The Portland daily press., 1901-02-23
EYE AND EAR INFIRMARY.
There should ne Rigid investigation.
Eastern Argus.l

The charges preferred against the man
agsment OF the Maine Eye and bar In
fimary by Representative Haskell OF
windham, in his speech In support OF his
motion indefinitely TO postpone the re-
solve appropriating $1,000 annually Tor
this institution, are OF n nature that can
not be ignored or sighted. They are the
elimination Of criticisms OF and charges
against the management OF this institu.
tion that have extended over ssVerai
years, and which, 10 the minds OF may
people, have never been satisfactorily dis
posed Of In order that the Institution
may retain the confidence OF the public
ana so maintain its usefulness unim-
paired, the friends OF the management,
as well as its critics, must insist upon
rigid and impartial Investigation as es-
sential 90 o complete vindication. When
a representative feels [sufficiently sure OF
bis facts to declare OF this Institution on
the floor OF the House that "its manage
ment has become 90 execrable and the
methods OF treatment and care OF patients
have become 30 questionable. that the
people of Western Maine must emphati-
cally protest against any further appro-
priation by the StAteh-when this can bs
said publicly and supported BY specific
allegations, 1t Is clear thas the matter
must be sifted to the bottom before any
further Stats aid can properly be grant
ed.
portland Advertiser.
A legislative investigation Of the Maine
Eye and Ear .Ini1rmary seems necessary
after the charges made against that insti-
tuition yesterday by Representative Has
ksll OF Mindnam. Speaking OF motion
by him to postpone Indefinitely the re-
solve approprlating $40, 600 for the Infirm-
airy during the next two years, Mr.. Hrs
ksll said that "its endowment has become
so large, it's management has become so
exeorabie, ana the methods OF treatment
and care of patients have become so ques-
tionable, thst the people OF western
Maine must emphaticaily protest against
any further appropriation by the State. :"
Coming down TO particulars. he stated
that the resources OF the Institution, on
which IL was resolving an annual In
come, exceeded $255, 900; he referred 20
the investigation by the trustees two
years ago of the charges made by DIR
Bowers against the management, and
called It farce; he compared Its work
with that OF the Central Maine hospital,
to the advantage of the latter; and ne
related some specific cases OF abuse al.
legged to have occurred recently. Inc
House voted to reoommit the DILL IL
could do no less After the teasatlonal
and damaging charges made SO publicly
and deliberately by a member OF the Leg
isiature, that BODY owes IL 80 itself ana
TO the State to have the N probed 20 the
bottom. There must be full, free and
fair Investigation. 1t Will bs for the In
terests Of the hospital. as well as OF the
public, to have hese charges cleared up.
once for all, and the Institution freed
from the onus of suspicion. The investi-
cation by the board Of trustees was not
conclusive, in public opinion, because II
was suspected of bias What Is needed
is an examination by a tribunal that can
by no means be accused of partisanship
or selr.interest, but In which full conf
dence Will be placed. The Maine Eye and
Ear Inflrmary 10 designed for great ana
noble work in behalf Of the afflicted
humanity. That is all the more reason
why its management should be Iree from
Fcandal.
(Biddeford Journal.)
The Maine Eye and Ear lnfrmary was
the target for red-hot shot In the Legisla-
ture, Wednesday. The feeling that this
Institution aud its methods offer fit
subject for thorough investigation will
moi