The Washington herald., 1909-01-11


their annual report for 1905.
In those recommendations. as publish
ed. z reference is made 70 the annual
appropriations heretofore made by the
Congress IN aid of incorporated chari-
table institutions which are performing
the work OF caring for the sick and
wounded OF the INDECENT classes. which
are the wards Of the District. and for
whom The government has not heretofore
provided suitable buildings OF hospitals.
In referring 70 such appropriations
heretofore made. the Board Of Charities
makes the remarkable statement that
they measured not by the usefulness OF
neej CT the institutions benefited. but
by their influence or pursuasion," and
again that "the other evil referred 10
he's relation 20 private institutions aid
ed by Congressional appropriation.
A casual observer. reading these recon-
naendati0ns and not acquainted with the
extent and character OF the services per
formed by the institutions referred 10.
might naturally infer, from the line Of
argument and the language adopted BY
the Board Of Charities. that the aid ex-
tended 20 them was made upon false
representations. and was i'll advised and
wasteful
These statements hy the Board of
Charities, as published. are not only IN
just and unfair. but are untrue. in So
far as they induce the public 10 believe
that the aid so extended is an evil and
not blessing, 10 the manned and in
digent sufferers Of the District.
Calls Them Untrue.
They are also untrue in that they
make 2 sweeping reflection upon the
managers Of the Institutions who have
20 ask for Congressional aid, by saving
that the aid sought 70 be obtained was
measured by influence and persuasion
and not by the real needs Of the several
Institutions.
Speaking for The Central Dlspensary
and Emergency Hospital, corner fifteenth
street and Ohio avenue. with which
have the honor Of being associated. I
Oeg leave 20 say that its board OF direc-
tors, both male and female. and its star
Of medical practitioners are composed
q the most reputable and leading citi-
zens Of the District. who have no per
sonal ends 10 serve and who give their
constant service gratis
To refer 10 our hospital and others OF
Ike character as private institutions
IS also misleading 20 the public who
might infer that some profit Is derived
from their maintenance. whereas our in
stitution is maintained al q continuous
and growing deficit and but for the
very generous donations and requests
heretofore made by certain pubIic-spirited
citizens we should have been obliged 20
close the doors Of our hospital, notwlth-
standing the aid we get from the Con
gress on behalf Of the INDECENT poor.
In order 10 give some idea OF the ex-
fent and cost OF the work, I beg leave
20 submit the following brief statement
showing the cost for q period OF twenty
one months from March ], 1907, 20 De-
cem5er I, 1903.
STATEMENT.
To;al fees private patients and donations
mot ircludins SPECIAL bequestsi SIS 81 g
Total amount paid by Board os Czaritiss
under contract for Iniisent patieuts..-- I75f7 50
Total reosiTts.......--..........-.-.-.-.z z5z0 Il
Total expenses same period s57gs S.
De6cit------------------------- 2a "a
Against this deficit ve had cash
taizuc- March J. lsC-.----------- 8 Os -
Vet proceeds q Ssoo mortgage..--. $50 .
IEeC- J. 1Iayer llclCv---------------- 500 %
ugs 3
Leaving cash balance Decsmbe- /. lSs 2oa O.
As Ve have % repay the mortgage O. 600o %
TIE net deseit is-----.-----.-.-........ $3.50 %
VITA all Of our property mortgaged.
owing 70 the inability Of our hospital
10 earn a larger sum from pay patients
due 10 the limited capacity Of our build
ingl and the limited amount OF the United
States appropriations. We have been IN
able thus far 10 use any part Of the Iega-
Cies. as they should have been more prop
erly used. in reducing our mortgaged in
debtedness on the whole property, now
amounting 10 S26.C0o.
Schedule OF Fees.
The schedule Of fees allowed by the
Board Of Charities Cthe best We could OBJ
tain IS as follows
Ambulance rlus. each mot more than the cost s. @
Eu=ergeney cases ineludirg operations each si
Eeressings fer INDECENT patients. esch-.-.--.--- 2
Irn=cTiurIU1s ID
RadiuCrarhs when required not more Than COST / g
Physical examinations and diagnoses for Juve-
rie Cont ---...--..---...-....--... q
Board and lodgng IN tree wards. pr dem =
II a wounded patient is brought TO the
hospital operated on. and sent 10 the
wards. the Board OF Charities VIII not
even allow the emergency charge Of S
cents to be added to the per diem charge
OF $40, though the case may require nu-
nerous surgical supplies, and. possibly
anesthetics. which are expensive.
II has been shown by comparison with
other hospitals throughout the country
that the average cost Of maintaining Z
patient in the wards is Sz25 Per diem. and
we get only $40
Some idea Of the extent of our work
may be had when I say that for the fiscal
year IS07-lS1S the hospital treated 13. Isl
new cases and =, ,735 revisits. IN 1893 We
bought, for surgical cases, not less than
q. $50 yards Of gauZe, most OF which IS
one yard wide, which, II reeIed on. would
make q strip more than eighteen miles
long
In making this statement TO the public
merely wish to give our citizens some
idea Of the extent and character Of The
work being done by the Emergency Hos
pital land other institutions OF a like
character. and afford them an Opportu-
nifty CT judging for themselves whether 8
liberal appropriation from the Congress
Is an evil or a blessing 10 our indigen'
poor. and whether, IN view Of the cost 81
the services performed, the aid extended
ls measured by the need and usefulness
of the institutions benefited. OF by in
huence OF persuasion"
ARTHUR T. BRICE.
TreGsureT Central Dispenssry and Emergency Hos
pitzL
Church and State.
Editor Tie Washington Herald:
In The Nan Of Sorrows" is this.