The San Francisco call., 1896-03-09
Privileges Have Been Extended
to Physicians Of All
NationalitieS.
DIR. v0IsARD TO BE RETIRED.
Interesting Meeting of the Societe
Franchise de Renaissance at
Uiion-Square Hall.

The members in good standing of the
Societe Francaise de Benfaisance Mu-
tuele met to the numbe of about three
hundred yesterday afternoon in Union
Square Hall. " Gardet presided, and by
his side sat Vice-President ]. M. Dupas.
r. Lavigne officiated as secretary, and
the trio were backed by half score of
Frenchmen connected directly or other
wise with the society.
1t was welI-understood proposition
that the meeting was called only for the
purpose of hearing suggestions which,
when seconded, would be presented at the
next general assembly of members, to be
held in week or two. This plan of pro-
ceduEe was adopted to overcome the usual
and unnecessary debates which have oc-
Cured year after year in the assembly.
Chairman Gardet announced that only.
propositions pertinent to revising the by
laws as to the management of the society
would be heard, and when seconded would
be placed on file for presentation to the
general assembly. This announcement
had scarcely the desired effect, however,
and the chairman used bell such as one
hears where auctions are being held.
NJ. Bergerot, one of the leading spir-
It's in the society, called the attention of
those present to that clause in the bylaws
French Hospital to hold diplomas from
French colleges. He believed that this
one clause aid more harm than anything
else to the institution, as it antagOnized
the American and other foreign elements.
and he desired it amended. After much
discussion it was decided to recommend to
the general assembly that the bylaws
read to the effect that all physicians grad
uated since 1892, from any legitimate col
lege in the United States, be accepted as
applicants. He explained that the limita-
ton was made simply because prior to
1892 gra1 1uates were only required to take
a coarse of study of three years, but that
since that date four years OF study was re-
quired.
There being second to this amendment
it will have to come up before the general
assembly, but it is quite likely it will be
fought stOutly.
The other important recommendation
to be made will be that no employees of the
hospital will be appointed or retained who
are related in any degree to me mber OF
the committee.
X. +. Voisard, formerly of the Pacific Mail
Company, now superintendent of the hos
pital, will be recommended.
incidentally, but in no way pertinent to
the meeting, member created quite a
cyclone of words when he demanded to
know how the society stood in respect to
the $100, 900 borrowed by the society nearly
two years ago.
The outcome of the crossfire was to
elicit the information that at the time the
money was needed a syndicate of French
men advanced it on IA per cent interest
While this appeared excessive, it was war;
ranted by the stringency of the money
market. Since then, however, money has
become easier and there is desire to pay
<ba ct, hor-
rowed at a lesser cost. But it so happens
that when the patriotic Frenchmen came
10 the rescue of the society they formed
corporation called rUnion Francaise.
They agreed that they would hold the
stock they received for their subscription,
or, in other words, that they would pool
their stock. Now, when the time has ar
rived to do business by selling out, num-
Der of stockholders are in Europe and the
absence of one, according to their agree
ment, inyalidates anv action taken by the
others. Said one Of the members:
''This leaves the society in a position
where it is forced to keep on paying ~
per cent interest ad infinitum, or until all
the bondholders can get here in person or
proxy. But, worse still, nearly all the
leading members of the Union Francaise
are in authority in the Societe Franchise
de Bienfaisance Mutuelle.
'In a moment of patriotism they, as
members Of the one society, loaned their
money at IA per cent interest to them
selves as mem bers of another society, and
now that money is easier and they need
not pay such high interest, they cannot
see way to pay themselves the original
$4,000 and wipe out the mortgage by an
other which will call for less interest, all
because of that pooling clause which re-
quires the sanction of all the members"
This subject brought many fiery speak
E IL - cd
but the situation remains the same, to be
taken up at the general assembly.
The nominations for members OF the
general committee were as follows: Syl
vain WE'LL, Ortin, Deschamps, Bergerot,
N. Loupy, A. Froment, Bocqueraz. o.
Bozio. j. Desbarrats. Dupas, A. Gous-
tiaux, F. Fagothy, ]. Julien. Pouyal, P.
Games, j. Fak. Carraine, ]. B. Lacaze, A.
Aron, ]. Vasseiin.