The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-12-28
THE HOSPITALS SIDE.
The City's Proposition Declined
without Condition.

me AlAyS Proposition DectlneU
without Condition.
Capt. II. C. Cunningham was the first
spokesman for the hospitals. The propo-
sition submitted had been considered by
the management of the several hospitals,
he said, and they had considered that it
would be impossible for the arrangements
10 surrender their functions to the Mayor
and aldermen. The demand for such a
change had doubtless arisen from mis-
apprehension of the situation. He dis
cussed the character aud conduct of The
hospitals and said that the citizens and
taxpayers on the boards of managers
are as good representa- tives as could be
named by the city. There had been no
charge of mismanagement or misconduct
and there was no reason why any change
in their conduct should be made
The city does not support these hospitals,
Capt. Cunningham said. II contributes
S10,S00 for the support of the three hos
pitals, which is but a mere pittance. The
city of Charleston last year gave $4,000
to Its city hospitals for the care of 900
patients, as against 1880 cared for in the
Savannah hospitals at a total expenditure
Of $is,S00 to both city and county.
The Grady Hospital IN Atlanta receives
$1,000 a year from the city and is con-
trolled by a small number of physicians,
who have exclusive control
The demand for city representation,
Capt. Cunningham said, did not arise from
acknowledgement or i'll treatment of pa
tents, bus from a few physicians who hal
not been named upon the STATS. The
question is as purely an economic one as
ever came before Council. The city con
tributes a certain amount Of money and
ii only has the right TO know whether the
money which it contributes is properly ex-
pended and the patients duly cared for
CHI nh fais. L.
not been placed upon their staffs be allow
ed to foist themselves upon the HOSPITALS
by the aid OF Council.
Capt. Cunningham said the hospitals
could not accept the citys proposition on
any condition. I'VE decline it unequivo-
caly," he said.
Mayor Myers said the hospital people
had declined to make any propositions or
suggestions. The city then formulated a
proposition merely as a basis Of discus
sion.
Capt. Cunningham replied that he
matter. He rehearsed the discussion
and said that the city's proposition had
been considered by several boards.
They had concluded not to accept. 1--WE
have not made any suggestions, and have
none 20 make" he said. From our
standpoint We did not think any change
should be made. We thought IL exceed
ingly unreasonable that the city should
nave made any such demand"
In answer TO the statement that the
physicians were not welcome 20 the hos
Ditais, Capt Cunningham read list of
thirty-oght physicians who have assisted
at or witnessed operations at the Georgia
Innrmary since Jan. ], 1888 including sew
eral OF those who have been prominent
IN their movement against the hospitals.
Dr. A. =. Simmons representing the OPP
poslte side OF the case, said that he mad
some statistics showing how hospitals are
run ia other cities, and how they are run
here, which are simply unanswerabie.
DIT Simmons said he bad performed op-
erations az 81. JOseph's ana the Georgia
lnifmafy, but never a the Savannah
Hospital The condition. as stated by Mf.
Cunningham. he said, ga nor meet che
proposition mn1f 30 fhe city on aii Tho
ehy does not demand tho control ~ tie
hpspitalf u hos simply askol 10 d. AZ
lowed 10 name tNo fepfssfnauffs 0n the
ntaN ~ eaeh hofpliaA This q purely
fcoufineeo 81 Ttlfa Page)