Daily Republican., 1881-01-06
why Sell the Hospital?

Csnpeil should not make haste SLOW
iy in selling the city hospital. 1t has
not been IN any years sincs thres-fourths
OF the citizens of Wilmington thought
that the city could not get along with
ont a city hospital and the City Council
was given no rest until the present
building was purchased and converted
into hospital at an expense to the
city of some SIS 900. 1t was urged 81
that time both on the score Of economy
and humanity. 1t was represented At
the time the move was inauguratsd
that it could no. fail to be q great bsne-
1T to the city and that it would be q
place to which any case could be seat
and receive the most skilltul treat
ment. II WAS also represented that 1t
would be kept up at very little expense
to the city-!hat it would be largely
pstronizei by ths railroad companies
that run Though the city as well as by
the large manufacturing establishments
of the city. the building it is trae
having been used for q select school
was not exactly adapted to hospital
purposes, but by some changes 1t was
made to answer the purpose as well a:
more commediops buildings. That tn
hospital did not result in the success:
anticipated, vas not the fault Of tht
hospital or the location. Almost i'm
mediately after it was put in operation
it became the bsttle-door and S
cock OF the two political parties in the
city aid was subject to 3 change o
superintendent every time there was s
change Of party rule in this city. It,
under tAoss circumstances, became
a political perquisite to reward some
ambitious partisan leader as much as &
position on the police force or of any 0
the paid CD bairmsnsAip3 Of the commit
teas Of the City Council. The city
physicians except those regularly EN-
ployei gave it the cold shoulder and
the railroad companies and large manu-
featuring firms in the city gave it M
soRntenance. During the lsat year 0
its exist snos it became q bAnquetinl
hall for city officials and even BALI
were allowed to be held there. W.
need not repeat the disgrscetul rumori
that were adoAt about the institution,
for no doubt they Sre well remembered.
Suffice i. 10 say that the reputation Of
the city hospital was ruined and an
indignant puhlic caused it to be closed
But while this is true, isit any Srgu.
ment that City Hospital cannot BE-
properly conducted in the city, There
is as much L-ed Of one now IS thers
was when the enterprise was frat pre-.
jected, and II the right plan is adopted
there Will be no difficulty in making il
not only useful but a pride to our city
This however cannot be effected By
leaving the management of it in the
hands OF the local politicians no mat
ter which party they belong to. 1t wa.
great mistake in the FIRST place in moi
giving the hospital into the hands Of
the city ply yaioians to conduct. Had
this been done everything expected Of
the City Hospital would have been full.
ly realized, and instead Of it being a
Sosb- b-oovered eye sore TO the city il
woA ID today have been useful ard
honor>d institution. Now, then, be,
cause politicians have failed to make ii
q success, td.'t is no reason that an,
other effort und, different manage.
ment should not \. made.
Tbs city now has I've building and
although it is 40! the most conven'
lent it is in the heslthiest Hart OF the
city, and in few years NOR. 1t will
not bs so far as 1t is now from thI cen
tral part. Then why sill i. when It is
needed Why obliterate it because
politicians cannot carry it on' Why
force it to a sale ard sell it at sacrifice
when it is now worth all that was paid
fol it, and from this time forward will
grow in value as real estate advances
in price in that Sc .ion Of the city |
All cities the siz4 of Wilmington have
city hospitals, and they have use for
them. Is Wilmington TO be an sxoep.
tion No money viii be los: by keep
ing it g few vars longer sven if it
should not be occupied. Then why
this haste to ssll il? In few years
more the city sill be clamoripg for
hospital again, snd then perhaps one
like the present one and 80 favorably
located could not be purchased for
twice the prics that this ore cost. If
any legislation IS needed, le. it be to
take the hospital out of its present
partisan Management, sni let board
of ply ysicians eld citizens be incorpo-
rated into who's management it shall
be committed, hnt for the present. let
the City Coun il move ,lowlv in part
ing with what cannot again bs had
without great additional expense.
THB REPUBLICAN, PARTY in the State
Senate was well taken care of in the
appointment Of Senate committees, yes
terday. He was appointed Chairman