The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-12-29
HOSPITAL FIGHT WILL GO ON.
NO DISPOSITION FOR LET-uP ON
EITHER SIDE

Members of Council Say That the
City WIN Not Abandon Its Position.
Unless Its Claims Are Allowed
steps May he Taken to Provide for
the Sick Poor OtherYvise-Hospital
Privileges for Physicians the is
sue-Public Interest Aroused and
Friends of Both Sides Likely to He
Heard From.
The lengthy discussion of the hospital
question before the City Council wednes-
day night does not seem to have brought
the question any nearer a solution. in
fact, the discussion only seems to have
brought out the real issues between the
two parties and cleared the way for a
more determineA fight. The hospital REQ
pie have announced that they decline the
city's proposition unequivocally. This
puts compromise out of the question ana
leaves the city in the position where II
must either retire from the stand which
il has taken or so forward.
Several members of the board who were
seen yesterday expressed themselves as in
favor of enforcing the city's demands or
taking steps to provide for the city sick
poor elsewhere. One member of the
board predicted that the city would be
caring for its own poor inside of threa
months unless its demands are conceded
by the hospitals.
Alderman Williams said that while he
was not in favor of withdrawing the hos
pital appropriation he believed that
the city should take steps to
secure its own hospital, one in which
the care of the sick poor should be under
its own direction and where II should have
full control.
Il do not think the statements Ct the
financial management of the hospitals was
sufficiently definite" said Alderman Will
Jams. THE hospitals should make
monthly reports, showing the number Of
city patients for each day and the psr
diem cost of per patient. l do not sup
pose for moment that any of these funds
are improperly expended, but as the chief
contributor to the support of these hospd-
ais the city is entitled to an exact showing
of expenditures at regular intervals
Alderman Williams has also come TO the
conclusion that the city's demand TO name
representatives on the hospital STATS is Il
just one and should bs enforced. I'll @
statements of the hospital physician $
themselves" he said. "show that they
have held these positions for a nlmber OF
years and have enjoyed the advantages of
these positions. They acknowledge that 1t
is not matter of charity, but Of profess
sional advantage. This being the case
why should a few men be given the mo-
noply of these advantages. Other physl-
clans doubtless have equally as good
claims. For this reason think thes city
should adhere 10 its demand to be allow
ed to name physicians
Dr. st. j. b. Graham said the fight has
by no means ended, but just what direc-
tion it will take ne was not prepared to
say. The characterization of the fight by
Health officer Drummer as one between
the ms and outs was an unfortunate one,
Dr. Graham thought.
ut is not a case between the ms and
the outs" said DR.. Graham. 1--WE are not
trying to put anybody out There has
been no demand that any of the present
staff physicians should get out nor has
the city any intention of making such a
demand The city simply asks to be all
lowed to add to the present number of hos
pital physicians"
Dr. T. j. Charlton complinlented s. Dr.
Drummer yesterday on having stated the
issue fairly and squarely. THE whole
question is one between the ms and the
outs" said DR.. Charlton. IF the people
who are out have not the ability and push
to get themselves in / do not think they
should call upon the city to put them in.
There has been no question of misman-
agement of the hospitals or of incompe-
tency of the staffs, and, therefore, there
are no grounds for interference on the
part of the city"
The discussion before Council has I'M
doubleday aroused a more general inter-
est in the hospital matter than had ex-
listed heretofore. The citizens generally
are taking an interest in the question, and
it is likely that good many of them
will be heard from on both sides. As far
as the physicians are concerned, the fight
seems to have settled down to one for
hospital privileges, in which those who
are not now enjoying these privileges
think they are entitled to share.