The Savannah morning news., 1903-02-13
HOSPITALS ASK AID
TELFAIR HOSPITAL AND GA. IN
PRIMARY ASK COUNTY.
FOR LARGER APPROPRIATIONS.
PETITION WILL PROBA-
BLY, BE ACTED ON FAVORABLY.

Committee which VIII Have the
Making Up of the Budget in
Churge-ChairmanL athrOp Thinks
That TeIfair Petition VIII he
Granted Institution of n Jail
Hospital VIII Relieve the Georgia
InfirmaFy of an AppreciabIe
Amount of Charitable Work.
The Telfair Hospital and the Georgia
Infirmary, by separate petitions to the
County Commissioners, read at the
meeting of the board yesterday, are
seeking an increase in their present
appropriations. The infirmary wishes
an increase of $1,000, while the Telfair
Hospital asks that the county appro-
pirate an amount equal to its state and
county taxes for 1903 and 1904.
The taxes for the hospital last year
We're 1915. This amount will, of course,
become larger next year, owing to ad-
property, so that the actual amount
asked by the authorities of the insti-
tuition is about 81 200 for the two years.
Il cannot say what action will be
taken in the matter" said Chairman
Lathrop after the meeting yesterday.
"The matter has been referred to the
Committee on Budget, which has not
yet been named. This committee will
be named at the March meeting and
will pass upon the matter when they
begin the preparation of the budget
for the year.
TeIfair Will Get 1t.
at is probable that the Telfair Hos
pital will get the amount asked for. 1
can't say about the Georgia Infirmary.
You see we have recently begun Jail
hospital which relieves them of quite
a number of charity cases. This is in
itself an expense to the county. The
Infirmary will get some appropriation.
A great deal depends on the making up
of the budget. Last year we allowed
$4,000 for charity. 1t would be i'm
possible to say how large an amount
will be allowed this year."
1t was represented to the board that
the income of the Telfair Hospital was
scarcely sufficient to meet the operating
expenses of the institution; that owing
to the increased number of patients,
and in order to provide for future re-
quirements, they have been compelled
to add to it's facilities, and that a new
hospital building is now being erected.
They say that it will be impracticable
for them to pay for these improve
ments. and at the same time continue
to meet the growing demands upon it's
resources, unless it receives temporary
assistance from the county.
The authorities called the attention
of the board to the fact that they had
never before been the recipients of any
assistance from the county. The petit
ton was signed by President Louis p
Minis and Secretary Picnic w. War
field. 1t was referred to the Committee
on Budget, with power to act.
Georgia Infirmary's Cause.
In asking the county for an increase
III it's appropriation from $4,000, to 49,
600, the authorities of the Georgia
Infirmary set forth the reports for the
past year, together with a report for
the previous year, to show the in
creased amount of work done by the
institution. They also appended
statement of the various things need
ed at the institution, which can only
be got by an enhancement of the ap-
The report shows that during the
past year the institution cared for CTS
patients as against $50 the year before
an increase of 21.3 per cent. The
amount of work done by the hospital
was more than 80 per cent charitable.
The expenses for the past year were
$,9O3, as against $6,9S8 the year before,
being an increase of more than 13 per
cent. By reason of the increased num-
Der of patients the expenses of the in
stitution were nearly $1,000 larger than
during the previous year, notwith-
standing the strictest economy was
practiced.
Slept on the Floor.
The year, they further show, ended
with a deficit of $467. The work OF
the institution have been seriously
crippled because of lack of things
needed. In some cases patients have
had to sleep on the floor. Among
other things which the president of
the institution submitted to the
board were very much in demand were
an additional ward for men, more help
to care for the patients, a white train
ed nurse for night duty, a surgical
ward where surgical cases can be kept
separate from the general ward, a larg-
er operating room, electric lights in
stead of lamps, and a furnace instead
of stoves The petition was signed
by Charles M. Gilbert, president