The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-03-13
REPORT OF THE GRAND JURY.
OUR PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS VISITED
ny THE GRAND sNQUIsITORs.


terday to the Superior Criminal Court by the
present Grand Jury: .-~~..
New ORLEANS, March 10, 1878.
Hon. VIM. II. Whitaker, Judge of the Superior
Criminal Court Of the Parish Of Orleans,
State Of louisiana
Honored Sn-Your Grand Jury deem 1t
their duty to make this special report to you
at this time In order to call the attention of
the State Legislature to two very important
Institutions, and our views of their condition
and necessities.
We have recently visited the
CHARITY HOSPITALS
a State institution located in tho city of New
Orleans. and after u careful and thorough ex-
animation of lhebulding we are convinced that
the Immediate repair OF it Is an absolute neces-
sity, This etlifiCs was erected in 1Y32-forty-
six years ago-and has never, from that time
to this, been benefited hy any thorough or ex-
tensve repair. The basement floors and tho
frames Oh which they rest are now In such
decayed condition that, II not soon repaired.
the apartments will have to be abandoned.
Many of the ground floor rooms are already
unsafe and unhealthy, and will soon be un-
tenahle II the floors are not relaid. Your
Grand Jury do not deem it necessary to call
the attention Of the Legislature to the i-
p0tthnce OF this institution. Its fame is not
confined to this continent, nor can we afford
to disregard or neglect it.
At the time of our visit, some two weeks
ago, there were in 1t G37 patients, thirteen
only being In the pay department. Patients
OF all coors. religions aud nntionalities are
admitted. aud from all parts Of the State and
are all placed on equal footing. The services
of the entire medical faculty Of the city of New
Orleans are at the command of tho hospital.
AMI 1t Is not possible to too highly commend
the efficiency with which the patients are
nursed, cared for and fed by Sister Agnes the
Sister Superior in charge, and her twenty five
assistant sisters.
he hospital is now full to OVERLOOKING, and
several OF tho rooms are already almost I'M
ten.ble, and your Grand Jury trusts that the
Legislature will appoint o COMMITTEES of its
own members to Inquire into this subject, and
that the result of their investigation will be
the appropriation by the State OF a sum sufIl-
cient TO cUrlsummate tho necessary repairs.
We do not wish 1t understood that we are
speaking of tho usual appropriation made for
tho maintenance of the hospital but that we
are recommending m especial one for repairs,
and think it best that it be set aside for that
purpose exclusively.
In regard to the revenues Of the hospital
we desire to call your attention to n custom
that our Interpretation does not warrant.
Section 397 Of the Revised Statutes roads as
follows:
SEQ sa7. For every 10 bic bail or concert. the
urer II the hospital. and annually. t + each
theatre, one hundred dollars; FIR eaoh circus,
one hGnd,ea anh lty dollars; for every me-
Eve dollars. And 1t stall be- tn duty of tie
Mayor Of the city Of New orleans. in author
uuire tho recovt Of tho raasurar of he hnspi-
tai Tor the pasn ent Of the said suns respec-
tiv.ly and in case he should SUI any ii ensA
without su h receipt, The city of New Orleans
shall liable th'refnr;a every manager or
lnesee Of such ! heatSa shalt Annually, ii,ddi-
ton to he sum Of oEs hundred doll RS give al,
such time as the treasurer IF the hospital may
dssignhte giving one menvhs notice TO such
manager. or lessee. theatrical performance
Tor The benefit of the hospital and the receipts
expenses shall be paid over to the treasurer Of
the hospital; nnh In default of u compliance
with the provi ions Of this section, tho said
manager or lessee shall be fined in u sum Of
five hundred liars. for the benefiI of the hos
ri al, rec verahle before any court of compe-
tent juris die'ion by the treasurer thereof.
1t Stems, from the books of the hospital
that the officers have for some years been In
the hnbit Of granting sometimes free per-
mits for balls and cpntSrts; sometimes selling
them for 81; sometimes 81 50, So, So 50, etc.
instead OF demanding the $40 prescribed by
law, and we find that in three months of tho
year 1875 over $1,000 of the revenues we're in
that manner RENTED away.
The difficulty set up is: What constitutes
q public ball or public concert? Where is the
dividing line between public and private
ball be givs|h in public hal2 Should balls or
concerts. given for charitable purposes be ex-
empt? Is subscription ball private one?
Your Grand Jury are Of the opinion that
Whenever permit Is necessary at all that
or the officers of the hospital to rebate ali or
any portion of the sum prescribed by tho law .
and, that no matter whether balls are given
by subscription (as they sometimes are on ao-
count of the color question:, or whether they
if given in public place they should be re-
qurcd to contribute their quota in accord
anco with the letter and intent Of the law,
toward the maintenance of this most charita-
BILE OF all charities
We find that some OF tho theatres have not
can we find any good reason for such non
payment, The exception Is the st. Charles
Theatre which is owned by the Gas Company.
1t has been the impressionof many that
pital with gas free of cost, that their charter
required them to do SO: but such Is not the
fact.
j, Article 9 of the new charter Of the Gas
company reads as follows:
Arr. Q. The consolidated company shall SUD-
ply with gas the Charity H ,spi al fr,e Of all es-
panse until otherwise ordered by the Board of
Directors: and gas shall be Furnished to all or
phan nsyIums situated on the lin. Of mains Of
the company at the price Of two dol mrs per 1000
cubic feet. unless otherwise ordered by the
directors.
Thus it will be seen that the company is
not obliged to furnish gas to the Hospital
free any longer than they choose to do. We
are assured, however. by the president of the
Gas Company that it is not the intention of
the directory to either now Or hereafter make
any charge against the Hospital, notwith-
standing the fact that the latter consumes
about $4,000 worth Of gas annually.
In regard to the non-collection of the taxes
referred to, we do not wish to be understood
as consuming the present administration. We
believe that the Mayor and officers of the
Hospital are doing all they can to correct the
wrong. and we trust that the ball-giving
public will yield a willing compliance.
CITY INSANE ASYLUM. o
No matter what report may be made of this
institution, or by whom, whether manager,
employee, physician, or philosopher, it is a
blot on the fair escutcheon of New Orleans
an nhuman burlesque as benevolent insti-
tuition and a disgrace to tho religion aud civ
ilization of the present day and generation.
'In one portion OF great iron building, built
by the United States government for ma
rine hospital, and by that government aban-