Evening journal., 1905-07-27
TRUSTEES HAD SHARP TILT
AT MONTHLY MEETING
Friction Between Superintendent Blackburn, of
the County Hospital and Employees Brought
Before Board Chairman Tapped"
Mr.. Roberts

that the farm committee might retire
and consider the subject the only case
that was brought TO its attention being
that of Clarence Baton, the farmer
whom Superintendent Blackburn alleg-
ed refused to take orders from him.
Upon returning the committee reported
that it was its judgment that Mr..
Baton should do as the superinten-
dent directed. Mr.. Roberts moved that
the report of the committee be accepted
but Chairman Horrigan refused 10
entertain the motion claiming that It
condicted with a resolution passed
some time ago.
This led to more discussion and an
appeal from the decision of the chair
was asked for. During the controversy
Chairman Horrigan brought down his
gavel so strnuously on the table that
! ink bottles. pens and pencils quivered.
Several members were on their feet
talking at one time and In the excite
ment Mr.. Horrigan tapped Mr.. Roberts
on the arm with his mallet, ordering
| him to keep quiet and sit down. This
aroused Mr.. Roberts ire and he de-
clared that IL the tap was repeated he
would tap" Mr.. Horrigan with a
chair. Things looked serious for a
moment but better judgment prevailed
and order was restored.
On. suggestion Of Dr. Ball the COM
mittee was instructed to retire and put
their motion in writing so that it could
be properly presented before the trus-
tees. A recess was taken for five
minutes. when the committee returned
and suggested that the difficulties b'
adjusted by it's members and that q
report be made to the board at the
next meeting. In order to avoic
further contention a motion to adjourn
was put and carried.
CAUSE OF CONTENTION.
One Of the causes Of contention al
yesterdays meeting was the remova
of an aged colored woman, Henrietta
Lewis, to the room adjoining the oper
Iating room and to which patients afte
, having undergone an operation ar
taken for treatment. The woman wa
! particularly offensive and objection Z
such action was made by some Of tn
nurses, they claiming that the roor
should be kept scrupuiously clean 9
5 all times. By motion 1t was decide
D hereafter that the hospital physician
D should have power to direct in whg
j particular department Of the institl
n tion patients should be placed.
The action Of the trustees in placin
4 the oolored patients in the same war
q with the white patients in the hospitl
a has aroused the employees and especia.
= " the nurses who have to wait on III
a cOlored people. The house committe
recommended that the board hire a
r assistant nurse to care for the sic
= colored people.
. DR.. Ball said an assistant was neede
e but did not think they should make an
4 distinction regarding the color of tn
e patients. Other members thought IN
= nurses should care for the blacks tn
n same as they did for the whites, a
e they were alike poor and wards of tn
county.
DR.. Henry said it would be as we
r. to have a colored nurse for the colore
l. patients I'm their own rooms. He sal
:. there were some cases that demande
- that. He thought they should have
n white assistant also. The hospital con
= mittee was authorized to hire an assis
ant nurse.
Senator L. Helsler Ball was an il
4 terested listener to yesterdays pr
r ceedings.