The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-02-24
Ats Shameful! Neglect by the State
Officials.
Misrepresentation Of It's Funds by
the State Treasurer.
Annual Report Of the Admins
tratOrS.


he annual report Of the Board OF Admin
lstrators of the Charity Hospital has been
handed to us by Hubert Bonzano, Esq, Vice
President OF the board.
1t reveals q condition Of attairs, financially
and otherwise, in this noble public lnstitu-
zion, which is extremely deplorab!e, and must
cause feeling Of profound sorrow in this
com munity, because the famous hospital is
one of the proudest features OF cur city, and
It's fame is worldwide.
For more THAI & half century it has been
IN asylum for unfortunate humanity its
doors always open, and within its walls have
.Jeen admitted, at ali times, sufferers from
every land under the sun, without any dis
elimination whatsoever.
Under the misrulo and spoliation which
mas characterized the maladministration of
our State government fer several years past,
but little of redeeming nature could be ex-
pected, but it was at least reasonable to pre-
,lme that this grand old charitable institu-
lion would at least be spared,
i. seems, however that it has shared the
general desecratiou; and a Legislature that
Coult sOtC IbstiI LE5 tluGb t.lG amount iOr
mileage and per diem that had sufliced for its
predecessors il the times OF honest govern
znent, deliberately cur.ailed the amount of
annual appropriations for the support Of the
hospital until during the past year it was
limited to $4,000.
This amount, il must be borne in mind, was
issued to the hospital Ia the shape OF Stat
warrants, which were deprecated largely in
actual value and the Treasurer, with some
show Of consideration, stated that lie won d
cash the warrants from time to time as funds
came into his hands.
As might have been expected, he has failed
20 keep his promise; and Notwithstanding the
persistent efforts OF Messrs. McCan aud Bon
zano, Of the Board OF Administrators, who
visited the Treasures Office day after day for
months, they were able to procure in cash
turing HE attire yegr tte aitt.d sum Of $500.
We quote Bonzano himself on this point
see page Is Of the report.
~ the doors Of the Treasury, in n common
melee with the money brokers', this repre-
sentative of five or six hundred suffering hu
znau beings had no better chance Of recog
milton than the most unprinelpled Spectator.
Mr.. McCan, desparing Of obtaining any
assistance from the State, with a generosity
which must ever endear him to the commu-
lity advanced from his own private means,
from time to time during the past year, over
ftteen thousand dollars, to keep the institution
from being closed.
We quote Bonzano still further. See page
~, Hospital Report:
But, instead of getting the money for even
this portion Of the appropriation, we find a
crowd of brokers trailing The footsteps OF our
Elithfu Samaritan, banterlng him to sell, offer
ing forty to seventy cents cash tor each dollar
in Hospital warrants insisting that he had no
other show to convert them into ready
money.
And SO it appears The appeals to the
Treasurer himself proved idle waste OF time
TO stumble on him with money in his Golfers
would be miracle, and as sad before, the
total received from the treasury direct, during !
the whole year, does not reach ten thousand |
dollars.
such are the facts BaflNd in every direc-
lion and reduced to such scanty means no |
board can provide properly for hospital con-
tanning year in and year out without percep-
zible diminution at any time, between SIX and
seven hundred sick people and their attend
ants
Something must be done to put the admin
istrative officers of an institution like the
Charity Hospital on better footing
Good and reliable men, even if inspired by
cannot spare the time requisite to
cope successfully with such parasites. they
viii have to decline the honor. high and repu-
table as the distinction is, to administer on so
sacred and humane trust, unless relieved
from such a necessity.
When it is borne in mind that the Board OF
Administrators receive 10 compensation tor
their services, but that their positions are
purely honorary, it will be seen how much
We are indebted to their large-hearted and
labors and the sturdy honesty
md devotion of D. G. McCan and Hubert
Romano are in refreshing contrast to the gen
eral decentralization which seems to charac-
serize almost every branch Of our State gov
But now comes possible explanation Of
the shameful neglect of the Hospital by the
5 ate authorize; in the shape OF the "keport
If the State Treasurer" document which
seems to be peculiarly scarce and dithculs TO
obtain Looking over this report carefully,
We find in Statement b. showing dis
bursements by the Treasury for the year
lS7f,') pages - and 3D. the following items:
Support of the Charity Hospital .sl2i,695 W
70 pay Indebtedness OF the Charity
Hospital act % OF 1872. ., U0O " I
Of bonds issued to the -, - ~
Charity Hospital act DO of 1873 5000 GO
Repairs to the Charity Hospital .-.. 3,65o w {
Making a total Of ............... s156, 345 90
The board during the year were compelled
o sell warrants amounting at par to between =,
$50, 900 to $50, 900, on the sale OF which they
called $40. 9S2 g.. Now we would like t.
NOW if the Treasurer has cashed these war
ants in second hands, and ii he has, who got :
he money? and why the warrants were not
,boJ f,rt b1..,itoI l.,