Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-03
SUGGEST RESIGNATION
REPORT REVIEWS
MANAGEMENT TROUBLES.
Difficulty Said to Be Outgrowth OF
Personal Animus-Oppose Trans
fer Of Control.


The following report, reviewing the trou-
BILE in the Emergency Hospital manage
ment, drawn by a committee appointed for
the purpose and subsequently adopted
unanimously by largely attended meeting
of the board of directors, sets forth the
attitude of the majority of the board in
the pending controversy in that institution:
Washington, D. c., March II.
To the Board Of Directors:
The undersigned committee was appoint
ed at the last meeting Of the board OF d.
rectors Of the Central Dispensary and
Emergency Hospital, pursuant to the fol-
lowing resolutions:
Whereas, information has come to this
board through the public press Of an effort
to effect vital change in the organization
Of this institution, inimical both to its
welfare and to the interest of the people OF
the District, Of which neither notice MOI
opportunity has been given to this board
to be heard by the proper authorities haV-
ing the matter under consideration:
Resolved, That a committee OF nve, OF
which the president of the board shall De
the chairman. be appointed by the president
to consult with the board of charities and
the Commissioners of the District of Co
lumbia upon this important matter, and, II
proper committees of Congress such infor-
nation as will enable said committees to
comprehend the disastrous effect which
such revolutionary change would. in the
opinion Of this board, have on the hospital;
and
Resolved. That said committee be au-
thorized to inquire into the origin and
effect of said proposed amendment and
to report to the board such recommended
lions as may seem wise and proper to the
committee"
Committee Down to Work.
The committee met soon after its ap-
pointment and learned that the instigator
Of this proposed change sought to secure
the enactment of the same by causing sur
reptitiously, as your committee Feels justi-
fed in charging, the Introduction as an
amendment to the District appropriation
bill Of the following provision, viz:
':Provided, That after the passage of this
act all vacancies then existing or which
may occur thereafter In the board of di-
rectors Of said Dispensary and Emergency
Hospital shall be filled by the Commission
ers of the District of Columbia
Such progress had been made in the pro-
motion Of this scheme that only by prompt
ly conveying to the congressional commit
tee having charge Of the bill information
which, 1t seems, had not been placed in its
possession was your committee able to
induce the elimination Of this amendment
from the bill.
MOI only was no notce or lnCmatOn
given to the board that such legislation
was to be asked for but not even has there
come to the board any complaint or crit
tcism of the management of the affairs Of
that the board at all times has not only
been willing. but would have gladly well
coined any suggestion affecting the well
fare Of the hospital.
Notwithstanding the municipality has
had for years three representatives on the
board. one Commissioner Of the District
the other two the health officer and san
itary officer, each possessing the same au-
thority as that Of the other members of
the board, whose official duty 1t was, par
ticuiarly as such representatives, to call
attention to any matter which in their
judgment affected deleteriously the effl-
cheney of the hospital, no complaint has
been made against its administration. nor
has any change in the conduct Of its af-
fairs been suggested by said representa-
tives.
Instigated by DR.. johnson.
In response to the resolution instructing
inquiry to be made as to the origin and
effect Of said proposed change in it's char
ter. by which members of its board were
to be deprived of the privilege Of select
Ing such of their associates as are not
ex-off1cio members, your committee fur
Their reports that it has been ascertained
that neither with the board Of charities
nor with the Commissioners Of the District
its tnstigator is one Of the members of
the board. Although he admitted on ex-
animation the correctness Of this state
ment, your committee regrets the necessity
of here mentioning his name
This member, DR.. H. L. NJ Johnson. an
peared by request before the committee,
and when having his attention called to
the resolutions above referred to stated
that he was the mover of the proposed
change and alone responsible therefor. On
being asked why he had instigated so
important movement without giving any
notice of his intention SO to do to his col
leagues he replied that he had not been fair
ly treated by the board at it's November
meeting, abiding to it's action at that
meeting on his conduct in Diminishing from
the hospital its house physician, DR.. Stuart
He was asked by the committee whether,
II 1t became necessary in order to carry out
his discOurteOus treatment by the board,
charges seriously rejecting upon the hos
pital, which to committee appointed to
investigate the same he stated were I'M
true and without any foundation. Not
withstanding the charges were made by
himself, he moved that committee Of
three be appointed to investigate them, of
which committee he was to be chairman.
What Was Meant by His Conduct.
After the adjournment of the November
meeting he was inquired Of by one of his
fellow-members Of the staff what he meant
by his conduct and as to what he expected
to accomplish. He replied that The would
show them what he intended to do"
He was asked by the committee If it
became necessary in order to carry out
his scheme Of adding to the board other
representatives Of the city to obtain the
resignation of some of the present mem
bers, he would be willing to create one of
the required vacancies by himself resign
ing, to which he replied that The would
not"
The Central Dispensary and Emergency
Hospital was organized in 1871 through the
efforts of certain public-spirited citizens
From that time up to the present moment
its management has been vested in certain
directors selected by and from among those
interested in maintaining the institution
for the benefit OF the community. 1t has
been supported during the entire period In