New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-04-06
Patients Tell
OF Filth, Abuse
At Fox Hills
Kitchen Utensils Dirty and
Bed Linen Unchanged for
3 or 4, Weeks, Gold
Star Mothers Charge
PAY Held Up and Reduced
Nurses and Veterans De-
scribe iii Treatment
to Lcgion's Committee

The American Legion's committee in
ssstigating the care of disabled eX-
xcryice men heard further testimony
Yesterday regarding alleged conditions
and treatment OF patients at Fox Hills
Hospital, Staten island. The testimony
uas supported in several instances bv
delegation of five gold star mothers
from Union Hill, n. J. One of whom
the hearing at City Hall, declared with
ynther have had their sons killed in
action than endure the treatment they
are said to have received.
Never Meltzer, of IA West Twentieth
Street Bayonne, who served with the
18th Infantry in France and was
severely gassed, told the committee
that he literally had been CHASED out"
OF the Fox Hills institution after re-
fusing to sign a release to the effect
that he was cured. A Major Francis
he told the committee, had offered to
request q continuance of his regular
compensation of $50 month if he
would sign the release. Meltzer said
when he refused his compensation was
cut to $3.50 8 month and he was told
to leave the hospital.
Had No Carfare
Yesterday he appeared at the hear
Ing after having walked from Forty
third Street to City Hall because he
had not even carfare.
Meitzer said he had been in the hos
pital since March, 1920, having been
discharged at Camp Dix with his lungs
in such shape that he had not been able
TO work and had been compelled to
apply for admission.
After entering the Fox Hills Hospi-
tai he had complained of the conditions
there. he said, and had asked that he
be sent TO convalescent camp such as
get back his health Private doctors
had told him, he testified, that unless
he received the best of care he would
develop tuberculosis. The result of
these complaints. Meltzer said, was his
order to leave the hospital
In reply to question from Cornelius
". Wlckersham, chairman of the Lee
glons committee, as to the reason for
his being forced out of the hospital
Meltzer said the hospital authorities
were sore at him because he had
"kicked" publicly about conditions al
the hospital and that they wanted to
get rid of him as quickly as possible
10 do this, he continued. they gave him
q new medical rating which stated that
he was well and no longer in need OF
treatment.
Charge Nurses Are Ill Treated
III treatment has been the lot of con-
valescent overseas nurses at the Fox
Hills Hospital, as we'll as that of the
ex-service men, according to Mrs. Lucy
Grod, of West Hoboken, member OF
the War Mothers delegation present
Tor the hearing. She confirmed testi-
mony given by Mrs Jacob Klein. of 500
Iwenty-fourth Street, Gutenberg, N. j.,
that the nurses We're inade0uatelv
clothed, their bed linen filthy, and that
one Of them, a Mrs. Curtis, had pleaded
with her to edo something" to remedy
these conditions.
Some of these overseas nurses. Mrs
Klein testified, had not been provided
with clean linen for three and four
week, and as consequence of the War
Mothers frequent visits to both men
sad women patients and the publicity
recently given the alleged conditions at
the hospital visiting days had been re-
duced TO two Thursday and
Sunday Mrs. Klein also said the nurses
complained bitterly of the food
Mrs. James Guider, of 1947 Broad
way, Manhattan, testified that she had
seen the kitchen of Fox Hills Hospital
and that the serving plates and other
utensils we're in filthy condition. She
also had seen the wards and said much
OF the bedding also was filthy.
Mr.. Wickersham told each of those
who had testified and who had not
been receiving proper compensation to
call at the state Legion headquarters
IN the Hall of Records Building, Fri
day, when their cases would be straight
ened out. Another hearing will be held
81 City Hall next Tuesday afternoon.