Evening journal., 1918-09-20
HOSPITAL WOULD
CANCEL THIS BILL
Has No Desire to Charge
Mrs. Mary Batson if
She Can't Pay d.
SUPERINTENDENT
EXPLAINS CASE

B. B. Lyons, superintendent OF Della
ware Hospital, today presented the
hospitals defense to the situation grow
ing out Of Mrs. Mary Batson's request
that the city pay si5 bill due the hos
pital for treatment OF her adopted sob.
Raymond johnson, who was injured by
one OF the police department patrol
wagons recently Mr.. Lyons says that
before the Johnson boy left the hOspi-
tai. Mrs. Batson expressed her willing
ness TO pay the hospital bill OF $50
Had she been unable TO pay the BILL
Mr.. Lyons says the hospital would have
cancelled the obligation, and even now
stands ready TO refund 10 her the Sii
she paid on account II she is unable
10 meet the obligation
Mr. Lyons said
The case Of Mrs. Mary Batson. a
Negress, Of No. ala Orange street, which
appeared before the Board OF Police
Commissioners at their meeting. sep
tember Il. affords an excellent oppor-
tunity for me to make clear TO the pub
lie several points regarding the opera
ton Of the Delaware Hospital, which
are not generally understood.
"a bill Of $50 for four weeks and two
DAYS treatment and board for the care
OF Mrs. Batson's adopted son. Raymond
Johnson, was presented. OF this Sic
has not been paid and Mrs. Batson has
asked the Board OF Police Commission
ers TO meet the bill out Of the city treas
ury.
at was said in The Journal that some
Of the officials thought that as the city
appropriated 5000 annually TO the hos
pifal II should care for such accident
cases. As a matter Of fact charitable
givers have paid for the largest part Of
the hospital care and attention render
ed 10 the city free cases.
In the last report OF the Delaware
Hospital its president. Thomas +.
Bsyard, said: In relation TO the amount
received from the City Council. IL IS
gratifying 10 note for the amount paid
US. $1,000 we furnished free TO the citi- !
zens Of Wilmington alone 1855 days
service. While the furnishing OF this I
number Of days service was to US a
pleasure and privilege. IL was very I
costly. amounting 10 something over
$4,000. and we justly feel that we can /
and will appear before the Finance I
Committee Of the City Council In the /
near tutuie dHAu- lutii tu iANit''N
their appropriation for the services we
render. The returns made by all the
hospitals in the city for similar SER
vices show that while we receive Two
nfths Of the entire appropriation for
hospital service paid by the city for
free DAYS service. over 56 per cent.
thereof is furnished by our hospital,
so that our proposed request FOR an
Increased appropriation will be mani
festly based upon sound facts.
Nevertheless. the Delaware Hospital
still stands ready TO treat free Of charge
all patients requiring charity. In the
present instance OF Mrs. Batson, inquiry
was made OF Mrs. Bstson as to her
ability TO meet the regular hospital
charges which barely covers the cost
N the service rendered. Mrs. Batson
greed to pay the regular charges.
I'VE >endeavor particularly to avoid
charging patients who are unable 70
nav for hospital treatment, but we eN-
pect in fairness TO other patients and
'o those who donate money for the sup
port Of the hospital that all who can
,iford the cost Of their treatment VIII
pay for IL.
sThe mistake in this case was made