Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-09


director of charities" DR.. Morgan i'm
mediately made the point that there was
no bill now before Congress proposing
such a change in the law; that the bill
for such a change introduced in the last
Congress had not been reintrOduced.
Notes Change in Sentiment.
"The sentiment of the District has
changed in regard to the board of chari-
ties in the last few months" said DR..
Morgan. He referred to the fact that the
medical association Of the District was
almost unanimously opposed to the
recommendations Of the board; that the
Chamber of Commerce and other Or
CARNATIONS had also gone on record as
opposing the r,lan Of the board OF chart
ties, and added that this was no time for
seal of approval to the board Of charities
without first passing upon all the Ques-
tons involved
Mr.. Clephane, defending his resolution,
said his committee failed to see the
advantage in doing away with board of
representative citizens, who give their
services free of charge and do splendid
work, in order to substitute a director
Of charities at a salary Of 5000 year.
He said the views Of the present board
Of charities on the subject of govern
ment aid to hospitals had nothing to do
with the question Of doing away with
the board as such. AS a matter of fact,
he said, the present board, in its annual
report, had urged that the board be
legislated out Of existence and a director
OF charities substituted.
But not until after they have put the
hospitals out Of business" interjected
DR.. Morgan.
Issue Clearly Defined.
Mr.. Parker said the issue between the
board OF charities and every private hos
pital in the city had been clearly de-
fined. and that it would not be wise for
the Board Of Trade to support the Gle
phane resolution at this time and thus, in
a way. put itself on record as being op-
posed to the private hospitals.
He said that Mr.. Clephane's argument
that 1t would be more economical to keep
the present board than to pay a salary
of 5000 to a director of charities had
little weight when 1t was remembered
that the present board employed an ex-
ecutive officer, George Wilson, at a sal
airy OF $4,OOO year, and that efforts had
been made by the board to have this
raised to. 5000
This executive officer is the whole
thing. practically, in the boards work"
said Mr.. Parker.
Mr.. Parker asked the board to make a
formal investigation Of the question at
the board OF charities, the latter having
recommended for years that the hospital
be no longer given a government appro-
priation for caring for the poor. This re-
quest was granted. John Joy Edison
urged the members Of the Board of Trade
not to decide as between the board OF
charities and the Columbia Hospital until
they had had the fullest kind Of invests
cation. He discussed the growth of pri-
vate charities IN the city. saying that
fo6 h0r
and women early in the city's history:
that after these men and women had
died or moved away Congress had been
appealed to for aid for these charities
ana that gradually chaotic condition
pointment of the board of charities.
In Interest of Economy.
That board. he said, had given the
best consideration possible to the uues-
tons involved and had done much to
bring about an economical adjustment
of the government charity work, and
was continuing to advocate a still more
just and economical readjustment. The
board. he continued, had had the sup
port OF the District Commissioners al
ways. He asked the members Of the
Board OF Trade to go carefully over
the annual reports Of the board of
cnarlt1eS Defore passing on the Ques-
ton.
A graceful invitation from President
Thomas G. Noyes to both the former
presidents OF the Board Of Trade to
take seats upon the platform, near the
chair. and settle their differences ended
the incident.
The board went on record as favoring
legislation for public utilities COM
mission for the District half Of the ex-
penses Of the commission to be paid
by the District and half by the federal
government. The resolution adopted
WAS offered by r. C. Graham, chairman
Of the committee on public transporta-
ton. and amended by Col. George Trues-
dell.
The committee report submitted by Mr..
Graham had seemed to intorse the Old
field bill. and 1t was the sense of the meet
ing that no particular bill should be ap-
proved. but that the principle involved
should be favored. Col Truesdells amend
ment for this purpose was accepted by
Mr. Graham.