Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-12

longer be relied upon, my usefulness
ceases.
I'm passing I may be permitted to
state that the ever increasing cost of
medical service has become a serious
being made to ascertain the cause and
offer remedial suggestions.
Question of Management.
personally deem it my solemn duty
to bring about reasonable standards of
cost without lowering In any way the
standards Of service. 1t must be after
all largely a question of management.
II have been unable TO discover any
other reasons to account for the differ
ence in the daily average per capita
cost of $217 at the tuberculosis Hos
pital and rate of $2.88 at the Freed
mems Hospital, against a rate of $3.50
at the Gallinger Hospital.
"A larger daily average population
usually tends to lower the daily per
capita cost as shown by the rate at
st. EliZabeth's.
1T Is possible that DIR. Bocock as al
efficient superintendent, will bring about
a much lower per diem cost, but it
cannot be done by raising the salary list
OF the medical staff. The question
might very properly be asked why we
should pay higher salary than Cleve-
land or Philadelphia for the same grade
or position.
I'm conclusion venture to express
the hope that this movement will not
result in supplanting DR.. Hickling as
chief of the phSychopathic service by a
full-time Salaried man. He has per-
formed most meritorious service at a
nominal salary for over 80 years to the
institution and also to the District of
Columbia as chairman OF the commit
tee on public health of the Board of
Trade.
THE records of the Board of Public
Welfare within the past year show that
he enjoys the absolute confidence of
DR. White and DR.. Moves of st. Eliza
beth's Hospital, and he should be per-
mitted to continue his usefulness to the
community until age or disability dis
qualities him from duty.
Teaching Appreciated.
'T have in my possession letter from
Samuel Kahn, one of DR.. Hickling's as
sistants at the hospital, who on leaving
to accept a $4,000 position in the State
of New York, dated october 3, 1929,
wrote:
Sorry that you were not at the
psyche Saturday pm. in order that
could have bid you farewell. Please let
me state now that you certainly have
taught me diagnostic psychiatry and
appreciate 1t most highly
II have the verbal testimony of a
number of my former students now en-
gagged in the practice of mental dis
eases and rejoice to know that DR..
Hickling has been instrumental in
training men for this highly important
speciality. I shall be gratified to have
this letter as chairman of the COM
mittee on medical service be made part
of the record for the budget committee.
Respectfully submitted
GEORGE M. KOBER."
George S. Wilson, director of public
welfare, said that the change in policy
contemplated by the board involved the
expenditure of about $4,000 annually
and the employment of three or four
full-time physicians for the psyche
pathic ward.
In accepting DR.. Kober's resignation
the Commissioners directed that the
following letter be sent him:
1T is with sincere regret that the
Commissioners accept your resignation
as member of the Board of Public
/ Welfare.
"Your long and arduous service, first
as member of the Board of Charities of
bIlG OiStllCb VI NOluulDld dAlu ldlGI 90
a member OF the Board of Public Wei
fare of the District of Columbia, has
been a great personal sacrifice to you
a sacrifice, however, which you willingly
made to serve the citizens of the Dis
trict of Columbia. In laying down your
| laborS as a member of the Board OF
Public Welfare the Commissioners ex-
press the hope that you will DO SO with
la full appreciation by them and by the
| public of your devoted civic spirit which
/ has caused you to give so much of your
time to the good of the people"
Service Distinguished.
DR.. Kober has a long and distin-
| guished service as a physician, san!-
/ tartan and public official. &c was prsd-
uated from the Georgetown University
Medical School in 1873, and after ~
wears OF service in the medical branch
of the Army. returned as professor oi
/ hygiene in 1890. He was made dean
| OF the Medical School in 1901, and l.
now dean emeritus
He has been president Of the Asso-