Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-04-25
MONEY FOR CHARITY.
The State Appropriations for Hos.
pitals in the Two Cities. g.
SOME BIG REDUCTIONS ARE MADE.
Allegheny General and the Mercy Way
Below What They Asked.
WHAT SOME OF The OFFICERS SAY

with the amount of money allowed them by
the appropriation bills which were passed
by the House Of Representatives on Thurs
day. The difference between the sums asked
and those which were ap proved by that
body is so great as to almost make their
heads swim. Under the law all requests for
appropriations for charitable purposes must
first go to the State Board of Charities for
consideration. That body passes judgment
upon the needs of each. and their report is
made to the Appropriation Committee.
The committee of the present Legislature
decided not to be guided entirely by the
report of the board, and a sub committee
was appointed to look more closely into its
recommendations. That committee spent
two days in Pittsburg, visited the institu-
tions asking for State aid, and heard the
appeals of their managers. Then they went
back to Harrisburg, and upon their report
the bills were based.
Some Still Have Hopes.
The managers of some instltuti utions, not
only in Plttsburg but throughout Western
Pennsylvania, whose requisitions have
been hewed down, have still hopes
that before the bills 60 to the
Governor ior approval they will be
amended so as to inure to their benefit.
They hang their hopes upon the Senate,
which has still to pass these appropriations.
There are others, however, who are glad to
get what the bills call for, and don't propose
to kick. They think it wiser to let well
enough alone.
Five Pittsburg institutions-the Bethesda
Home, Mercy Hospital, Home for Aged and
Infrm Colored Women, Southside Hospital
and the Allegheny General Hospital-asked
in round numbers for $180,000. The bills as
passed by the House appropriate Tor these
institutions only $4,000. Mercy Hospital
asked for SIC, 900 and got $50, 900; Allegheny
General Hospital wanted 800, 900 and re-
ceived $50, 900; Bethesda Home received
what was asked. 5000; Southside Hospital
got 81, 900 out of $40, 600 asked for, aud the
Aged and Infirm Colored Women's Home
received 81, 900 when the managers expected
$4,000.
In other words, the Board of Charities
and the Appropriations Committee Knocked
off $4,000 from the total sum asked. In
this connection, however, it should be
stated that the Allegheny General Hospital
to recommend included $45, 900 which it
was proposed to use in paving off mort
gage on that institution. The board refused
to recommend the appropriation for paying
off the mortgage, SO that it did not 60 be-
fore the Appropriations Committee. That
left $40 900 Tor the hospital proper. and that
sum was reduced $4,000.
What the Hospital Needs.
A member of the staff of the hospital said
yesterday that the last appropriation made
by the Legislature was SIS. 900. When the
Legislative Committee visited the hospital
they were told that it was impossible to ac-
commodate all those who applied for admis-
sion. "We showed them," said he, "that
we had built an addition during the past
summer which gave us room for 30 more
beds. We can of course put in more people
than we have, but that would require US to
violate the giving each patient space for
1000 cubic feet of air. Weasked the Board
of Charities for S45,O 600 for general main
tenance and $45, 900 to pay off the mortgage.
The board refused to consider the latter
request, but Endorsed the first l am sorry
the Legislature has seen fit to cut US down.
We need every cent of it.
1.-The sentiment of the members Of the
Board of Charities, and I presume it is the
same with members of the Legislature,
seems to be that institutions of this charac-
ter, so far as their Indebtedness is concerned,
should stand upon their own bottom. They
think that debts are more of local than a
State concern, and should be looked alter and
paid by the people of the town in which the
Institution is located. The management
here is very conservative and very careful
of the funds. We did not ask for money to
pay deficit, for we have none"
Disappointed Sister Superior.
The Sister Superior at Mercy Hospital
was a very much disappointed lady. There
had been such an effort made to get large
appropriation by the officers and friends of
that institution, backed up by the State
Board Of Charities, that the news of only
$50, 900 having been appropriated was not
at all pleasant. The managers put In an
application for S70 900 to the State Board,
and at meeting of that body they urged
that such a sum be asked from the Legisla-
ture. They based their appeal Tor this
amount upon the necessity of building a
new surgical ward, the present facilities
not being sufficient for the proper treatment
of such cases. The board agreed TO report
the bill with a favorable recommendation.
Said the Sister Superior:
81 cannot understand upon what ground
the appropriation for this hospital has been
cut down to such a small figure. There are
but few people in Pittsburg who do not
know the work this institution is doing
When the subcommittee OF the Appropria-
tions Committee were here we showed them
how necessary it was for US to construct a
wing for the exclusive use of the surgical
ward. They seemed impressed, but evident
Iy were not. 1 cannot understand why they
-, tL,t .ttla L,
gheny $4,000 more than they allowed us.
The State Board of Charities saw the need
of a surgical ward, and their recommenda-
ton to the Legislature covered the $40, 900
we asked.
Two Appropriations Vetoed.
I'VE have been rather unfortunate in the
appropriations that have been made to
Mercy Hospital, or rather which have not
been made. Governor Pattison vetoed one,
but that was owing to Misunderstanding.
The managers did not fulfill the letter of
the law by first sending their application to
the State Board of Charities. Governo or
Beaver also vetoed one, upon what
grounds it is hard 10 tell. However l sup
pose we will have to do what we can with
what we get. We may make a start on the
new surgical ward anyhow. 1t has got to
be built, and the sooner beginning is made
the better"
A visit to the Aged and lntirm Colored
Women's Home, Center avenue and Kirk
patrick street, found the matron glad that
an appropriation of even $1,000 had Been
given them, though they were sadly In need
of the $1,000 which had been asked. She
said the house contained nine inmates, which,
with the family, was all it could hold. a
number of applicants had recently been re-
fused because there was no room. for them.
1t was absolutely necessary to get another
Home. "When," she said, "the Legisla-
tive Committee came here they had to wade