The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-02-26
CONTROVERSY
STIRS STRONG
PLEA FOR BILL
(N.A.A.C.P. ReIeasel

The storm OF controversy stirred
mp over the PENDING Wagner
Murray Dingrll Bill. broke with
unnriiigated fury al a community
meeting sponsored by several local
organizations favoring extens on OF
social security legislation. Thurs
day. Feb. IL.
The meeting was held before q
packed audience Of 900 al tho Mac
cabees Auditorium and included
many doctors. social workers. and
trade snioniSis who WED for the
floor 10 trade verbal punches on
the most controversial postwar
measure laid before congress in re-
cent months
Analysis Of Bill
After an analysis OF the bill was
given by Professor Ralph Carr
Fletcher. T. OF NJ, the Suggest be-
gan with Attorney Ernest X Good
man, substituting for George =.
Adde's. secretary treasurer JAW
Clio. charging opponents OF the
bill with "coldbloodedly and meth
odically" setting about 20 "thwart
the deep-seated hunger of the
American people for social Sc
curity"
The JAWS representative point
ed out that open opposition comes
from the American Medical Asso-
citation. its family disguised lobby
ing agency with the high-sounding
name. the National Physicians
Committee for the Extension Of
Medical Service. the Blue Cross
Public Education Service. the
American Hospital Association and
the Hospital Service Plan Com
mission" Doctors who have profit
ed financially out OF the present
system were given responsibility
for opposing the bill.
Raps Doctor
Goodman showed that most doc
tors don't do well financially in
normal times. The figures" said
the assistant general counsel for the
Clio, SHOW that in 1929. a fairly
prosperous year. for every doctor
who made $4,000 net from his
practice. two doctors made less
than $500. hardly enough 10 live
on. A recent unofficial survey
shows that even in l94l. 70 per cent
OF American doctors earned less
than $4,000"
II is because most doctors have
been unable 10 make a decent liv-
ing while millions of people re-
manned i'll or died for lack OF medi-
cal care that I am certain the po-
sition taken by the medical asso-
Citations does not represent the real
interests of the ordinary doctors
Giving medical oppositions the
"one-two punch" DR.. Ernest p.
Boas chairman OF the National
Physicians Forum. gave a scholar
" dissertation on the inadequacy
OF present medical care. Dr. Boar
pointed out that vast segments OF
The population get inadequate medi-
cal care and that the war crisis has
sccentuated this situation.
Attacking free enterprtse- which
6fxS1y ~ 1tp0cSofB 60 f0eafftfes
where they can make the most
money. Boar traced the growth OF
government control OF various
treatments for special groups and
argued that although the health OF
this country Is GOOD, there is no
argument against making 1t better.
Remove Barrier
Summing up his arguments in
favor OF the bill. Boar stated that
'passage OF the bill will remove the
financial barrier between doctor
and patient"
Keeling under q heavy barrage OF
blows from the proponents Of the
bill. DR.. Robert L. Novy. chairman
of the Board Of Trustees OF the
Wayne County Medical Society.
came out punching against passage
Of the Wagner Bill.
There is a striking unanimous
feeling among doctors who daily
see patients" said DR.. Novy. large
square shouldered doctor. that the
bill is detrimental to the present
system of free enterprise" Novy
stressed the fact that under free
competition, the health OF the Unit
ed States Is the best in the world
That United States medics are rec
ognized as leaders in hea n
throughout the world. He chal-
ienged the figures given by Boaz
of the number of physical reflections
for the armed services as partly
due to psychiatric Acauses, and not
lack of adequate medical care. Doc
tors will be handpicked under the
system proposed by the Wagner
Hill and too much authority will
repose in the Office OF the Surgeon
General OF the United States, was
the main argument OF DR.. Novy.
The debate, which was really
boxing match between the JAW
CIO. ALL and others who have
been trading punches with the
Wayne Medical Society, was ref
creed by Patrick s. Nertney, chair
man of the Detroit chapter OF the
Lawyers Guild,
Present controversy over the bill
Is stirred up over medical phases,
although the Wayne County Medi-
cal Society did damage 10 its cause
when the president. DR.. Wyman d.
Barrett. admitted TIT the society
was opposed 10 the entire bill.
DIR. Fletcher in reviewing the bill
outlined the social security phases
OF the bill.
The meeting was sponsored b.
the American Association al Social
workers. Detroit chapter; Consum-
ers League Of Michigan. Detroit
Federation OF Teachers. Detroit and
WAYNE County Clio Industrial
Council. Michigan State Go In
dustrial Council. Detroit and Wayne
County Federation Of Labor. Ma
fional Association for the Advance
ment of Colored People, National
LAWYERS Guild. Detroit Chapter,
social Service Employees Division,
limited Office and Professional
workers OF America. Union for
Democratic Action. Detroit chap
ter. United Automobile Workers OF
An.sfiea, CIO.
IT. Wonaon Llnd