Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-01-17
AID TO HOSPITALS

mission to recommend no appropria-
ton o. State funds for private insti-
tutions is naturally source OF
anxiety for those in charge of those
institutions, some of which are strug-
Cling under considerable deficits.
These funds constituted aid from the
State for patients of hospitals. not
classcd as paupers but not able to
bear the expense of hospital treat
mcnt. If the recommendation pre-
walls it will be a problem to render to
such people the service which a hui
mane public would desire them to
have, and which if they are to have
must come from contributions made
by that public. Nor will it be
equitable for this burden to fall OK
clusivcly on the community in which
the hospital happens to be located.
In many if not in most instances
quite a proportion of the people re-
cciving this aid come from other
communities in the State. What ar
rangement may be made under which
these communities may, if possible,
contribute to this aid?
This condition is true of the Au-
gusta General Hospital. 1t is said
that For the last four years at least
the appropriation from the State has
been used for charitable work only.
including treatment of the wards of
some of the state institutions, the
price per day being fixed by the State
and, as n matter of fact, at less than
the actual cost to the Hospital. In
the case of the Augusta General Hos
pital, therefore. the appropriation has
been partial reimbursement for
charitable work. The hospital hasn't
benefited in it's equipment or in it's
expense from the appropriation"
If the Augusta General Hospitals
situation is an illustration Of like in
stitutions over the State, the issue, it
is urged by some, is one between the
State and charity work and not be-
private corporation, acting as
disbursing agent for the state.
We understand the conditions are
similar with regard to these hospi-
that the question to be decided is
how far the state is to tax itself to
provide for the demands of charity
within it's confines, rather than leave
those demands to local mercies and
benevolencc; whether it will aban-
don a policy begun, which has ac-
cOmpliShed much good but which Is
sure to increase from year to year.
Augusta. for instance. has reason
to be proud of the excellent manage
ment and accomplishment of it's gen.
eral hospital. The institution is a
very important factor in the well-be-
ing, not only of this but of surround
ing communities. In it are six free
beds and last year there were 3147
days of free nursing. OF the patients
105 were, from outside kennebec
County. This community has shown
a generous attitude toward the insti
tuition, so generous that doubt arises
whether it would take on an added
burden should the state withhold its
aid. One of the complaints men,
toned by some Of those who advo-
cate doing away with State aid is
that some who really do not need it
take advantage of it. When, as Is
the case here. the state aid does not
fully reimburse the institution for
there is of course an incentive to
carefully examine into the needs. We
believe this has been done.
All should appreciate the fact that
retrenchment inevitably pinches
somewhere Nor is this the method
by which officials often seek popular
ity. Usually it is a thanklesS task,
yet one which, if not at least occa-
sionally done. permits extravaganza
under its own impetus to go to dam
gcrous lengths. Manifestly the State
must first give aid to the institutions
under it's management of which
there has been n marked increase In
the past few years, must do this or
discontinue them. The situation
should be considered as a whole with
q view to the greatest good to the
greatest number. but it is to be ex
pcctcd that those most seriously af-
fccted will wish to- be heard by the
legislative committees and it is not
impossible that a review Of the bud
get committees work, a balancing of
alternatives may show better way
than now appears. Viewed as a
whole the amounts for which the
Budget Committee feel warranted in
recommending the state should bear.
ought, we think, to weigh heavily
with the Legislature. But the Legis-
lature may find better ways for dis
trbution.
The report of the Budget Com