Evening star., 1949-10-06

complete dlScOntlnuance OF tIle eAelupIloll
of the churches from taxation. No one WILL
deny that in matters OF taxation grave
abuses are occurring throughout the country.
JOSEPH M. DAWSON,
Executive Director Joint Conference on
Public Relations, Baptists of the United
States
Support Of Negro Doctors Asked
For Voluntary Health Insurance Plan
To the Editor OF The Star:
DR.. Charles A. Aliens letter of October
is a thoughtful and convincing statement OF
the health insurance dilemma OF colored ooc-
tors and patients. Voluntary hospltalzatlon
insurance sold colored benef1ciaries often is
worthless This is because hospital bed short.
ages plus policies of discrimination directed
against colored doctors and patients prevent
them from converting protection into per-
formance From this undeniable failure OF
voluntary insurance DR.. Allen concludes
merit and suficiency for President Truman's
rejected compulsory health scheme
There is no point in reminding Or. Alien
that the Presidents scheme likewise fails to
solve the problem of unfair racial discrlmlna-
tions. Under IL individual States will con-
tinue to resist Federal dctation in respect
to local mores and patterns OF raclal re-
lations. Such determinations will continue
under the Presidents scheme unless Dr. Al
len believes Federal legislation Sabolishing
prejudices is more effective than community
conspiracy to indulge it.
Though neither plan provides dependable
guarantees against racial discrimination the
voluntary principle provides more logical
remedy The voluntary principle un-
derwrites a limited liability in health
risks Unlike the Presidents compulsory
scheme, it does not obligate the insurer to
indemnify every health liability from con-
ception to death. The voluntary health IN
surance principle merely places floor OF
minimal health security under the oank-
rupting costs of childbearing, catastropnlc
illness and malignant disease. Being limited
liability 1t is both practical and possible,
hence dependable.
Origin of Discrimination.
The determinations directed at colored
doctors and patients originated in their i'm
poyerished economic status. Colored patients
were least able to pay for hospital care. Ihe
State or private philanthropy subsidized the
major costs of colored hospital care. Those
who paid the bills dictated policies and ex-
ercised administrative control.
BY improving the economic position OF
colored patients in guaranteeing hospltaliza-
ton costs, the voluntary insurance principle
improves the bargaining position OF the col
ee~AAA
as an economic equal for enlarged profess
sional freedom and equality. Under the vol
untary insurance principle it is possible for
every colored patient either to pay for mini
NAL health protection in whole or IN part,
or if INDECENT, have uniform national for
mula of State-Federal subsidy. II the COL
ored doctor is denied satisfaction by exist
ing hospital administrations, the limited
liability insurance guarantees will enable MN
to build his own hospitals. This follows be-
cause hospitals are the creatures OF COM
munity need. Childbearing. catastrophe Ill
ness and malignant disease provide enoless
need for hospitals. But under limited Ia
bility insurance program hospitals are guar
anteed the fair cost of Servicing every pa
tient whether white or colored. Therefore
if colored doctors and colored patients are
denied reasonable freedom and equality, they
have the economic resource to build their
own hospitals Their maintenance Is guar
anteed.
The Presidents scheme would be less likely
To imoroye the bargaining position and eco
nomic advantage of colored doctors and
colored patients. Its compulsory revenues
would be diverted to substituting the lmpos-
sible. It's huge revenues would be dlsslpateo
on trivial illness. parasitic administrative
costs and chiseling. This would mean dis
advantage where the colored doctor needs
it most. His crying need is to say to hospitals,
either give us professional freedom and JUS
tice or we build our own. Limited liability
insurance would permit the colored doctor
to do this. The Presidents unlimited liability
scheme would defeat this purpose.
THOMAS E. MATT1NGLY, M D.
Wants Spains Help in the Fight
Axainst Communist Expansion.
To the Editor Of The STAR
I read with great disgust IN The star
William Osten's criticism OF Senator TAFT OF
Ohio for his suggestion that spain oe ao-
mitted into the community OF nations, pre-
nared to f1aht any advances of communism"
It is illogical, fatuous reasoning OF the type
of Mr.. Ostens that has gotten the U. S. A..
and the world into the terrible mess that
we now enjoy. Evidently Mr.. Osten never
heard the expression Fight fire with fire.
or "Set thief to catch a thief" Com
munism is today the greatest threat in the
the world to life, liberty and the pursuit OF
happiness and any alliance that will help to
meet that threat should be made.
Also. Mr.. Osten is evidently not aware
that France, one of the loudest howlers
against any trafficking by the U. S. A. with
Spain, has in the past few weeks made
a SIC, $1,000 trade agreement with the
Spaniards, and most Of the material that
France will give to Spain will come from the
United States.
It is fortunate for this nation that there
are still some men in public life-a few
who are more interested in building up
America than they are in building up the
backward areas of the world. and who
have the good sense and the courage to
say 50. H. B. s.
y