The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-06-10
THE CITY COUNCIL VS.. THE ROPER
IIOBPITAL.

We arc perfectly awure that thero is a great
prejudice in this community against tho discus
sion Of public interests which necessarily in
volvcs, 10 somo extent, personal criticism of
those who have such interests in charge. But
we think that among other things which we
are learning is this: TINT On honest difference
of opinion is wholesome, and that free and re-
spectful expression Of that opinion is tho surost
and cheapest preventive of mal-administration.
Men who either from ambition or O sense Of
duty, assume tho charge of public affairs, hive
no right to object, and, if they are wise, never
will object to tho most searching scrutiny Of
their acts. If the acts nro judicious they will
stand If they foolish, they will have to
munity they ought to do
The City Council Of Charleston hnvo had a
very difficult tnsk before them, we admit, and
whore it hos been accomplished, all credit is
due and will bo given them. But upon moro
than ono occusion thoy have certainly failed TO
impress their constituents with any very high
sense Of their administrative wisdom. We pro-
pose, at present, to review their action upon
one subject of very great interest to the com
munity, in which We think they are manifest-
ing spirit of very singular economy.
OF all tho public charities of this city there is
not one more useful to the sick and suffering, nor
moro honorable to it's founder, than the Roper
Hospital. It's history is too well known to be
given at length In 1916 the Medical Society
| cnmc into possession of tho funds bcqueathcd
by the late THOMAS RorER for the foundation
of hospital for the relief of 'the INDECENT
siok Of oil nations, without distinction of re-
ligion, complexion or SEX. This gift of the
| donor was 80 wise and liberal, the need Of
| such an institution 80 pressing. and its advan-
| tagos SO great, that both the State and the
city lent their aid TO the perfection of tho
good work, and in 1856 tho Hospital was open
ed. Placed under tho charge Of trustees who
wore chosen from among tho most eminent
members of the medical profession, thoroughly
anil most efficiently oficered, its skillful and
humane administration soon became matter
Council, tho sick and insane, hitherto in
charge of the city authorities, were transferred
from tho old Poor House to the better and more
commodous hospital; and the annual c1pcndi-
ture by The city of $4,000 for this purpose was
appropriated to the income Of the hospital.
NC Gun suy "i'"0-. - -';ahiesL dnnger of oon-
trndiction that until the hospital building was
abandoned, during the siege of Charleston, on
account Of danger from the shells, this ar
rnngcment gave the most perfect satisfaction.
The hospital was made more efficient by tho
addition to its income. The sick and insane
were far better tended, and tho city authorities
| yyar rod ha nh nf imip NJ frafi nm
which, in tho nature of things, such corpora
tion could not discharge as cheaply or az cf-
fectively as such medical institution.
When the hospital building was abandoned
| in august, 1868, the patients, supplies, medical
| staff, 60, were removed to the school building
| in Morris street, where they remained until
March, 1864, when that building was taken by
| the military authorities for tho exclusive use of
tho soldiers. They were then removed to Tho
Aims House in Hampstead, until February,
1856, when the United States authorities, upon
The surrender of tho city, took possession Of
all public buildings, and its operations neoes-
sarily ceased. -.hEi
AS soon as the oity authorities wero restored
it became necessary to provide for their sick.
The hospital was of course, entirely disorgan-
ized, and they wero forced to make such other
arrangements as wero possible. In conference
with, and by the assistance Of tho United States
medical authorities, they organized o new City
Hofpital in the old Aims House. in Mazyck
street. Six city physioians wero elected to
serve the indigent sick, in hospital, at Offices
Of call, and in private quarters; hospital sup
plids were furnished tho United States au-
thorities,' and tho new! institution in January,
1866, wns turned over by the military to the
city, under the supervision Of DR.. PHLzxn, the
City Registrar. The City Council have ex-
pressed their satisfaction with tho working Of
tho institution and the manner in which DR..
Pc IzEn has discharged his duties: ''. r I.
l"iWo desire to be distinctly underatood as find
ing no fsplt with this arrangement, considered
as temporary one, nor as indulging in any un-
friendly criticism upon DR.. PBLzEn's discharge
Of bis ardlous duties. Wo desire to give nli
due credit TO the Council for the effort which
they made to supply the necessity occasioned
by The suspension Of the Roper Hospital, and
oil credit to- those professional gentlemen
whom they selected to carry out their plans.
But in the meantime the Roper Hospital
buildings have been restored to tho Trusieeo,
tho institution has been efficiently reorganized,
and Il has now applied to the, City Council TO be
allowed to resume its duties and receive lis an
nual appropriation. The simple question then
is: Is it wiser nnd more economical to restore
the old order of things with the Roper Hospital
r,to continue tho new, converting the tempo.
rary arrangement into permanent one, with
independent City Hospitals and an additional
number of city oficersf y ,y'a
:, Now It must be recollected that the perfect
efficiency Of the old system has never been dis
puted, and that 1t was ample. for all tho city's
needs when the population was third larger
than IL sto:duy: And tho Roper Hospital now
offers to tho Council one hundred vacant beds.
Z II must also he reeolleoted that when tho
Cou noil declinea I'd renew their relation With
the Hospital one Of the chief arguments Of tho
unfArorable report was that tho new Hospital
inMazyok street was ample for their wants.
But already they hove hired another building
'{at .. rent Of $1,000 per snnum), most inoonll
yentently situated at the northeastern extremity
oftho oity. and this second hospital will need q
medical officer. . steward, . natron, supplies,
furniture, frewood for the winter, &C., entailing
heavy, additional expense. j Besides which e.