, Baltimore. Nd
This committee. representing the most advanced
stage in the work OF training women nurses for
hospital service. and possessing the full confidence
and sympathy Of the medical profession has issued
In behalf OF the bill the following argument, which
also sets forth its chief features:
1t is neither Just nor economical to compel sick
or wounded soldiers to undergo needless hardships
suffering or risk of life. Yet such evil results must
frequently occur unless military hospitals of fifty
beds and upward made equal in all essentials TO
civil hospitals of the best grade. One OF these
emphasized is the providing of organized body
OF trained women nurses. This provision for the
waite patriotism and charity; nor should 1t depend
on the views and actions Of any individual official
II should have the sanction and permanence Of law.
To this end bin has been prepared for the estab-
lishment of nursing service in the United States
Army, which has been introduced at the present
session Of Congress. The chief features OF this bill
the development under efficient supervision Of
service consisting of a superintendent who shall be
graduate Of training school tor nurses. ana OF
conspicuous executive ability, and or corps OF
carefully chosen graduate nurses, the majority Of
It is now desired to arouse National interest in
the passage of this bin and to influence members
or Congress TO give IL their support CYl4 10
have demonstrated beyond question that only by
nurses can the best results be achieved, and unless
military hospitals do the same we shall be open 70
every State does for its alien paupers
The bill has been introduced in the House Of Rep
resentatives by John A. T. Hull, of Iowa, and has
been referred to the House Committee on Military
Affairs. Senator Hawley, of Connecticut intro
duced It In the Senate, which referred 1t TO the
Senate Committee on Military Affairs. II provides
among other things:
That from and after the passage of this act,
women nurses in the proportion of not more than
general and post hospitals of fifty beds and upward
nursing service of. the Medical Department OF the
Army: 49, uu.,, - = s,,,a-,r+srdar+ NJ women
nurses in the Army. who shall be woman gradu-
ated from a general hospital training school for
less than two years and who shall be appointed ny
the Secretary of War.
That the nurses In the service shall be graduates
of general hospital training schools having courses
of instruction lasting not less than two years ina
they shall be appointed by the Surgeon-General OIL
the Army under such regulations as may De ap-
proved bv the Secretary of War; that they shall
receive $40 a month when duty within the limits
of the United States and $50 a month when on duty
outside of the limits of the United States; that q
chief nurse may be appointed for every hosplIa
where there are five nurses on duty; ina
the salary OF a chief nurse shall be SIS month
within the limits of the United States and SO
Fnnr YfsiS a. limited States.
Provision is made that nothing In the bill shall
limit the enplovment n time Of war of Nationa
disaster Of duly qualified Of other societie;
orders.