New-York tribune., 1905-11-14
HOSPITAL FL UNDS.

The tentative report of the Committee Hos
pital Needs and Hospital Finances, organized by
the Association for Improving the Condition of
the Poor. is addressed chiefly to the managers of
the various hospitals whose methods it is de
sired to harmonize with a view to securing for
them a larger and more regular income and TO
utilizing their resources to the greatest advantage
Some of the problems which are presented for
consideration will, however, interest the general
public, especially that which is concerned with
the support of hospitals by popular contribu-
tons
The committee raises the question rs it bet
ter that efforts for increased pecuniary aid
shall be made by each hospital individually or
Jointly or both?' The answer to that question
must be awaited with interest by the leaders of
all organized charity What is the proper bal
ance between wholesale and retail efforts at
money raising in different communities? In
places where people are sharply separated by
denominational or racial lines phlanthropic en-
terpriSes find the partcularist policy the most
feasible BC- those conditions of separation are
rapidly passing away Take the of the
colleges A few years ago each institution made
its appeal against II others. and it had little
hope of getting anything except from members
of the church TO which ii was allied or residents
of the neghborhood where it was situated Like
wise the philanthropist of that day sought the
schools of his own denomination and had little
thought about promoting the efficiency of whole
system OF education. Now the deuomnatiOnal
and local ties are weakened and money is more
and more given. not with view to building up
an Institution for its own sake, but TO promoting
education in general and having funds directed
where from time to time they bring the
largest educational returns. The work organ
lied by the General and Southern Educational
boards to raise the standard of Southern educa-
hx-h tcrra atari o;,,t- 1ad
feler 10 devote large sums, which will be greatly
increased to be expended on the same principle
in the North. This method places emphasis on
the work whole rather than on tue inStru-
ment
Why sould not the method be used in
connection with the hospitals of city? 1t
might. indeed. loosen the hold which particular
hospitals have upon some contributors There
is always. of course the danger of carrying or
ganization TO the point of dehumanizing charity
Possibly the separate appeals made to IA man
here on behalf of hundreds of philanthropies
that he knows nothing about realize more than
could be secured in any one sum. That is doubt
less the case With small contributions. On the
other hand large gvers often hand out trfing
sums general principles in the vague hope
that some good will he done by institutions OF
which they know nothing; whereas they would
contribute much in excess OF all their small gifts
to body which could be trusted to distribute it
where it would do the most good.
The committee makes valuable sugges-
fions for common system of accounts and for
economies in hospitals which would not in the
least impair their efficiency 1t points out that
half of the ether purchased for hospitals is
wasted. and two-thrds of The alcohol. By
system of joint purchase great saving might
be effected. If these reforms were instituted and
a central board enabled 10 know thar money was
wisely spent and 10 say at any time where it
would supply the greatest need of the suffering
the contributions TO hospitals might be largely
increased. This city contains vast number of
persons without institutional ties. They lead
supremely selfish lives. not because they mean
TO- but because they are not rooted here and do
not know how TO strike out roots. To them q
celtral hospital fund could be made 70 appeal.
while no individual hospital would attract
their interest They would be glad TO discharge
a debt of philanthropy by one contribution which
they will not attempt 70 discharge if they must
hunt up particular institutions. Such method.
OF course. would have TO be employed side by
side with that of appealing to particular con-