New-York tribune., 1911-01-09
DRUMMOND I'd ANEWAY
Saws He Hasn't Mixed in City
Hospitals Medical Matters.
DOCTOR CALLED DlSTURBER
Commissioner Says He Received
a Number of Complaints Of
This Nature.

Michael J. Drummond. Commissioners Of
Public Charities. has written letter to Dr.
Theodore c. Janeway. secretary OF 'he
Russell sage Institute of Pathology IN
which he answers some OF the physicians
statements recently made IN the ne"spa-
pers, that the Department Of Public Charl-
ties was subjected TO politics.
1T would have been more seemly ana
dlenifed," writes Commissioner Drummond'
IF the correspondence regarding the re'a-
tion Of the Sage Institute TO the CITY HOS
pital had been confined TO the customary
channels of official communication. mas
much. however. as you saw fit to lnaugu-
rate a newspaper controversy. IT may be as
we'll that ! should bring this matter 10
conclusion in the same method
Commissioner Drummond, after ackno"l-
edging the receipt of Dr. Janeway's letter
Of January Announcing that a speciai
meeting of the Russell Sage Institutes
board Of directors had been called replies
TO the latter's demand that the commits
sioner define little more specifically what
is meant by the words supervision OF the
medical board"
The commissioner announces that he does
the medical board" on the ground that he
has never interfered with medical matters
in the City Hospital He also says the
committee of three that he designated 10
confer with Or. Janeway upon the matter
consists Of physicians OF the highest stand
ing. In addition, they are thoroughly IA
miliar with the pathological work required
by a city hospital, according TO Commls-
sioner Drummond.
These three physicians will explain TO DR.
Janeway Just what supervision the russell
Sage Institute requires in the spending OF
the city's money. and Commissioners Drum
mond further says that if the board OF d.
rectors of the Sage Institute is willing to
meet his committee in a friendly spirit he
is sure that matters will be satisfactorily
arranged.
"You have seen fit." says Commissioner
Drummon6. ito create the impression that
l am eager TO drive the Sage Institute
from the City Hospital. This is absolutely
untrue 1 would prefer that the institute
remain, but 1 must insist that in so far as
It works for the City Hospital and receives
money from the city it be subjected 20
the regulation of the medical board which
in medical matters Is the city's official rep
resentative."
Answering DR.. Janeway's statement that
Commissioner Drummond had refused TO
give him the names of the physicians who
made the charges that the institutes work
was not being properly done, the latter
says he has received a number Of COM
plants against DR.. Janeway. Those COM
plants charged that DR.. Janeway was a
disturbing element in the medical board.
Mr. Drummond says he always refused to
take official cognizance of the complaints,
believing that DR.. Janeway's associates
were better qualified 10 deal with such
matters. The Commissioner says he does
not believe any good could be accomplished
by disclosing the names of the physicians
sought by DR.. Janeway.
According TO the Commissioner of Public
Charities, the committee that investigated
the relation of the Sage Institute 20 the
City Hospital had before them many dis
F, tnguished physicians who confirmed the
| fact that there was friction between the
| two institutions. DR.. Janeways attitude
toward the Department Of Public Charities
is sufficient evidence that this alleged fric-
tion exists, thinks Commissioner Drum
mond
The Commissioner saws that, as far as he
is concerned, the matter is now closed. Drs
Brooks, Dougherty and Stearns. who have
been chosen TO confer with the board OF
directors of the Russell Sage Institute, are
characterized by Commissioner Drummond
as able pathologists and fair-minded
men, and he states that he will not inter-
fere In anything that is decided upon. The
Commissioner thinks DR.. Janeway will
hardly charge these physicians with de-
sire 10 introduce politics into medical mat.
ters.
In closing his letter Commissioner Drum
mond says:
Il regret most Of all that your board Of
trustees has seen ft 70 drag Mrs. Sage's
name into the matter. Hers was a noble
deed In donating this money for scientific
research and no one admires it more than
do. As long as your institute will realize
that the needs OF the City Hospital take
precedence over all your work, nothing
would gTatify ne more than to place at
your disposal all our facilities TO help you
IN your outside scientific work"