The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1919-09-27
S2O,OGO,O0O IS
DONATED BY ]. D.
ROCKEFELLER
Gift Is for Assisting Medical
Schools
DONATION is SURPRISE
General Education Board Must Spend
Principal and Interest Within
Fifty Years

London, Sept 27.-So far as could
be learned at 10 {. IN. members OF the
national union of railway men had
walked out in a body and stoppage OF
service was complete. Reports TO
the unions executive committee from
distant centers show that local
branches supporting the committees
action.
In big freight yards motorcars, driy
en- by soldiers. were carrying off per
ishable articles which arrived on late
trains. London subways were tied
up. The government is said to be
prepared to operate railroads with
armed forces if, necessary
New York. Sept 27-John d. Rock
feller has given to the General Educa-
tion Board. founded by him in 1902,
500, 100000, to be used for the improV
ment of medical education in the
United States. The brief announce
ment was made of the gift yesterday:
THE General Education Board an
nounces the gift from John d. Rookie
feller of twenty millions of dollars,
the income to be currently used and
the entire principal to be distributed
within fifty years for the improve
ment of Medical education in the
United States"
The working capital previous to
this secretion amounted TO between
$S5, 100000 and $40,O00,O00. Since the
present. sum is to be devoted eXclus-
lively to medical education, whereas
the boards previous resources. under
the terms OF the charter granted ii by
Congress, have been devoted to pro
noting education within the United
States, without distinction of race,
creed, or SEX" the activities of the or
ganization with respect to medical
teaching will be vastly increased.
Abraham FleXner, Secretary OF the
hoard of which Wallace Buttrick is
President, said last night that the EN-
tire sum. principal and interest, would
be devoted TO the upbuilding of med
ical schools, 'since such was the de-
sire of the donor. In other words,
none of the money will go to educa-
tional propaganda, but all of it will
be expended directly and practically.
Mr.. Flexner said that the great ad-
dition to the boards resources had
been practically a surprise, those al
the head of the organization having
been apprised of Mr.. Rockefeller's in
tention only few days ago. For that
reason, he explained there has not
been time to elaborate a detailed plan
for the expenditure of the money.
The board does not meet again until
December at which time a detailed
program with respect to medical edu
cation will be mapped out,
Meantime. Mr. FleXner was able to
say in a general way that just as the
Board in the past out of its general
funds has made considerable do
nations to the treasures of medical
schools of such universities as Yale,
Johns Hopkins, Chicago and Washing
ton in st. Louis, it will. as soon as
its plans are worked out, spend lUrgel
sums for the improvement of the hos
pital facilities. the teaching staffs and
the laboratory facilities of such,I
schools as are decided to be worthy ofl
help. He pointed out that under the
terms of the gift while the entire prin
cipal must be distributed within fifty
years, there is nothing to prevent the
concurrent distribution of both prin
cipal and interest and this, he said,
undoubtedly would be done.
so far as | know" the Secretary
said "this IL the first gift of its kind
there ever has been. There have been
large donations by wealthy men for
the enrichment Of designated medical
schools from time to time, but | do
not recall any previous instance of a
big sum like this being set aside for
the improvement of medical schools
in general so that it can be devoted
to worthy schools which need it and
so that in such schools such financial
needs as that of lettering the salaries
of the teaching staff, increasing clini
cal resources and the like, may be
met
Asked what preliminary work would
be undertaken before the distribution
of the $2O,OOO,OOO was started Mr.
Flexner said there would be a gen
eral survey of the schools of the
country which would determine not
only which ones could be improved to
the general good of the country but
also what were the specific needs in
each instance. In advance of the
board having formulated it's plans
he was unable to say how long this
would take He did say, however
that the needs of all parts of the
country would be taken into consid-
Grafton in apportioning such sums as
it is decided to disburse from the
fund.