Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-12-10

good name are involved, and every
resident of the county should be
happy as we'll as proud of the recog-
milton shown.
The Bill Providing for the Institution-
Appointment of Trustees, Etc.
The bill as passed by the last leg
islature is entitled: IAN act to es-
tablish the Illinois Western hospital
for the insane and making an appro-
priation for the purchase of land and
the construction of necessary build
ings and to regulate the commit
ment of insane persons thereto"
Provision is made for the construc-
ton of appropriate fire-proof build
ings with all necessary heating.
lighting, ventilating. with supply
and drainage appliances and all
necessary furniture, and maintenance
thereof until the appropriations of
the next general assembly are availa-
BILE. and for which 800. 600 has been
appropriated. The government of
the hospital shall be vested in
q board of three trustees, not
more than two of whom shall
be from the same political party,
who shall hold Office, one until the
first day of March, 1897; one until
the first day of March, 1899, and one
until the first day of March, 1901.
Their successors shall be appointed
in the same manner. and shall each
serve for six years. so that one ap-
pointment shall be made every Sec
ond year. and in every case a trustee
shall hold Office until his or her
successor is appointed. The hospital
shall be under the immediate man.
agement and control of a superin-
tendent to be appointed and removed
by said board of trustees at pleasure,
and whose salary shall be fixed by
said board. The superintendent
must be graduate in medicine and
surgery from some reputable
medical college and of acknowledged
standing in his profession. He shall
appoint all subordinate officers and
employees with the assent of the
board OF trustees. 1t shall be the
duty of the superintendent to APP
point a competent assistant physi-
clan, whose duty it will be to
perform medical duties in and
about the care and treatment of the
insane. After the approval of plans
and specifications by the governor.
the trustees shall advertise for bids
for the construction of said hospital.
to be opened not later than 80 days
following. The successful contrac-
tor must furnish sufficient bond to
the governor for the faithful per-
Torrance of duty. The appointment
| of a superintendent to receive not
more than IS per day shall be pro-
vided in the contract.
1t is stipulated that not less than
24O acres nor more than 400 shall be
purchased for a site.
Appointment of the Commission.
Soon after the bill came into force,
Gov. Altgeld named as the trustees
provided for in the bill Hon. John
K. Eden. of Sullivan, w. S. Gale, of
Galesburg. and T. s. Silvis, of this
city. The commission organized in
this city with the election of Mr..
Eden as chairman, and William
Hoeft, of Rock Island. as secretary.
Soon thereafter Mr.. Silvis deemed it
his duty owing to the condition of
his health to resign. and he did SO
with sense of reluctance which was
shared by the people generally. In
his place Gov. Altgeld appointed T.
j. Medill. Jr., of this city. Since
then the history of the site inspec
ton. etc.. needs no repetition here.
but it may be said that the duties of
the trustees are only fairly begun,
the terms of each being as follows:
Mr.. Gale. six years; Mr.. Eden, four
years. and Mr.. Medill two years.
OF all that has been done here in
behalf OF the location the public is
familiar. although those earliest
identified with the movement in be-
half of Rock Island county were
Representative Willism Payne and
William McEniry. From purify dis
interested personal motives aid only
the aim at heart to win the Gospital
for Rock Island they were at work
before many Of our people realized
the possibilities of the situation.
Both were faithful and energetic in
their work, though Of necessity much
OF the preliminaries had to be done
quietly. Nevertheless they buiided
well and from the foundation laid
rose the structure which attracted
the attention Of the governor and
eventually brought glory to Rock
Island county. In the after efforts