The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-03-20

pltal- Inc conference was lengthy one
and accomplished the desired result in
giving the city and county authorities a
fun insight into the affairs Of the hospi-
tai The books of the hospital were pro-
duced and its revenues. the sources from
which they are derived and the manner
in which they are expended fully eN-
planned. After this explanation all pres
net were satisfied that the managers of
the hospital were fully JUSTIFIED in giving
the notice which they did Of its inability
10 accommodate more than limited num-
Der of charity patients.
DR.. Duncan showed by figures that the
cost Of conducting the hospital during
the last year was nearly $1,000. He pre-
sented estimates for this years receipts,
as follows:
from the comfy. z,oW
from the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. $500
From investments ..............-...... ESQ
Pay patients ............................ $50
Total ...................................slosoo
Dr. Duncan said that Il was useless
10 attempt 10 conduct the hospital on
the same scale as that on which it had
been conducted in previous years when
u IS evident that the income will fall
several thousand dollars short Of the ex-
penditures. The MANAGERS might be
forced TO put some Of the securities Of
the institution on the market. which at
The present deprecated prices would be
suicidal
President Mills stated that the endow-
ment Of The hospital is in excess of $780,
600. OF which $4,000 Is in Central railroad
securities which now yield no income.
The great reduction in the income of the
hospital, he said. had compelled it to ask
for increased assistance from the city
and county or practically close its doors
10 charity patients.
DR.. Duncan presented an interesting
table showing the income of the society
and the cost of caring for charity pa
tients for the last ten years reduced to
The daily cost per patient. showing the
proportion Of such expense borne by the
hospital and the city. The average for
Ten years gave a result of 76.l1 cents as
the daily cost per patient. during the last
ten years, OF which amount the city and
county have paid 5000 cents and the hos
pital 46.0 cents. DR.. Duncan proposed
that the hospital would receive charity
patients at a per diem charge Of 70 cents.
This proposition was promptly declined.
however. 1t required a brief calculation
10 show that even at this low rate the
cost to the city and county would be very
much greater than at present This dem
onstrates how great a portion of the ex-
pense OF caring for the charity patients
has been borne by the hospital hereto
fore.
Some of the aldermen limited that 1t
would be a very good idea for
the management to turn the hos
pital over to the city. but no notice
was taken Of these hints. After the con-
clusion OF the conference, the managers
of the hospital and the county commits
s4oners left the room and the committee
OF the whole of the council continued its
session. 1t was decided in view Of the
showing made by the hospital manage
anent TO recommend an increase in the APP
preparation 10 the hospital Of 500 a month,
A fOfal of S100 month
Commissioners Dale and Carson. who
were seen after the conference, said they
could not say what action the county
commissioners would take in the way of
an increased appropriation. 1t is very
probable. however that the county's ap-
propriation viii be increased
Newspaper reporters were not admitted
TO the conference. and the information
was gathered from those who were pres
ent DR.. Duncan was seen at his house
last night and was Informed of the action
of the committee OF the whole in decid-
ing upon an increase of 500 in the appro-
priation.
Il am glad TO hear that" he said. II
would have much preferred though that
the city should have made its approprta-
ton $500 a month. This would be $1,000
year and our income from other sources
would bring the total revenue up TO
about $4,000. By close economy we could
manage TO conduct the hospital on nearly
the same scale as formerly with this
revenue. 1t must be taken into consider
alton that the greater part of the burden
Of caring for charity patients at the
hospital has always been borne by. the
hospital The city made no appropriations
TO the hospital until 1884. Since then its
appropriations have only been sufficient
TO cover small part of the expense. If
the whole expense of caring for the char
ity patients We're borne by the city the
cost would be several times what it is
now. The per diem plan was tried several
years ago when / was a member of the
board of aldermen and the bills for the
hospital ran up so high that We were
compelled to change back to the old
system Of a stated appropriation Now
that the hospital does not enjoy the in
come which it formerly had ii is proper
that the city should come forward and
bear greater portion of the burden than
formerly. The city is hard up for money
it is true. but this would be money spent
in good cause. 1t could not be spent
for a better purpose than in caring for
the sick poor. Other cities make much
larger appropriations to hospitals than
Savannah"
Mayor Myers said that he was glad that
the appropriation is TO be increased. Il
wish we could have made .
much greater increase" he said.
THE showing made by the hos
pital management was a satisfactory one.
1t proved beyond question that the hospi-
tai is in need of increased assistance. Sa-
vannah's appropriations to hospitals are
not large, as compared with other cities.
Charleston appropriates $4,000 year for
this purpose and Atlanta approprfates
the same sum to the Grady hospital alone.
The city is not in a position now. un-
fortunately to make any large increase
IN ITS appropriations. We must shave
close 70 Keep within our income this year
] think If the management Of the savsn.
nan hospital would make a more direct