The national Republican., 1862-11-01
Final Assti.s ~ - sUsiss sslaisrs' Ne.
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Final MsstinS se eosUnssn selaisTs' He.
lief Asupsassaea.
According to the sAiI Of the Secretary, this
association met last uitht 1t Temperance Hall,
Major Porter 10 the chiif.
Mr.. Fernaid, Of Massachusetts,, stated that
| the committee on hospitals abuses, having
learned that the petition which had given OF.
feDcs to the chaplain OF Eokington hospital, has
asked TO % disohayssd from . further oonsid.
srntion Of that matter. Granted.
| Mr.. Fernald also reported that In accordance
| with the resolution passed ut the Last meeting,
the various reliof associations had appointed
/ delegates to n general committee Of al the as
| sociations, which committee have met and or.
ganized.
| 1t having been announced that member Of
that committee, now present, had n very i'm.
at the request Of the chair and others,
Mr.. Tilley. Of Rhode Island, read the report
which had been prepared to be presented 10
| the general committee.
The report stated that the csmmitieo had an
interview with tho Surgeon General On the 2ath
form Of rinterrogstories, which were answered
by the Surgeon General.
l. As TO the dfaoul,iss. .in obtaining clothing
for the soldiers in the hospitals.
Answer. The quarterm&ster's department 10
responsible for the difficulties in regard to
clothing. In regard to washing, he stated that
no provision had been made BY the Govern.
meDt for washing but he hoped that an arrange
ment would soon be made.
2. Difficulties in regard 10 medical stores.
Answer. The medical purvsyor has been re-.
moved.
3. Unprotected condition of tho patients in
tent hospitals, during this inoismsnt weather.
Answer. Tho>nien are moFA. oeRnfbrtable In
tents than In the barracks nov being built.
These barracks were denoussed M Disgrace
to the quartermaster's department. which had
control of tho work.
1. Dificalty In obtaining the discharge Of sol.
diers permanently incapacitated for service.
. Answer. Aftor tho certificate Ia made out by
the surgeon, the medical department has no
control In the matter.
8. Refusal Of surgeons to admit patients to
the hospitals without certificates from the med.
ioal director. and turning them In o the Streets
Answer. The surgeons have discretionary
power. and should examine the applicants and
receive them, If really III.
9. Difficulty in procuring surgical and medi.
cal attendance outside Of the hospitals.
Answer. Tho stuff Of Drs. Clymer and Barnes
Il insufficient for that purpose, and the surgeon
general has no power TO enlarget.
7. Unwilliogness Of the surgeons TO afford
agents of sold ers' relief associations facilities
Answer. Surgeons ought to afford every
ia Vility to suoh agents. and, In his opinion, the
State associations, whom properly conducted,
were productive Of much good.
luz OOututttco etOdt bduoiuCuOu IN
to the result Of the interview, their cordial re
ception BY the surgeon general, and the In.
terest manifested by him in all that appsrtains
to the interests of our suffering men.
Mr.. Forbes, Of Maine. moved that the papers
of this association be transferred to the gen.
ersl committee Of the soldiers relief associa.
tions.
The chair expressed the hope that this Union
Association would have remained a permanent
institution and worked harmoniously together.
he preferred this open method of ferreting out
and citing these abuses. But so long as the
work was done by somebody, it was inmate.
rial who performed 1t.
Mr.. Forbes thought this work could be better
accomplished by the committee.
Mr.. Fernold, the chairman of the general
committee, made some explanations in regard
to the plan of operation by the committee.
The motion TO transfer the papers was
carried, and the chair, In closing the meeting,
reoited, in most feeling manner, the famous
fable of" Abou Ben Adam" and declared tho
association adjourned sine die.