The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-05-12
THE FOLLOWING REPORT:

proceeding aay, the committee Oh pubiiC
hospital submitted
THE FOLLOWING REPORT:
The committee appointed on public hos
pital proceeded to examine Mercy Hos
pital in Davenport, Ia, and were kindly
shown over the different departments by
the managing authorities.
Your committee; acknowledging the nat
ural and legal obligations resting on the
comnty to provide for the incurable in
sane and invalids, who have no other
guardian to look to than the county, re-
port two methods of procedure.
First that the county should appropri-
ate sufficient money to erect a hospital on
the grounds donated by p L. Cable Esq,
to be known as the Rock Island County
Hospital; this hospital to be under the
management and entire control and own
Eership of the present Board of Supervisors
and their successors in office.
+ Second, that the present Board of Super
visors donate their already proffered APP
preparation of $4,000 to any organization
of men or women, who win fulfil the con-
ditions required by the Board for said
grant.
TO INSTRUCT
your honorable body on the workings of a
hospital, conducted by an organization of
Sistersof Charity, your committee made
an inspection of Mercy Hospital, Daven-
port, la. In this hospital are incurable in
mind and body, from Scott country and a
number of adjacent counties.
The counties ay.for their board, care
and clothing. The system works with
great satisfaction TO the respective boards
of supervisors of these counties. Persons
sent by the city of Davenport or by any
other municipality, are charged rates ac-
cording to their means and required accom-
odations In this way the institution is
made self sustaining. This is not new
way of caring for the distressed. The city
of Burlington has chosen this system. It
is used by the city of Peoria; and in Chica-
go lately, after other experiences, the small
pox hospital was turned over to the Sisters
of Charity,
THE CUSTOM
has found such favor in the eastern cities,
that the congress of the United States APP
propriated $25, 600 to the Sisters in the
city of Washington for the care of the aged
poor The advantage of these organized
bodies over that of a county or state is evi.
dent from look at the neatness, taste and
cleanliness within and without Mercy hos
pital, Davenport, and in our own in Coal
Valley.
Your committee further state that coun-
ty charity, when spent for the afflicted,
should be expended when, without addi-
tional cost to the county, the most benefit
to the sufferer could be derived. The hos
pital should therefore be nearer to the cen
ter of the population, and as close as pos
Esible to the aid of. medical attendance;
otherwise county help is, in good part, laid
out in vain.
For this reason, the locality offered by
Mr. Gable is without doubt the most suit
able that could be obtained,
Ofathe twos methods proposed your com
mittee would emphatically recommend to
your honorable body, the adoption of the
first one, and recognizing the pressing need
for the erection of hospital in our midst,
recommend prompt action of the board in
regard to the matter.
ACTION.
On motion of Supervisor Stoddard, the
report was received, and action was de
ferred until the July term.
The clerk read a proposal from Bailey
Davenport offering his house and grounds
for hospital. purposes fer $25, 600. The
proposal was placed on file.
On motion Supervisors Sinnett, Jordan
and Martin were appointed committee
to obtain legal advice as to the legality of
appropriating money for hospital purposes
without submitting the same to the people.
The bill of South Sock Island township
was not allowed.
On motion, the repairs of the county
courtroom was referred to the committee
on Jail and jail accounts.
OFFICIAL PAPER
Supervisor Stoddard's motion to appro-
pirate 300 for publishing the official pre-
ceedings was then taken up. .
Supervisor Werlich moved, as an amend
ment, that $200Sbe appropriated for that
purpose, which was lost.
The original motion was then carried by
the following vote;
Yeas-Barton Blomberg, Campbell.
Clarke, Cozad, Drury Heath, Jordan,
LLOYD, Schneider, Stoddard and Wray-12
Nays Gordon, Hoke, Martin, Pearsoll,
Schafer, Sinnett, Werlich and Wells-8.
Supervisor Stoddad moved that ballot
be taken for the official paper
Supervisor Heath moved that the Union
be designated as such organ.
Supervisor Gordon named the Moline
Dispatch, and Supervisor Martin named
the ARGUS.
supervisor OdAHpeli mONeu as SuUSti-
tute that the Union be selected.
Supervisor Werlich made motion to de-
fer action until the July meeting. The
last motion was lost by vote of to
12.
A motion to defer action indefinitely
was also lost by the same veto.
CARRIED.
Supervisor Campbel1's substitute was
then carried by vote of IS to- z. Action
on the petition of j. W. Hardy for an
abatement was laid over until the July
meeting.
The Committee on Ways and Means
made report on salaries of different MEM