The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-20
CITY HOSPITAL CALLED
"CARCASS OVER WHICH
POLITICIANS QUARREL +"
Take Institution from Graft, the
Cry of City'S Prominent
Physicians.
DISGRACE TO THE CITY
John H. Holiday Declares Man
agement Is Affected by Poll
tics-Talk Applauded.
DISGRACE TO THE CITY

A meeting that may have important re-
suits in bringing the physicians of Indian
apolis to a more intelligent and united sup
port OF every movement calculated to better
the condition of the City Hospital, and, at
the same time. in enlsting the dsinter-
ested and hearty support Of the city au-
thorites for such movements, was that held
on the fifth floor Of the Willoughby building
last evening.
The meeting was a regular one of the
Indianapolis Medical Society. devoted en-
tirely to a discussion of the City Hospital,
and to which had been invited the mayor,
the city controller and members of the
Common Council. The city administration
represented by Mayor Hoffman, City
Controller Dunn and Councilman Fishback,
and the society itself was represented by
a large number of the ablest and most ex-
perienced Of the city's physicians.
The programme of papers read was as
follows:
pital." DR.. G. V. Woolen, first superin-
tendent.
Material Needs and Growth" DR.. Frank
A. Morrison.
''The Hospital as an Institution for In
Dunning and Louis Burckhardt
THE Hospital as - Public Charity" John
II. Holiday.
The paper that attracted the most atten-
ton and that was most warmly commented
upon by the physicians that followed with
discussions, was that read by Mr.. Holli-
day. 1t was frequently interrupted by ap-
plause, and its conclusion was greeted with
loud cries of Hear heart" Mr.. Holiday
n
the hospital by political forces, and advo-
Gates as the only reasonable course the COM
ment from political influences. Mr.. Holli-
day said in part
HOSPITAL A GRAFT.
1.-The City Hospital being paid for by pub
lie taxation, it should be administered in the
most efficient way, the money raised by
taxation being expended solely for the pur-
pose of the institution. and not allowed to
inure to private benefit in the least par
ticular.
II venture to assert this condition has
never been realized. The institution has
been and is a part OF the spoils of politics
subject for graft or individual profit, to
advance some private interest in some way
or other. 1t has steadily deteriorated as
the political control grew stronger. Given
a superintendent appOlnteu TOT pOntlcal rod-
sons, and his whole management must be
affected by them. no matter how consci-
entiouS he may be. He Is under bonds tC
others. Inefficiency is certain 10 follow po-
itical management, the public Is defrauded
of its just dues. and the patients OF services
and surroundings they should have.
The medical profession of this city is
largely responsible for the fact that the
City Hospital is not what Is should be. In
stead of joining hands and trying TO make
a hospital that will be credit TO the com
munity and blessing to its patients, you
have sought TO place it, or have allowed II
TO be placed. at tie mercy of politics. The
management of the City Hospital is I'm youl
hands. If you say II shall be reformed, II
can be done.
Get it out Of politics and put 1t where
political influences cannot affect it, Do no
rest until the spoils system is knocked out
! Trust the people to believe you and bach
you when. they see you are right and il
earnest The people will cheerfully pay L
make IL better. for IL is only when they fee
they are robbed or defrauded that theJ
/ clamor."
The programme OF papers was followed
/ oy what was termed an experience meet
/ ing" Short talks on the papers that haC
been read and on the hospital conditions fl
/ general were made by number of thos,
/ present, including Drs. Wishard Ferguson
/ Edenharter, Ryer. Courtney, Kimberlin anC
/ Wynn, and by Mayor Hoffman, Control
i Ter Dunn and Councilman Fishback Ever
/ physician who talked spoke in the stronges
/ terms OF the disgraceful conditions at tn,
/ City Hospital, DR.. Kimberlin striking tn,
/ keynote when he said: THE City Hospita
has been rotten in every way, in every de
i doctors have left for the politicians to quar-
\ rel over The city officials pledged thei
/ support TO any reasonable movement fo
the instltdtons Improvement.