Evening star., 1901-11-13
PAY OF MCKINLEY DOCTORS
PHYSICIANS MAY PRESENT NO BILLS
FOR THEIR SERVICES.
Undecided What to Do, but VIII Not
Ask for Their Money Just
Now.

A Buffalo telegram to the New York
Tribune yesterday says:
Interviews secured this evening from To-
cal physicians who attended President Nc
Kinley in his last illness are authority for
the assertion that no doctors bills for ser
vices then performed will be presented just
now. 1t was learned on excellent authority
that Senator Mark Hanna gave directions
to have all bills submitted to him, so he
personally could pay them. This. 1t is said
will not be done. as the physicians feel that
Congress would not approve.
The local doctors are undecided as to
what should be done. None have felt like
taking the initiative, and thus far there
has been no formal discussion of the sub
5ect of bills among them. AS if by mutual
consent the physicians have decided to
await possible voluntary action by Con-
gresS. The local doctors who attended the
President were Matthew d. Mann, Herman
Mynter, John Parmenter, Roswell Park,
Charles r. Stockton and Eugene Wasdin.
Drs. Harvey r. Gaylord and Herman Matz-
niger performed the autopsy. DR.. Mann,
assisted by Drs. Mynter and Parmenter,
performed the first operation on the Presi-
dent but DR.. Parmenter subsequently had
nothing to do with the case.
DR.. Wasdin said. Il have heard no dis
cussion whatsoever on that subject, except
that it is likely no bills will be presented.
l do not know that this has been decided
definitely. 1 mean. simply, nothing has
been said to me regarding 1t. At any rate.
no bills will be presented just now; 1t is too
soon after the funeral
Drs. Mann and Mynter were not so re-
served. We really do not know just now
what to do" said DR.. Mann. The only
precedent for a case of this kind is the
Garfield case. In that instance Congress
appropriated 100000. out of which the
physicians were paid"
III Congress would appropriate a similar
sum In this case would that be satisfac-
tory?" Dr. Mann was asked.
We'll, we have not discussed the question
Of bills in any way. and, Of course, l. am
unable to say what compensation the diff
ferent physicians would consider adequate.
1 think, however. an appropriation by Con-
gress would be the most satisfactory to us.
Any sum Congress decides upon. no matter
what 1t Is. will be satisfactory to all the
Buffalo physicians. If this were done 1t
would obviate the rather delicate matter.
In this case of submitting bills which may
become the subject of criticism, no matter
what the size may be-
You see." interrupted DR.. Mynter who
was present 'if we submit small bills there
are many physicians who would declare
that we were foolish and establishing a bad
precedent to put 1t mildly. If We submit
large bills the people of the country will
criticise us. Congress should make an ap-
preparation. Looking at the case from a
purely business viewpoint, and eliminating
all sentiment, 1t must be apparent that the
fact that the President was kept alive for
more than q week prevented financial
panic in this country. That alone is worth
considering"
Neither physician, of course. would speak
regarding a definite valuation of services
applied 10 any of the Presidents physi-
clans.
Only one DOCTOR a New York man. has
found any fault with u.s." Dr. Mynter added
land We have heard from doctors in every
civilized country on the globe through med
ical publications"
IF the report is true that Senator Hanna
will pay these bills will you submit them
to him?" was asked.
Il don't think Congress would like that"
was DR.. Mann's reply, and DR.. Mynter
nodded assent to It.
Then, as far as the position of the local
physicians Is concerned, they will wait for
possible action by Congress before doing
anythingw
Yes. L think so. That seems to be the
best thing to do said DR.. Mann. THE
proper thing" commented DR.. Mynter