New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-04-06
Miller Demands
2 ON Hospital
Board Resign
Objects to Statements to
Press Made by Higgins
and Pilgrim Charging
Inadequate Allowances
Shows Increase i'm Funds
Says Commissioners Must
Quit or Prove That They
Should Not Be Dismissed
Fron, a Staff Corrcspondent

ALBANY, April Ex-Governor Miller
to-day demanded that the two Republi-
can members Of the State Hospital
Commission resign within forty-eight
hours or show cause why they should
not be removed
Higgins, of New York City. who was
recently reappointed by Governor Mil
Ter for six-yea term as head of the
commission, and DR.. Charles w. Pill
grim, of Poughkeepsie. admitted be-
ing responsible for statement issued
to the press four days ago, charging
the present Legislature with having
failed to provide sufficient funds to
take care of the homeless and penni-
less wards of the state
After obtaining this admission, the
Governor produced figures, which were
conceded correct by Commissioners
Higgins and Pilgrim. showing that the
Legislature dealt generously with the
states unfortunates. The figures
showed:
That the Legislature provided for an
Increase of 29i2 per cent in the medi-
cal STATS of the hospitals; provided for
an increase in attendants of more than
SO per cent; provided for . 500 new
oeds. and appropriated S2,042 900 for
new hospitals, an increase of nearly 40
per cent over last year.
Shows Increased Appropriation
After the Governor established these
facts, he showed that, allowing the
MINIMUM percentage of reduction con-
ceded by the two commissioners to OBJ
tain in the purchase of supplies, the
appropriation represented an increase
of 100000 over 1920.
Next the Governor showed that the
Legislature had begun on a program of
reducing the overcrowding in the hos
pitfalls so that there would be ample &C
commodatlon before the end of the
four years.
Then Mr.. Miller produced minute
from the proceedings of The State Hos
pltal Development Commission on
March l6 of this year, which was at
tended by Commissioner Pilgrim and
which read:
There is no point in the hospital
construction where there is any fail
ure to progress in the work But of
course it will not progress as rapidly
as it would if we had normal times. A
general discussion as to the various
institutions and activities Of the differ
ent hospitals took place and it was the
sense of the meeting that the question
Of appropriations this year had been
fairly administered by the appropriat-
ing bodies of the state"
"Do you now dissent from that state
ment?" asked Governor Miller. lean
ing forward in his chair toward Com
missioner Pilgrim.
Commissioners Back Statement
81 concur with most of it," was the
reply. "I concur with the statement
that we are progressing as fast as we
can"
DO you. concur with the statement
that the question of appropriation has
been very fairly administered ?"
AIN SO far as the special building
appropriations | think we are getting
along very we'll" answered DR.. Pilgrim
DO you think it was fair thing
to promulgate statement to the press
criticizing the work of the Legislat ure
in respect to this subject of construc-
tion %
"My criticism has been only in re
gard to the medical and ward service ,
II am referring to this Statement
issued to the press"
II am taking the responsibility 70,
that spoke up Commissioner HIGGINS
Il had to do with that. | stand behinc
Governor Miller then asked Mr.. Hir
gins: -
commissioner, after going owe,
these matters we have been DISCUSSING
here and recalling to your mind the
Iact that on the basis of present prices
'lne legislature has made an allowance
Of more than 100000 more tbor
expended last year; the fact that th.
Legislature has allowed for physician,
ct the rate of 1 to 200, as compared
with ! to 259; that it has allowed TO,
Sttendants at ratio of to 10, as com
pared with l to 1876; that it has al
lowed a construction program which
Will provide for $500 beds and catcl
up with the overcrowdng in less tha,
TOUR years, and in view of this state
ment which the Hospital Development