Evening star., 1938-08-04
MEDICAL SOCIETY
IS AGAIN TARGET
Quo Warranto' Proceeding
Is Contemplated by
Service League.

Contending that the District Medi-
cal Society is regulating medicine
here, in violation Of the charter
granted it by Congress in 1924, solely
to promote and disseminate medical
and surgical knowledge. the Washing
ton League for Cooperative Medical
Service plans TO ask Attorney General
Cummings Immediately to launch quo
warranto" proceedings in District
Court against the society.
The leagues secretary-treasurer. A.
c. Edwards, chief of the division of
statistics Of the Civil Service Com
mission, said after conference late
yesterday at the United States attor-
ney's office that he will write without
delay to Mr.. Cummings. Under the
law, quo warranto proceedings are
asked Of the District attorney and
also Of the Attorney General
Under such proceedings the society
would be required to prove its right
to function.
Grand Jury Probe Ends.
The Justice Department already Is
busy on plans to institute q Federal
grand jury investigation into alleged
monopoly practices of the District
Medical Society and the American
Medical Association In opposing Group
Health Association.
A third medical problem rests with
the Justice Department. which must
decide whether to appeal from the re-
cent decision of Justice Jennings
Bailey in District Court. upholding
legality Of Group Health Association.
center of the medical controversy
United States Attorney David A. Pine
and Supt. of Insurance ]. Balch Moor
were defendants in the case brought
by G. H. A. itself. An appeal has been
noted formally, but decision remains
to to be made as to whether to go
ahead with it.
At the District Courthouse yester-
day Assistant United States Attorneys
Harry L. Underwood and John j. Will
son heard spokesmen for the Co.
operative League outline their position
and urge the quo warranto proceedings.
The prosecutors promised that they
would consider the entire problem fur
ther. Mr.. Underwood indicated that
he will confer shortly with the Justice
Department.
At the conference with Mr.. Wilson
and Mr.. Underwood were: John M.
Carmody, administrator of the Rural
Electrification Administration, who said
100 or more Of his employees are mem
bers of the Group Health Association:
Jacob Baker, president Of the United
Federal Workers Of America, chair
man OF President Roosevelt's commits
sion that went to Europe q short time
ago to study co-operatives. who said
about 1000 members Of his organiza-
ton are G. H. A. members; Henry +.
Hunt, director of marketing law survey
Of the Works Progress Administration,
the leagues general counsel; Miss Mae
A. Schnurr, assistant to the commits
sioner of the Bureau of Reclamation Of
the Interior Department.; F. O. Bill
lings. executive secretary, and Mr.. Ed
wards.
Had Co-operated With G. H. A.
The secretary-treasureri informed the
gathering that the league has CO.
operated with g. H. A. wherever pos
sible, although he made it clear that
it had not been asked to do this. He
indicated that other cooperative medi-
cal groups, similar to 9. H. A.. will be
launched. after the legal status has
been determined definitely. He as
cused the District Medical Society Of
hampering the staining Of such medi-
cal co-operatives and declared that
over 100 cases needing surgical at
tention are being jeopardized because
of inability to have them admitted
properly to hospitals In the District.
The league spokesmen told the
Government prosecutors that the Dis
trict Medical Society is regulating
medicine here in violation OF its
charter. Mr.. Edwards indicated that
the league is considering filing q suit
for An injunction against the society
In District Court.
Many doctors have told him pri-
vately. he said. that they would
welcome joining the cooperative
medical movement, with . fixed an
nual income, sick and annual leave
privileges and pension, rather than
face the headaches Of private prac-
tice, with the uncertainty Of collect
ing bills. Mr.. Edwards said the league
hopes to restrict the society from in
timidating such doctors.
Meantime, the Medical Economics
Committee and officers Of the Medical
Society went forward with considera-
ton Of plans for limited indemnity
type Of health insurance" but no
decision On any details had been
reached. Il vas sxpiAinsd.