The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1923-01-19
A PLAN FOR IMMEDIATE
DECENTRALIZATION
Giving A solution To Meet The Objection
OF An Expensive Venture

being made daily by supporters and
| objeetols of the Phillips Memorial
| Hospital, Nature continues undeviat-
ingly in her course of exacting penal
| ties by disease and accidents. In
other words, PEOPLE IN LAMBERT
WILLIE AND VICINITY ARE SUI
FERlNG EVERY DAY AND NEED
HOSPITAL TREATMENT.
Some of them cannot afford hospital
treatment. They are the people Ed
gar Phillips had in mind when he
wilied his money for disqualification
But they have had no relief and will
not have any, unless something can
be done whereby immediate realiza-
ton can be made on the use Of the
Phillip Memorial Hospital Fund.
To this end reader of this paper
who was born and reared in Lambert
vile, proposes plan whereby the
principal of the Phillips Fund will
not be touched, and at the same time
hospital treatment can be given those
who deserve it and need it. The
man who proposes this plan has asked
that his name be left out, not because
he hasn't the courage of his convic-
tons, but because he believes that
the absense of personalities will give
more weight to the plan. Suffice it
TO say that his standing in the COM
| munity is sufficient to have weight,
and that the plan not only has his
| endorsement, but has been discussed
by many others even before the recent
discussion has been under way.
There is in Lambertvile what is
known as the amos Smith Fuel
Fund" This is bequest left by MIR.
Smith at his death many years ago
to be invested, and the interest from
it used TO purchase fuel for the needy
poor. 1t is understood that Miss
Mary Gonover is the present secretary
| of this fund, which is administered
| by her and several others whose
| to press.
II works like this: If the charity
committee of church, for instance,
cannot provide coal for such individu-
ais as have come into their care, they
request the amos Smith Fuel Fund"
to supply the needed coal. If the
ease is found worthy. the secretary
issues an order TO the coal dealer in
that district, and the coal is delivered
and paid for from the earnings Of
that fund. Sometimes this coal is
delivered and the recipients never
know where it comes from.
Or perhaps a family is destitute,
and appeals direct to the secretary
of the fund Upon investigation, If
the family is found to be really in
need, the coal is supplied. This
fund supplies annually about $4,000
worth of coal to Lambertville's poor,
The Phillips Memorial Hospital
Fund can supply hospital aid TO the
| ne dy poor Just the same way The
fund is now earning, according to the
statement Of the Trustees, between
| five and six thousand dollars yearly.
| These earnings could be used to give
relief TO those who need hospital care
| and treatment without cutting into the
| principal at all.
Administration Of the fund in this
way would be simple. There are now
| three doctors on the Board of Trust
ees--Doctors Romine, Salmon and
| Williams. DR.. Romine is Of course
incapaeitated. The other doctors of
the city could be appointed as a CO.
operating committee. All doctors
would then report TO the secretary
of the fund such cases AS were in need
of hospital care and treatment. The
Recommendation Of the doctor on the
case could be taken as authoritative
as TO the need in the case or else
an investigation could be made. If
the case be found worthy then the
| patient may be sent TO "A Trenton or
Philadelphia hospital where the pro-
per treatment or operation could be
given.
A cooperating committee could be
| appointed from the churches of the
city, made up preferably by woman
from each church who is experienced
in charity work. Needy cases could
be reported to the secretary of the
Phillips Fund and aid could be given
in the judgement of the Trustees
THIS WILL PROVIDE IMMEDIATE
AID FOR NEEDY HOSPITAL CAS-
Els, And then if conditions became
more encouraging in the future, then
the principal of the Phillips Fund
would still be intact.
The operation of this plan can be
along the same lines as the Amos
Smith Fuel Fund" and involves very
little expense.
It has been said that the very rich
and the very poor Of a big city get
the best medical and surgical atten-
ton. The very rich are able TO pay
for the best, and the very poor are
admitted to the charity wards of the
big hospitals where they are often
treated by the very same doctors as
treat the rich
But in a small town like Lambert
vile. only the very rich are able to get
the treatment that is necessary. Many
people go to early graves because
they cannot afford needed operations
| that would invilve great expense at
distant hospitals. And they are Oft
en- valuable citizens.
A recent case has been cted where
a young mother of the slums OF a