New-York tribune., 1901-01-01
KELLER TAKES BLAME.
SAYS HE is RESPONSIBLE FOR BELLE
YUE'S CONCENTRATIONS
TO BE ASKED.


John W. Keller. Commissioner of Charities,
who has been i'll in his apartments at the New
Amsterdam Hotel for some days. was able TO
receive callers yesterday, and in the course OF
the day he not only granted number OF inter-
views but attended to some business relating 20
the administration of Bellevue Hospital He
yesterday discharged seventeen employees of the
hospital. owing to a shortage of the funds. This
shortage, il is said due failure on the
part of the Board of Estimate and Apportion-
ment to make sufficient appropriation for the
hospital expense. Among the Commissioners
callers yesterday were Deputy Charities Com
missioner Brennan, Secretary Borden. OF the
Charities Department: Superintendent O'Rourke.
of Bellevue Hospital; DIR. Allan Fitch and Dr.
Robert w. Hills of the State Board of Charities
Commissioner Keller was seen later in the day
by a Tribune reporter. When asked concerning
the charge made by DIR. Weston that the Com
missioner Of Charities was alone responsible for
the conditions of affairs at Bellevue Hospital, he
said:
L know am responsible, and not trying
TO shift the responsibility. l am responsible for
the affair." and not trying TO make scape-
goat out of Superintendent ORourke or any
body else. The conditions at Bellevue VIII be
thoroughly investigated, and all offenders pun
ished
1 wish it TO be understood that have no i'll
feeling for the members of the Bellevue Medical
Board. / am not antagonizing any member OF
that Board i sent a letter TO Or. Charles H.
Dana. president of the Board. some days ago. in
which I recited the alleged evils in the hospital
and asked some questions about the hospital IN
struction and administration. That the learned
Medical Board is thoroughly qualified TO treat
patients have not the slightest doubt. IL that
Medical Board were 10 do something that
not right and could not show itself TO be right,
would then take steps TO right matters. ~ Us
10 be made by the members OF the Board. Since
have been Commissioner of Charities / have
that Board for the appointment OF an inferno
OF course. I have supreme authority over Belle Ne
services of the Medical Board
DIR. FITCH TO EXPLAIN.
/ am not going 10 act hastily in my efforts to
better the condition Of affairs at Bellevue Hos
pital. am going to act in a manner satisfac-
tory TO myself. III I cannot make better the con-
ditions there the public may criticise me. There
will be thorough examination OF the insane
pavilion There are certain things that DR. Fitch
has got to explain II he cannot explain them
satisfactorily 10 me. then ne Will have 20 suffer
AT present have instituted what call police
service at the hospital appointed DR.. Schultz
for the purpose OF seeing that patients were not
maltreated. and not TO treat them.
/ demand of Superintendent ORourke that
the general condition Of affairs in the hospital
shall be TO the benefit of the patients. He has
not as yet offered TO me an altogether sausr
factory explanation regarding certain things
shall conduct no formal public investigation, but
any person who has a complaint to make should
make II 10 me- The reports about the alleged
brutality at the hospital are greatly exagger-
ated More than twenty-four thousand cases
were treated at the hospital in the year, and the
number of complaints of iii treatment are COM
paratively few.
SAYS OLD ABUSES CONTINUE.
General James r. o'Beirne. who was one OF
the Commissioners of Charities under Mayor
Strong. said yesterday that il was manifest that
many OF the abuses existing in Bellevue six
years ago. had not been rectiied- He continued;
My investigation OF affairs there proved be
yond doubt that patients were robbed in the
most fragrant manner. IL was common report
that some OF the members OF the house staff OBJ
tanned money from patients for transferring
them TO another hospital AT least these reports
were common when l took office. Soon after /
was appointed a contractor who was taken 20
TeIIevIe while on a spree was robbed OF S4 600.
He preferred 70 lose the money rather than FISK
publicity. He had the money when ne was
taken 10 the ambulance. and not a cent when ne
left Bellevue. To safeguard the valuables and
money Of patients seaEchers were app0lnted
while / was Charities Commissioners. and they
were under bonds II their duty 10 search
natients on arriving at the hospital and 20
make a record of the money and valuables or
the patients in the presence OF another per-
son. and TO keep the money or valuables IN a
safe plaC- until the patient was discharged
While I was in office one OF the members OF
the house staff was suspended for taking money
for having a patient removed to another hos
pital. This suspension was later removed. There
were many complaints against DIR. Allan Fitch.
the examiner in lunacy, for accepting large fees
for the services for which he was paid a salary.
DR.. Fitch examined on this matter. and
a S2i fee provided the patients family could
afford TO pay it, II was finally agreed that in
such cases DR.. Fitch might accept a fee no
greater than that amount.
ALL CHARGES TO BE LOOKED INTO.
Commissioner Keller said yesterday that all
reports about robberies az patients would be
thoroughly investigated; also the reports about
the undertakers' trust.
1t has been learned at the hospital that a
young man representing himself TO be a reporter
OF a weekly publication went to the hospital
and without the knowledge of officials secured
a complete list of the names and addresses OF
every patient in the hospital This list was
furnished TO a Second-ave. undertaken who was
thus enabled 10 get the first information when a
death occurred in the hospital
Another nurse was suspended from Bellevue
Hospital yesterday. This was on complaint Of
DIR. Joseph d. Bryant. The nurse ID. J. Rooney.
Of Ward No. 4. accompanying DR.. Bryant
on visit 70 the patients in Ward No. 8. AT
the Mills Training School IL could not be learned
why the was suspended. Rooney Will
appear tomorrow before the Board of Managers
of the Mills Training School. The managers Will
tomorrow resume their investigation Of the
charges against the nurses of the school.
Letters were mailed to the members OF the
Medical Board of Bellevue Hospital yesterday,
giving notice of the monthly meeting of the
Board tomorrow.