The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-01-02
WILL ENLARGE ITS STAFF.
ST. JosEPH's INFTRMARY TO NAME
A BOARD Of MANAGERS.

The Plan Agreed Upon Some Time
Since, But Held I'm Allegiance BE-
cause of the Hospital Fight Before
COunciI-A NOn-Sectarian Board,
Consisting of Two Protestant, Two
Hebrews and Three Catholics to
BE Nnmed-some of the Physicians
Now on the Outside Likely to BE
Named on the stan.
ST. Jcsephs Infrmary, or rather the Sis
lers of Mercy who conduct the institution,
has under contempla ton the selection of
a board of managers from the citizens
generally, and the appointment of hospi-
tnl staff 1t is likely that this movement
will be put in effect at an early date 1t
is at present held in allegiance because of
TIE fight upon the hospital question, which
has been waged before the City Council
during the last month.
Had the Council postponed its demand
uron the hospitals to be allowed to name
representatives upon their stats or had
the discussion taken a different turn it is
likely that some of the physicians who
have been clamoring for hospital privi-
leees would have before this been enjoy
ing these selfsame privileges at the st.
Joseph's Infirmary.
While The representatives of St JOS
ephs have avoided all allusion to their in
tentons in this direction al the several
dis ussions which have taken place with
che cily's representatives. it is neverthe-
less true that Ibis departure was under
Goa temp a ion before the hospital question
was preached in Council and that the s.
cussion of this issue has kept the move
ment from being carried into effect.
When the Sisters of Mercy reached the
decision some time ago to enlarge and inn
Prove their hospital property at Taylor
and Habersham they also took under cen
sideration the ACCESSIBILITY of selecting a
oard of managers from the citizens, and
Of charging the hospital staff. Rev. B. J.
Is Ell ey, vicar general, was called into con-
sultation with the Sisters for the purpose
of advising them in the matter. DR.. M.
f. Dunn, the visiting physician of the In
Urinary, was also present, and gave the
movement his approval. 1t was agreed
that board of managers shou be named
as stated for the purpose of giving the
Sisters the benefit of their advice in the
business affairs of the institution. and
also that the hospital stan should be en-
largsd.
This having been agreed to, the parties
present submitted number Of
names for consideration and
LIST of seven gentlemen was
agreed upon as suitable persons to serve
as hospital managers, and Father Kelley
was requested to lay the matter before
these gentlemen and invite their accept
ance Just at this stage of the move
ment the hospital fight developed in Coun-
GILL The consequence is that the gentle
men in question have never been notified
of their selection.
Il did not care" said Father Kelley. In
discussing the matter yesterday, ito have
the Sisters who have charge of the hosni-
al being placed in the light of being
forced to do something which they had
already decided to do upon their motion.
Had the announcement been made at that
time it would, of course, have had the ap-
pearance of a concession offered with a
view to evading the city's demand, and |
did not care TO have it appear in that
light The matter has consequently been
held in allegiance.
Father Kelley said that he was satisfied
from the trend of the discussions before
Council that the fight waged by the physi-
clans was directed a ine Savannah Hos
ptal and that the st. Joseph's Infirmary
had only been dragged in incidentally He
also had private assurances that such
was the case As he had no interest in
the matter himself and had only attend
ed the conferences with the citys repre-
sentatives az the request of the Sisters of
Mercy, he was very much in hopes that
the Meter had ended, so far as the St
Joseph's Infirmary is concerned at least.
As the infirmary has declined the propo-
sition of the city. in common with the
other hospitals, he thinks it is now free
to go ahead with its plans AS the gen
tlemen whose names were agreed upon
nave not yet been notified, he did not feel
free to make the lis, public
THE board will be non-sectarian." sal
Father Kelley. THE list of nen ayers
agreed upon includes two Protes ants, two
Jews and three Catholics"
The fact that a non-sectarian board OF
managers is to be selected viii doub less
surprise many people, who doubtless labor
under the Impression that the ST Josepn's
Lnirmary is owned and controlled by the
Catholic Church for the benefit of its own
people.
Mayor Myers fell into this error in a re-
cent interview on the hospital Qu estion
published in the Morning News. In re-
plying to Mayor Myers in card in Sun
days Morning News Father Kelley stated
that the infirmary is owned and mango |
by the Sisters of Mercy and Is not intend
ed for the sick of any particular Teno nj
nation, race or political views. The Sc
lection of a non sectarian board of men-
ayers is exactly in line with this state
ment.
As the Sisters of Mercy are arranging
" SHiHl SV inc lhNiHldi y anu, II lac, 10
convert it into a large and fully e1uiprc
modern hospital. the selection Of a bcald
of managers of the character named and
the enlargement of its staff wolld natur-
ally tend to populsrize the institution ana
increase its usefulness. which is the OBJECT
in view. 1t will doubtless be a surp-ise to
the physicians who have been waRing such
determined fight for hospital piivil ges
TO learn tha. Some cf them are So near q
realization of their desires. II is kcown
that among the physicians under consid-
Grafton for appointment 10 the STAFF is at
least one of those who have been promi-
nent in the fight for staff appointments by
the city.
xx-u-nEr Mum