Daily Kennebec journal., 1899-03-09

past year. and although they have been
wliitewashed by an investigation OF the
trustees. who were interested parties.
II this House is going to make dona-
tiOn TO that institution. submit that 1t
should he done after an investigation
by this House as to the charges that
have been made. Under the circum-
| stances ] believe 1t is reasonable that
| this resolve should be indefinitely post
| pOned.
Mr.. PHILBROOK of Waterville:
| There several gentlemen absent this
morning who are interested in this bill.
do not wish to delay legislation. but
| in order that all may have an oppor-
tunity to be present and express
themselves. If they desire, I move that
the motion to indefinitely postpone be
| laid on the table and that Friday of
| this week be assigned for it's considera-
| ton.
| Mr.. MANLEY of Augusta: hope the
| gentleman from Waterville, will with
draw that motion. This bill has been
on the table of the House for three or
| four weeks 1t has been assigned and
reassigned and reassigned. and every
person who had any interest in it had
a right to suppose that it was coming
| up this morning. l cannot see the nee
essity of postponing it again.
| MIR. PHII.BROOK: Out of Difference
to the chairman of the finance commit
toe. from whose committee room this
resolve came. if it his wish will with
draw the motion; but l know that
there are some absent who would de-
sire to be heard in the matter.
Mr.. MANLEY: do not wish to sup.
press any member who desires to be
heard. If there are those absent who
desire to speak against the measure
would not press my request.
Now, Mr.. Speaker and gentlemen of
| the House. this Eye and Ear Infirmary
! is not a new institution. 1t was estab-
| lished IL years ago in the city of Port
| land. We had a very careful and ex-
haustive hearing in regard to this mat
ter before the finance committee. Some
40 persons from Portland were present.
We knew very well that there had been
| some jealousy, a little difficulty. be-
| tween some Of the staff officers of that
| institution. We advertised the hear
| ing for more than two weeks in every
paper in Portland and in the kennebec
Journal. At the hearing the chairman
| Of the committee over and over again
asked If there was any one to be heard
| in opposition to this proposition. Not a
single person appeared.
want to say to my friend from
Dresden (Mr. McFadden) that this per-
sonal difficulty in this institution was
only difficulty between two surgeons
| 1t has nothing whatever to do with the
inc itcn1f I nj ho n do.
| fend either one; of those surgeons.
am not here to take any part In the
controversy between them. That is
their private matter and they must
settle 1t as best they can. l only know
that both of those gentlemen are earn
estly in favor of this appropriation for
this hospital. N I.
The Maine General hospital is doing
SO much work that another hospital
was needed in Portland. and is needed
now. II is very difficult to gain admis-
sion to that hospital by reason OF It's
being almost all the time full There
is not an institution in all this State
that In my judgment does so much
good to the plain, poor people through
out the length and breadth of this
State, as this Eye and Ear Infirmary;
and, l am glad of having the privilege
OF saying that q railroad with which l
am connected has for years adopted
the policy Of sending any patient free
Of expense to and from that institution.
whenever ii sis REPORTED to any Of It's
officers that the patient is poor and
cannot afford to pay his expenses We
have transported hundreds of people to
and from that institution They have,
every day in the week except Sunday.
clinic at which any person can go
and have an operation performed free
Of charge-at no expense whatever. no
matter whether he lives in Portland or
in Dresden or In Augusta. 1t Is not a |
Portland institution. 1T is State in |
stit,ition. And the gentleman talks
about it's being rich! One distinguished !
citizen of Portland, to hts credit, did
give to this institution large sum;
but they can only use tho interest OF
that sum. 1t has never received any
thing like the endowment that the
Maine General hospital has: and yet
we give to that Institution $500 !
year more than we are asked to give
to this institution. We have been Civ
ing for u years to. this institution. and
why SHOULD we stop in the midst OF its
usefulness?
This institution now is placed under
the management of able business men
Of the city Of Portland and vicinity.
who manage its entire financial af-
- ~ - 4 $ Il -srs =