Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-22
SHAW NOT. SATISFIED
Marine Hospital Service Ex-
penses Criticised.
REGARDED AS TOO MUCH
COST OF TREATMENT OF INVALID
SAILORS.
Reports Submitted by the Committee
Engaged in an Investiga-
So ton.
REGARDED AS TOO MUCH

It Is well understood that Secretary Shaw
has not been satisfied with the financial
management Of the public health and ma
rins hospital bureau for some time and he
las expressed his disapproval of the prac-
tice of obtaining legislation for the benefit
of that service without the Endorsement Of
the department. For a long time 1t has
been a course of much criticism in the de-
partment that the expenses of this bureau
have been SO rapidly increasing. An exam
nation OF the reports of the bureau for the
past few years. 1t is said. makes some sur
prising disclosures. 1t appears that the
number of sailors requiring treatment at
the hands OF this service has slightly in
creased for many years, but the expenses of
the bureau are said to be considerably more
than double what they were few years
ago.
Comparison Of Expenses.
Another point which the department has
been investigating Is the expense of caring
for seamen In marine hospitals and In car
ing for them in other hospitals at ports
where no marine hospitals are located.
From a circular issued by the department
In June last It was found what it costs to
care for sailors by contract in outside hos
pitfalls. Comparing these figures with those
In the annual reports of the bureau of the
expense OF caring for them in marine hos
pitfalls. it appears they can be taken care of
outside for less than one-half what II costs
TO maintain them in the hospitals conducted
by the government.
Figures are at hand showing that on an
average sailors can be treated under con-
tract, in high-class hospitals, at not to ex-
coed 81 day. while the figures taken from
the records Of the marine hospital bureau
show that II costs nearly So day. In
report OF q commission appointed by Sec
Rotary Shaw to examine into the workings
OF the marine hospital bureau, made some
time ago, II Is shown that in many of the
smaller hospitals the number OF attendants
equal. and In some cases exceed, the num-
Der of patients, and that the pay rolls OF
officers and attendants often exceed 30 per
cent of the total expenses of maintaining
the station. These increased expenses, Ii Is
said, are not accounted for in any way by
the expense incurred in such emergencies
as the present yellow fever epidemic in the
south. There is a special appropriation
made for the prevention of the spread OF
epidemic diseases. and none of the money
appropriated for the regular expenses of
the marine hospital service is devoted to
this purpose. Neither are the expenses of
the quarantine service included. as special
appropriations are made for that service,
although they all come under the control of
the marine hospital bureau.
Committees Investigation.
The committee Investigating the bureau
has made several reports to the secretary
and is continuing its Investigations De-
partment officials refuse definite informal
ton as to the nature OF these reports, but
from reliable sources 1t Is learned that the
investigation will cover every phase of the
business operation of the bureau II is
known that Chief Clerk Wallace Hills was
on his way 10 Fort Stanton, N M, at the
time of his sudden death to investigate the
marine hospital for tuberculosis cases at
that point.