Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-05-09
The Hospital Lots-ProposaI 70 Repur-
rhnan-Tha Rernnnnn Rlll.

chase-The Ferguson BIZ.
"The Council of said city are hereby au
thorized 10 repurchasc any ground Heretofore
sold and formerly belonging to the site o
said Hospital, and to pay for the same out o
the said sum Of $225, 000"
The foregoing, is section two Of the "Fer
guson Bill" and applies to "all cities of th,
6rst-class, having a population exceeding
eighty-five thousand inhabitants" These
cities, all Of them-in contemplation of the
constitution-have had hospital grounds
which have been wrongfully or imprudently
sold off by their respective governments
The same are now, thanks to the Ferguson
Bill, authorized to tax the people to buy them
back again. In our City Council the initia-
tory steps for the repurchase were taken at
its last session.
We may go back in memory to the time
when this property was sold. It was day
Of then unexampled corruption. The pro-
perty did not belong to the city to sell. The
city was trustee to hold it for specific
purpose; and the sale was so palpably a
breach of trust that no valid title could be
acquired under it. This the purchasers knew
at the time; but probably did not then un-
derstand the full mercantile force of SC
serious defect. They doubtless understand
it better now; and it is perhaps to these con-
siderations that we owe this part Of the Fer.
guson Bill.
1t is not probable that the title of the Hos
pital was in any degree affected by the sale
to which we allude. Its Trustees or Officers
would have the right, without legislation, at
any time to eject the present holders, and
leave them to their remedy against the city
This, Mr.. Ferguson, a lawyer, probably un-
derstood; and the fact throws a shade of sus-
picion over the origin and motives of the
hospitable branch of his law. A key to this
part of the proceeding might, possibly, be
found under an inquiry as to who are the
holders of the Hospital Lots, and who are
their legal advisers.
1t is optional with the council, as we un-
| derstand it, to levy the tax of two hundred
and twenty-five thousand dollars provided
for in the Ferguson Bill, for the redemption
of this property or not. 1t is probable that
the tax will be levied and the money paid.
The impulse to this species of legislation is
usually given by interested parties. Al
though there was not one honorable man in
the city knowing the circumstances of the
case who did not feel inimical to the sale of
the hospital lots-although the movement
was protested against on the part of the hos
pital, and opposed by active friends of the
institution, by every means in their power
yet the force of spectators, men who had
determined to make money out of that par
ticular piece of property, was too great to be
resisted. The virtue of the guardians of the
public interest suffered itself to be overcome,
and an act that would have been most un-
wise, had it not been illegal, was accom-
plished.
1t is to be hoped that time has brought its
retributions. How many men are in the
Council now who were there aiding that
series of most iniquitous proceedings of which
the sale Of the Hospital lots was a part, we
do not remember. But the history of that
day, its filthy, open corruption is what
should not be recalled by those who had
share in it, without feelings of shame and re-
pentance