Evening star., 1938-05-20
PHYSICIANS HEAR
GAL[|NGER NEEDS
Capper and Lewis Speak at
Medical and Surgical
Society Banquet.

An admission by Senator Cappe1
that Gallinger Hospital is receiv
ing proper congressional attention
and a warning by Senator Lewis thai
the medical profession will be forced
to face some degree of Government
supervision featured the forty-f1rst an
nual banquet of the washington Medl'
cal and Surgical Society last night al
the Mayflower Hotel.
Senator Capper. who introduced
Senator Lewis to more than 300 Dis
trict physicians and medical leaders
attending the dinner, prefaced his In
troductory statement with few COM
ments on local health problems.
II long have been interested in edu-
cational facilities and health prob
lens in the District" Senator Capper
said. II recently had occasion to visit
Gallinger Hospital and I'll tell you
, right now 1 don't like the looks OF
things out there.
Congress has not been fair to Gal
linger in the way of appropriations" ="
Sees Prospects for Vote.
He said he believed there were fair
prospects of District citizens being
able to vote on some of these problems
before long. - = believe in national
representation for the people of the
District and I believe Congress is
greatly interested at the present time
time"
Senator Lewis told the group that
RI tn o..
cape supervision and control of medi-
cine by a Government which recog-
nizes you and protects you with legis-
lation."
THE first consideration Of Govern
ment should be the preservation Of
man." the veteran Illinois legislator
said. You are authorized to be doc
tors upon the theory that you preserve
the life and health Of your fellow citi-
0ens."
The speaker then referred to "the
millions about YOU who are unable to
provide adequate medical treatment for
themselves and stated it is the duty of
Government to provide aid in some
manner to prevent widespread disorder
dnQ revolt among the MASSES.
Denies "Socializing" Threat.
Senator Lewis discussed legislation
proposed to furnish this aid and de-
MED that in any way would such leg
islation tend toward socialized medi-
cine.
Where did you get this socialized'
idea?" he asked. 1T is our desire to
preserve the masses of unfortunate
citizens through your knowledge"
Senator Lewis assured the physicians
that if such legislation were enacted
administration would be under the
direction of doctors. not politicians"
Under his plan doctors would treat
patients who ordinarily would be cases
for "so-called charity organizations
and be compensated by the Federal
Government for such services rem
dered. he said.
Before the principal address Of the
evening, DR.. Joseph Horgan, president
of the society, told his audience that
Senator Lewis will tell us a few
things" about the Federal attitude
toward the medical-economic problem.
"They may not be what We like" he
said, but they may be what we have
to like"
DR.. Christie Given Medal.
The Frank E. Gibson Award, named
In honor of the society's permanent
treasurer, was presented to DR.. Arthur
c. Christie in recognition of meri-
torious contributions to medical
science" DR.. Christie is president Of
the American Board on Radiology and
'for many years has been identified
with X-ray work here and abroad,
The presentation was made by DR..
Horgan, who awarded certificates de-
noting fellowships in the society to
DR.. A. c. Gray, Dr. A. P. Tibbetts and
DR.. j. c. Eckhardt. The fellowships
signify service of 10 years or more
with the group. which is the Oldest
medical society of limited membership
in the District.
Among others seated at the speak
.ers table were Dr. Thomas E. Neill,
president of the District Medical So
ciety: Robert Woods Bliss, former Am
bassador to the Argentine the Rev.
David j. McCauley, S. j., dean of the
Georgetown University Medical School,
DR.. Dean Lewis of the Department of
Surgery at Johns Hopkins University,
Baltimore; Representative Collins,
chairman of the House Subcommittee
on District Appropriations DR.. Will
liam Guerry Morgan. former president
Of the American Medical Association,
and Dr. Robert Oden, president-elect
of the society,"