The Portland daily press., 1899-03-09

~ hh0 EiknI W ouHHOro ~ We
coming up this morning. I cannot see TIL
necessity of postponing it again"
Mr.. Philbrook agreed. He said: ION
Of Difference to the chairman Of th'
finance committee, from whose COMMITTEES
room this resolve came, il il is his wish
will withdraw the motion; but 1 know
that there are some absent who would de-
sire to be heard in the matter"
That opened the door and MIR. Manley
made his speech. Said Mr.. Manley: 81
do not wish to suppress any member who
desires to be heard. II there are those alb
sent who desire 90 speak against the
measure would not press my request.
Now, MIR. Speaker and gentlemen oil
tn, House. this Eye and Ear Iuflrmary is
not new institution. 1t was established
thirteen years ago in the city OF Port
land. We had very careful and exhnus-
tive hearing in regard to this matter be-
fore the finance committee. Some forty
persons from Portland were present We
knew very we'll that there had been some
jealousy, a little difficulty, between some
of the staff officers of that institution.
We advertised the hearing for more thsn
two weeks in every paper in Portland ana
in the Kennebec Journal. AT the hearing
the chairman of the committee over ana
over again asked if there was any one 10
be heard in opposition to this proposition.
Not single person appeared.
II want to say to my friend from Dres-
den (Mr. McFaddep) that this personal
difficulty in this Institution was only
difficulty between two surgeons. 1t has
nothing whatever to do with the institu-
ton itself. l am not here to defend 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 it as best they can. /
only know that both of those gentlemen
are earnestly in favor of this appropria-
ton for this hospital.
1.-The Maine General Hospital is doing
so much work that another hospital was
needed in Portland, and is needed now.
1t Is very difficult to gain admission to
that hospital by reason of its being al
most 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 throughout the length and
breadth OF this state, as this Eye and Ear
Inhrmary; and / am glad OF having the
privilege Of saying that railroad with
which am connected has for years
adopted the policy of sending any patient
rec of expense to and from that institu-
ion, whenever 1t is reported to any of Its
officers that the patisnt is poor and can
not 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, a clinic
1t which any person can go and have an
operation perform ed free of charge-at no
expense, whatever, no matter whether he
lives in Portland or in Dresden or in Au
gusta. tits not Portland institution.
1t is state institution. And the gentle
man talks about its being rich One dis
tinguished citizen of Portland, to his
crsdit, did give to this institution a large
sum; but they can only uss the 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 $1,000 q year more than we
ire asked to give to this institution. We
have been giving for twelve years to this
institution, and why should We stop now
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 it's entire financial affairs and
hereafter no physician is TO have any.
thing to do with that in
stitution except TO perform his medical or
surgical services AND those services they
are performing for nothing; and I have
the right to say that DIR. Weeks and DR..
Gordon, both of whom gave years Of. their
service to the Maine General hospital, two
men than whom there ore no physicians
in this state who stand higher, said to me
personally that this institution needed
this appropriation, and that with all their
income and with this appropriation they
would fall short and the citizens of Port
land had got, in addition, to raise be-
tween $1,000 ana $4,000 year to keep it go
ing. They need this money, unless you
are going TO blow it out of existence
They have done thirteen years faithful
service. and why shouldn't this charity be
continued This is one of the charities
that we should help, and ! believe that
the representatives of this Legislature have
q duty TO perform as well as question OF
an appropriation to settle. We ought to
do our duty first. Theirs is no trouble
about the appropriation. We have not
been extravaganza in anything. We have
only appropriated for the sick, the unfor-
tunate and for the schools. Ana l am
glad of it, l favor every one of those ap-
preparations, and 1 propose to do it to the
eLd If we must economic, let us
eoonomize in other directions.
Last year in this institution 2333 hours
were spent in the clinical work OF the
out-patient department. The number of
days of free board given TO patients was
1851 an amount five times that provided