The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-01-21
BOTH SIDES CLAIM TO WIN.
HOSPITAL PEOPLE THINK THEY
HAVE BEST OF FIGHT.

The Temporary Acceptance of the
Hospital Proposition Carried by
Vote of to 4 in Council Commit
tee of the Whole-AIdermen Mills
and Doyle Say the City Has no
Money With Which TO Build a New
HOspital-Those Who Favor "a New
City Hospital Think the Trend of
Council In That Direction Very
Plain.
The action of Council in accepting the
hospital proposition and continuing the
hospital appropriations until July l and
at the same time appointing committee
to look into the feasibility and cost of es-
tablishing a city hospital was var.ousiy
discussed yesterday Many were inclin-
ed 10 think that this dual action showed
plainly the bent of mind of Council, or of
the majority of that body. which is the
same thing, toward a public hospital, and
that it is only matter of time when this
step will be taken.
The friends of the hospitals thought
| otherwise. While the temporary accep-
lance of the proposition was in the ma
partial victory for the hospitals and eeel
! reasonably assured that at the expi alton
Of the time named the agitation for a city
hospital will have been abandoned ana
that the city will be ready to enter into
the proposed arrangement indefinitely.
Mayor Myers, when asked about the
matter, said that the action of Council
was neither friendly nor unfriendly to the
hospitals. TT is a temporary arrange
ment," he said. land will give us the
opportunity of seeing how the hospital
plan works. If we find that we have any
influence in the control of these institu-
tons we may be disposed to continue the
plan further The hospitals are assured of
their appropriations for the time named,
and in the meantime the city will have
ample time in which to investigate the
question of establishing a public hospital
and deciding what steps it will take in
the matter"
Alderman Mills, who occupies the dual
position of a member of the Council, and
president of the Savannah Hospital, was
inclined to regard the result as favorable
to the hospitals. In fact, he considered it
rather a victory for the hospitals as
tive in their opposition to the present hos.
Tital system voted against the temporary
acceptance, while the friends of the hos
pital voted for the resolution which was
carried by a vote of to 4.
Alderman Mills regards the idea of the
establishment of public hospital by the
city as visionary. with $81 COO appropri-
ated to house drainage this year, and $685.
90 to be expended for the same purpose
next year" he said. 1.-The city could not
afford to give a sufficient sum for hos
pital. Paper estimates are very easily
made, but when it comes to the actual
work it will be found that $4,000 will
hardly suffice to build and equip hosp-
tai while the cost of conducting it will be
much greater than has been estimated.
| The city would do much better to give
such money as it can afford to the en-
largement and improvement of the pres
| ent institutions"
Alderman Doyle, who is a staunch friend
! of the hospitals, is on the same line as
! Alderman Mills. He regarded the result
! In Council as a victory for the hospitals,
| and wished it understood that he voted
for the resolution, while Aldermen Wells,
Dixon, Haas and Graham voted against
it. 1t was Alderman Dixon and not AL
| derman Doyle who cast the vote against
| the resolution In open Council
Il am satisfied that the plan proposed
| by the hospitals and accepted by Council
will be continued indefinitely" said Alder
man Doyle. THE city has no money with
which 90 build new hospitals. and It IS
useless to entertain any such idea"
Alderman Haas, who was one of those
who voted against the resolution in Com
mittee of the Whole, said that he did so
because he did not think 1t would be any
benefit to either the city or the hospitals.
What the city should do" said Alderman
Haas sis simply to continue its appro-
pria tons to the hospitals as ii has done
in the past There is no question of any
acknowledgement of the funds. The city
will eventually have to build its own hos
pital. probably within the next two years"
The committee appointed by Mayor My
ers to consider the feasibility and cost of
establishing and conducting a public hos
pital under the control of the city consists
of Aldermen Graham, Williams, Dixon.
Haas and Tiedeman. The committee will
doubtless be allowed its own time in which
TO investigate and report.
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