New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1859-01-22
THE cHAnrrY HOSPITAL.

Tia annual report Of the Board Of Administration
Of the Charity Hospital shows that The number OF
patients admitted % that natitution during the year
1858, WAS 1887; discharged s,s2s; died, 2,2so ;
being an increase Of 2 40 patients on the number
treated the previous year This nczease is Of course
attributable 10 he epidemic which prevailed during
the summer months, and until late in the fall. The
4 following statement exhibits the receipts and ex.
pendures Of the past year and the present financial
condition Of The institution
Balancs q bad 4 ne commencement Of ...
1853. 1886 q
Received a0ce 81 SOB 70
N. d.salsssnis during the year ISIS, Z
B4l.ncs d hand Isl January, ls5s.... Sf sss 50
Total ..............s 73,O3s Al
Although the actual disbursements 10 cash during
the year 1858 only amounted to *70s46 81, yet the
Hospital, on the first of February next will be in debt
o. which s. 900 is note given for borrowed
and the balance for supplies already furnished
and e be furnished during the month Of January,
The appropriation Of $22 600 last year was based
on estimated receipts from other sources of $45 COO
which were not realized, the taxes on passengers,
balls concerts and theaters amounting altogether to
only triae over $2S 900. The actual revenues Of
the Hospital excluding the loan Of IS 900 and nclud
ing the State appropriation, have amounted to but
$5908S IT, and the Report Announces therefore, that
m appropriation Of At least $40 900 viii be required
to maintain it during 1852 The annual decrease Of
the revenues Of this institution derived from the
sources provided by law will entail heavy burden
upon the State Treasury unless measures be taken to
provide an adequate and permanent income from
other sources, and to meet in some measure this de.
fciency, the Report recommends that the tax of
$500 on theate be reinstated and the benefits pro.
ved for by the act Of 1857 be dispensed with also
that, as the State has assumed the payment Of
criminal prosecution expenses in the several parishes
the fines imposed BY the Fizt District Court Of New
Orleans and the City Recorders be paid into the
treasury Of the Hospital.
To the latter proposition we have nothing to say
ct present. but to the tmer we object decidedly.
fair and equitable tax upon theaters, as upon other
legitimate branches Of business is all that should be
demanded, and all that can Of right be exacted We
have no doubt that when the Administrators made
this recommendation they had in view the popular
idea that all luxuries should be costly and to that end
should sustain q disproportionate share of the civil
expenses; that public amusements are non.productiye
uxures and that theaers, especially for this reason
should be subject to the imoposition of an arbitrary
and exorbitant tax, the amount Of which should be
determined without regard to the calculations of the
assessor It is clearly unwise to make the enjoyment
OF popular arnusements unnecessarily expensive, and
il Is manfesty unjust to single out any branch of
business that is harmess-not to say useful and al.
most indispensable to society-and subject il to an
onerous and exclusive tax for any purpose whatever