The Washington times., 1912-02-01
MANY IN CAMPAIGN
TO ENLIST AID FOR
COLUMBIA HOSPITAL
Hundreds Sign Petition to
Be Presented to Senate
and President.

Men as we'll as women are Joining In
the campaign to save Columbia Hos
Iftal by getting the Senate to amend
the Hocse appropriation bill to con-
tirue the financial cooperation between
the hospital and the District govern.
mcnt The hospitals board of trustees
and stan includes many of the most
prominent residents of Washington,
medical and otherwise VINO are unit
ing In the appeal that the only hos
pitaI in the District exclusively for
women shall not be destroyed.
Meantime the board of women visitors
continued today it's solicitation for sig
nature to the petition to be presented
the Senate District Committee tomor-
row and later to President Taft Hun
dreds of women signed the petition this
morning and afternoon ut the several
department stores where the blanks
The board Of trustees of the hospital
is beaded by Richard Randolph Nc
Mahon, president; Surgeon General p.
Al. Rixey, Of the navy, is one vice presi-
dent, ana f. Southard Parker is an
D. D., bishop Of Washington, is secre-
tnry of the board, and John D. Nc
Chesney is treasurer. Other members
tho Rev. Abram Simon, Nathan,si MI.
son, John A Johnston, Martin d. Fos-
ter, Mai Gen. g "a o'Reilly, brig.
Gen. Gen. John NJ; Wilson, Myron. M. Par
,iaIi'nger, Gen w. II. F,rw ard. Milton
T.. Allies, and George -. S.urgts.
Many Ask to Help.
I'r. ]. o. Skinner, upcrintenlent Of
the HOSPITAL, is in receipt by every mail
Of letters from women who have .een
mi nf :. hi hx.,
how they can help to keep the hospita al
from destruction.
Cr. S. s. Goldwater, superintendent OF
Mt. Sinai Hospital, of New York, and
probably the foremost American au-
tEor1ty on hospital organization and
conduct, has been enlisted by Columbia
Hf1sptat f authorities nit in the campaign
Goldwater published a widely quoted
paper three years ago on CO operation
between municipalities and voluntary
HOSPITALS, and in a letter just received
to change his previous views, but rather
that they have been REINFORCED by
data obtained since he wrote and read
his paper.
Cooperation with voluntary hospitals
ts less costly than other systems, de-
ciares DR.. GoIdwater. His letter on this
theme seys:
From the business standpoint, New
York city tends to gain more and more
through the system in question, as the
prevailing standards in municipal hos
pitfalls are raised and as the par capita
cost of maintenance In such institutions
increases. Certainly the cost Of MAIN
tenance of ward patients, whether in
voluntary or municipal institutions has
Increased much more rapidly than the
Per capita per diem allowance made to
voluntary hospitals by the municipal ap-
This statement is declared to bear
directly on the Washington situation,
end 1t is asserted that the Government
Viii fnd 1t much more expensive to con
duct a large municipal hospital than to
gay voluntary or private hospitals a
Per diem per capita for charity cases
taken by them.
Writes Sharp Letter.
Fichard r. Mcmahon. president of the
bonrd Of trustees of the Columbia Hos
pital. has written a sharp answer 10
Seer etary Wilson. Of the Board of
Charities in the form of a letter to
Congressman Martin D. Foster. director
on the pnrt Of the House Of Representa-
tives, of Columbia Hospital. Mr.. Nc.
Mahon asserts that some Of Mr.. VIII
sons statements at a committee hearing
al e rot based upon Facts
"As you are aware" says the letter
the Board of Charities did not include
IN their estimate any appropriation
whatever for Columbia Hospital. al
care and treatment Of INDECENT patients
In the following hospitals:
"Freedmen's Hospital, '$3S, 900. an in
for 1912.
"Children's Hospital. $4,000. an in
crease of 900
$500
Georgetown University Hospital, 81. 900
providence Hospital, $4,000.
GARFIELD Memorial Hospital. $4,000
If, as the Board of Charities con-
tended in its argument before the sub
committee of the Appropriations Com
not be made to hospitals which are
distinctly private hospitals. 1t is not
understood how the board can sustain
its action in recommending appropria.
lions for the above-named while, ex.
Guiding the hospital that is not a pri.
vate hospital, but distinctly Govern
"One ground for the exclusion of Co.
lumbia," Mr.. Mcmahon goes on, 81!
that 1t takes private pay patients. Their
why did the Board of Charities include
the aforementioned hospitals, all Of
which except the Freedmen's Hospita
take pay patients? And as to that. the
board has recommended that 1t be per-
mitted to take pay patients.
"The appropriations for Columbis
Hospital made by Congress for forty
fve years have been in strict accorC
with the object for which it was char
tered in 1866, namely: That it should b.
used for no other purpose except a.
Q hospital and dispensary for the treat
nent of diseases peculiar to women, 6
lying-in asylum, and that those unable
to pay therefore should be furnished
with board, lodging, medicine, and med
ical attendance gratuitously."