Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-01-29
Suggestion as to a Plan For the
Women of Marshalltown to
Aid Worthy Institution
MANY ARE ANXIOUS TO HELP
BY Forming an Aid Society, With
Nominal Dues, Nice Sum Could Be
Turned Over to Hospital Annually
An Accident or Sick Benefit Policy
Another Suggestion.


Comment Of the T.-R. on Saturday, Of a
statement of the need of ST. Thomas
hospital for an elevator, and the neces-
sity Of the public doing something to
assist an institution that Is in a large
sense charitable, many good women OF
the city have approached the T.-R. for
it's opinion Of scheme to canvass the
city to obtain fund to aid the hospi-l
tai. While the T.-R. would applaud
any effort by Marshalltown's women
to help the hospital, it believes there is
a better way than by individual effort.
The T.-R. would suggest that instead
of individuals working so hard to raise
a sum of money, a meeting be called
by the women and an aid society for
the hospital organized.
An aid society, with 1000 members.
ought to be an easy matter to form,
as there are at least that number, II
not more, who would be anxious to
contribute small sum annually in
that way. Membership dues of 81 per
year would not be too large. and $1,000
could be turned over to the hospital
every year. This sum would furnish
the hospital with an elevator, and in
the succeeding years could be used to
good advantage in maintenance and
assist in reducing the large debt under
which the hospital labors. Were it not
for the interest that must be paid
semi-annually, the hospital would
have more equal chance in the strug-
gle for self-supporting existence, but
with the present income it will be years
before the debt can be lifted The hos
pital debt amounts to about $4,000,
and the interest on this is 5000 annual
". An elevator. such as would meet
the requirements of the institution,
would cost, it is estimated. around ST.
900.
The T.-R. would like to see hospi-
tai aid society organized, and believes
that this would be fine way in which
the women of Marshalltown could as
sist the hospital and at the same time
not miss the money. It would require
some leaders to start the ball rolling,
and with a start the memberships
would come In at rapid rate.
Another Suggestion.
The T.-R. has another suggestion to
offer that it also believes would prove
a good one. 1t is nothing more or less
than hospital care benefit in the form
Of an insurance policy, such as Is issued
by accident insurance companies. For
instance people would take out hospital
care insurance for a nominal sum, say
payment of so cents per month to the
hospital. In return, should any policy
holder become injured or sick, he would
be received at the hospital as a patient
upon physicians certificate and car
ed for free Of charge, aside from his
doctors bill This could be worked up,
in a manner that would prove highly
beneficial to both the insured and the
hospital.
Factories Could Help.
The T.-R.'s suggestion of some
months ago, as a manner in which the
factories of the city could help the hos
pital. will bear repetition. There are
many factories in the city which could
cooperate in maintaining a room at
the hospital for injured employees. Al
payment Of S. per month. or $50 per
year from several would do it. The
hospital would receive the money,
credit 1t to the factory making the do
nation, and then when am employe of
this factory was injured, or needed hos
pital treatment, he would be received
and cared for free Of charge. The bus
mess institutions could in this way
make needed donation to worthy
enterprise, and be assured at all times
of having q place to send any one Of
Its employees who might become hurt
while on duty. One factory that stands
ready now to make such donation is
the Lennox Furnace Company, which Is
the largest employer of labor in the
city, next to the Iowa Central Railway.
There are several others that would
join in such a scheme.
Would Start Fund.
Another suggestion has been made,
to the effect that the T. R. start a hos
pital benefit fund, to which contribu-
tons could be made by the public. This
the T.-R. is ready and willing to do if
it meets with the public's favor. and
would publish from day to day the total
amount Of the fund and the names of