New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-04-13
GRAFT ALLEGED
State Board Of Charities Hears
Censure of Or. Kunitzer.
SAYS SUPPLIES WERE TAKEN
Committee Investigating the
Sydenham Urges Change OF
Directors Also.

DR.. Robert II. Kunitzer's management or
Sydenham Hospital was severely arraigned
I'm a report submitted to the State Board
OF Charities I'm session last evening In the
United Charities Building by the special
committee which was appointed to lnVes-
tigate the affairs OF that institution. The
committee was composed OF President Will
lam Rhnclander Stewart. president OF the
State Board OF Charities; Dr. stephen
Smith and Richard J.. Hand, OF the board.
The investigation was instigated by the
complaint OF Egon Egghard. former super
intendent OF the Sydenham Hospital, and
was directed against Dr. KunitZer vice
president OF the board Of managers and
head of the medical board OF the institu-
ton. The complaint was dated August 81,
1910 and was mailed to the main office
OF the board in Albany. Egghard Is
nephew Of DR.. Kunitzer The committee
held several meetings at the New YORK
Office of the board. at which Or. Kunitzer,
his wife and others were examined.
The committee recommends In its sum-
ming up that DR.. Kunitzer withdraw from
all business and financial administration or
the hospital. and describes his methods as
irregular. It suggests also that the ousi-
ness conduct Of the hospital be revised and
that the City Of New York withhold sup
port from the hospital until the required
changes are madA
Taking up the charges against Dr.
Kunitzer the report says:
There can he no doubt but that at times
during the years igO7-'lO certain materials
th. hoe al tn
zer's residence. such az sheeting, cheese
cloth, sheets. pillow cases. bath robe ma
terial and the like and "A sewing machine,
some medicine was taken from the as
psnsary: some painting and repairing OF
electric lighting was done for which the
hospital paid; some sewing was done by a
maid in the employ OF the hospital; con
siderable printing was procured 'or ~.
kunitzer at the expense OF me hoSpl,an :
furniture which bad been his was pur-
chased for the hospital: certain of ms ~
cry bills were paid from hospital fundS:
and perhaps other things for ms personal
use and benefit were also paid from such
funds.
DR.. and Mrs Kunitzer testified generally
that they had reimbursed the hospitdi J,
through cash payments 10 superlnt,s', .,r,n,,
Egghard, for moneys thus exp'h"s' w.,
their request, although they mao heNe'
taken receipts for such payments Nr; hss
hard denied that these payments han rNt,
been made to him. and IN some cast =.
was shown that Dr. kunitzer mao .. NE
own signature approved the payments from
boenitsI funds Of items that had been or
dered for him. At any rate, none o. snc i
moneve SO far as could be ascertalheo'
ever reached the hospital treasury, ~,
When the fact is cons'dere9 Iia' 80
Kunitzer practically controlled the nos
,I,aI finances even to the smallest detaiis
The nresumption in this matter can I'D, NY
be I'm his favor Whatever nv ui.e ai' ~
I'm matters Of this nature. ana aItuou. Lss
wa u.
examnIa was nevertheless bad ana no,
Conducive to an absolutely homes, anu
'.or,,n,lous administration Of the hospitai
finances.
Tho committee stated that there appeared
N he a discrepancy, and that SO lar as
they were able TO discover the sum Oh 1910 ''
was due 10 the hospital from Dr. hun''zs'
The report goes on 70 say.
Tho results of this investigation impress
YOUR committee most uniaNuld -. a.
A charitable institution greatly needed atiI
ca generously sustained by a pNldht.I op ~
citizen as to give promise OF utih7 phk -
the greatest charities OF tne cl,s NC oonse
discredited by the 'incompetency aliu cohHe
uent Indifference and neglect or US pro
motors and managers. This incoinpeIe',o ~ !
annoars not only In the reckless hanae;
nient OF finances as apove snGw", as illus
-
rated i'm rhe charges OF persohai u.s. "
hosnital materials by the chez nneuIcal vi
Gcer and the ordinations ano recilil,ii.n
lions OF prominent officers OF the Insult"
ton.
The committee then makes the following
recommendations:
Yrirst-That because Of the irresula,,
methods Of Dr. kunitzer, as above
fnrtL. he be required to WITHDRAW IIoi,l q,
connection with the business ana nhahci'
administration OF the hospital. ,.... -
S.coud-Thdt full board oil ulrec.ot - nI
soc,,red composed OF men having q req
a. acrive interest in the institution an.
willing 10 work for its maintenance ah0
prosperity ,.,.s.o,,, &c adp,i,is.
ration he adopted aud enforced, III 5ccori
ance With familiar business metho's apo
principles. ..,.,o,,5a,iore i,
Fourth.-That these recomfnenudIlols,
,nnroved Nv the state board, ne coInnluW-
Saf.d r. the board OF directors or the nos
nitaI With tn. request OF Your honorapie
hoard that tEev be acted upon anu coi"-
ILL with as soon as possible.
Eifth--That a copy OF this report pe SEN
"a tho Controller OF the city OF New YORK
Ter the recommendation that pubic
,nor.vs he withheld from the hospital until
Ne Foregoing changes are effected.
The report was discussed and its &C
ceptance duly followed.