The Washington times., 1937-01-29

Editors Note: This is the con-'
cluding article of a series explain
ing the difficulties of financing
priUnte charitable institutions
through direct and reSiduGry leg
Gcy beQueStS.
The problems facing hospitals.
private clinics, research l1boTd-
tories, and foundations for the
pursuit of scientific investigation
are considered by business men
and bankers generally as Suttt-
ciently grave to imperH the con-
tinuGnce of such institutions NTH
out public support through q pro-
gram of Government aid.
In the case OF hospitals, the
ineUitGble trend, these men say, IS
to an ultimate system OF state
or "Socinlized' medicine.
The impotence of private char
liable institutions to rely on pri-
vate contributions solely for up
keep has been duly recognized by
heads of the institutions. Each
year hospitals everywhere demand
more and more funds as part OF
Community Chest contributions.
The local situation in this re-
spect is not unrelated to the gen.
eral dilemma. Clarence Phelps
Dodge, veteran administrative
head of the Washington Commu-
nifty Chest Fund, says the call
for additional funds to meet IL
nancial needs of private inStltu-
tions increases yearly and with
a correspondingly disproportionate
increase in the size of the fund.
Concerning the effect on hospitals
particularly, Mr.. Dodge said:
IT think it is generally recOg-
nized that the sources of private
giving are being dried out. The
problem of mending the breach
where private philanthropy for
merIy was Stalwart is one we
must soon prepare to meet"
FORECASTS STATE HAND
Assuming that it is inevitable
that the state must ultimately
administer the functions of hos
pitals, research institutions, col
leges and other educational facil-
tiles now dependent almost en-
tirely upon private endowment,
many thinkers on the subject look
to "state medicine" as the ultimate
sinecure.
A prominent Washington health
officer is of the opinion that with
a strong system of state medicine
providing for doctors paid by the
Government, clinics and hospitals
maintained by state funds, and
open to all INDECENT and sick, the
struggle for existence now being
waged by many private char1t-
able institutions will be done away
with and a stronger system In
stalled. >.
1t is pointed out that in Europe,
since 1881 when Bismarck in
troduced his program Of social
insurance, the nations Of Europe
have been quick to adopt modified
4OIk11O Vi OU0OC AAASSAN4AAS'
Many In U. S. Opposed
While many organized groups
in the United States are definitely
opposed to any such system, there
are equally as many in favor. On
January % of this year the Ameri-
can Medical Society, numbering
10000 practitioners, went on rec
ord as opposed to such a program.
The reasons pro and con for the
dispute among medical men them
selves, however, do not touch upon
the crying general need to pick up
the duties and services now
endangered by the distress of pri-
vate institutions.
Indications that the national
social security program may be ex'
panded to include a system of
state medicine were made on
Capitol Hill today with the an
nouncement by DR.. William I.
Sirovich, veteran member of the
House of Representatives from the
State of New York and member OF
46of 1a ie