New-York tribune., 1922-10-22
Beexrnan Street
Hospital Head
Answers C,oIer.
Enhanced Expense During
Summer Due TO Repairs,
Says III. s. Csalln1an or
Eve Of S25O,OOO Drive
Week Campaign Monday
Charles III. Sabin, Marshall
Field and Others Serve
on Board of Directors

AGAU dAlu OkS4GKS serve
on Board of Directors
The Beekman Street Hospital, which
begins It's one-week campaign for $780,
0e0 toward . reorganization fund to-
morrow, has for the last few days been
subject to an attack by Bird s. Coler,
Commissioner of Public Welfare. The
commissioner in letter to the press
made public a record of that institu-
tion for period of four months. from
July TO October II, purporting an
pared with the number Of cases
treated
In his report, Mr. Coler said that
the hospital showed "a remarkably
high per capita cost per diem on the
basis Of salaries aicne." and that the
total operating expense for the in
stitut;on is approximately $4,000 per
month. an unusually high overhead,
especially considering that the hos
pitfalls average census Is far below its
normal capacity"
Fails to Mention Renovating Cost
Nowhere in his statement. however,
did Commissioner Coler mention the
fact that during She summer months
the Beekman Street Hospital has been
undergoing a complete renovation, in
line with its new management The
hospital was formerly known as the
Volunteer Hospital, until the present
management took over the instisu-
tion in the early summer Of this year,
according to a report from Howard
S. Cullman, president of the Beck
man Street hospital. The board Of
directors includes such names as
Marshal Field, chairman; George w.
Morgan, Charles II. Sabin, who is
chairman OF the campaign fund, and
William II. Woodin. jr.
For q long period prior to the
change in management" Mr.. CulIman
continued, 'the hospital had been
without sufficient funds to carry on
its work, and its physical condition
had deteriorated to such an extent that
3 complete and immediate renovation
was necessary if the hospital was to
continue.
"A number of gentlemen, feeling the
need Tor the continuance of the hospi-
calls work, had undertaken to save the
property from foreclosure and to re-
store it to condition so that it could
render efficient service to that part Of
the downtown community in which it
is situated.
Many Mechanics Employed
During the summer months many
cleaners, painters and mechanics we're
employed for the purpose of renovat-
ing the building, with. a consequently
large pay roll for this period At tho
same time the number of patients was
kept down to minimum both in the
interest of the comfort Of the patients,
and OF restoring the hospital as reason
sbly as possible. These en-
ployees temporarily increased the pay
roll Of the hospital, and coupled with
the hospitals activities during this
period, Of course, increased the per
capita cost.
'Many of the former employees of
the hospital who were responsible for
the condition in which the present
management found 1t were replaced by
new employees, and when notified Of
their removal were paid salaries sew
eral weeks In advance, so that for the
transition period while their salaries
were being paid the pay roll shows a
much larger number of employees than
the number reasonably required for
the services actually performed.
The above work has placed the hos
pital in sanitary condition to such
an extent as to receive the approval
OF all public agencies which have re-
Gently examined it. 1t now has an
efficient personnel and it's per capita
cost Of maintenance, which is at Lres-
ent practically half what il was in
July, and much lower than that Of
August or September, compares very
favorably with that Of the other hos
pitfalls of the city.
New Superintendent Attacked
"The new superintendent Of the hos:
pital, Miss Marion Whidden, has met
with much opposition in the. reorgani-
cation work, and has been the subject
OF unfair criticism and slander ema-
mating from discharged employees
Commissioner Coler has heard the
statements of those bent on destruc.
tica OF useful agency. He fixed Mon.
DAY, October %, to hear the present
management upon the progress of tht
reorganization work. In advance oi
(. Snis Ga nearing however, Commissions,
ooier has evidently been prevailed
upon to announce conclusions wh;nI
ne will be shown on Monday to be a,
wide variance with the facts.
Beekman Street Hospital is now &C.
cupled to rs per cent of its capacity
~ never, under the present manage
mhent, h, has turned away any patient.
because they could not pay for treat
hent, and it's entire receipts are de-
sotee 10 better service. During Augus
ana September it's ambulances have an
sWersd an average of over eight call,
per day. sasA'
directors Have Advanced Funds
The directors Of the hospital in sd
uisloh TO making substantial contribu
LIONS, nave advanced large sums to tn,
hospital, believing that the nubli
Would SUPPORT them in their efforts 4,
preserve this institution for the usefn
service which it has performed in o,,
dcwntown community"
j included in the group which will cal
upon commissioner Coler to-norroy
Will be Miss Wbidden, the new suner
intendent; Mr.. Sabin. Mr.. Mnrpan Al,
Cuilman, james r. Adams. auditor - =
the hospital, who has been prenarin,
an account OF the institutions al
penditures. and Howard C. WICK am
Edwin G. BENEDICT, hospital directors
1t is understood that the COMMITTEES |;
ready to defend the Beekman stree
Hospital against Mr.. Coler,s charre,
which, 1t is felt, have been misrenra
sentations OF facts.
The Beekman Street Hospital ;s Il
cased on Beekman Street two block
from the East River. 1t handles case
in the Wall Street, City Hall Par
and Canal Street districts incfrd,r