The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-03-19
LIVELY. SESSION
, Of COMMITTEE
Cunst Replies toWilliams
In a Very Long
Statement.
tlrr ------
SHARP CRITICISM OF
NEGRO ALMSHOUSE
Declares 1t Is Disgrace to the
City-Refers to Conflict" Be-
tween Two Medical Col
leges Here ~ Much
Noise at the
Meeting.

Tho Council Committee on Relief OF
the Poor held Il characteristically noisy
meeting last night for the considera.
tlon Of the alternative plans for new
negro almshousc and an emergency
hospital. MIR. Gunst, of Monroe Ward.
was the principal speaker, submitting
carefully prepared answer to the
argument recently made by Dr. Il. G.
Williams for country home for the
andigent negroes and centrally To-
Gated emergency hospital for both |
races. AS usual, the argument waxed
warm In the comltltU,e. and the In
cvttablc confusion which always ensues |
when this question Is under discussion |
marked the session.
At one time, while DIR. Williams had |
the noor and was speaking. Mr.. Gunst |
endeayorcd to interrupt him with a |
question or to interiect some state
ment. when Subchairman Hobson in. |
tcrvened. He pounded with his gavcl |
In such q way as to make a terrific |
noise. and finally, In high key. in
sisted that DR.. Williams had the floor
Mr.. Gunst apparently felt aggrieved
ut the charman's emphatic insstcncc.
and at one time threatened to leave
the room. Harmony was finally re-
stored. and the proceedings were not
seriously interrupted thereafter.
The discussion or this subject seems
an interminable one. In one phase or
another 1t has engaged the attention
of the committee for more than year.
and the end lis not yet The commit
tee proceeds with little system in
its consideration OF the problem, and
proIongs action on every incidental
question by argument and re-argu-
mcnt. Now however, the end seems
almost In sight. The committee last,
night ordered Mr.. Gunst's paper
printed. and any others which members
desired to submit and when these
nre ready a meeting viii be called
md the subject finally threshcd ont
and vote had. 1t may be months
yet before any final decision is
reached. And even when It Is, there
IS not sufficient fund with which to
carry out the views Of either OF the
two factions of the committee.
Gunst's Reply.
Alderman Gunst made his reply to
tho paper read by DIR. Ennion c. VIII
liams recently. wherein tho physiclan-
Z councilman advocated the establish
nent of a centrally located emergency
hospital and the removal of the negro
amshouse to the City Farm in Henrico
county The reply was carefully
prepared typewrittcn paper The
I
contained in DIR. Wllliams's presenta-
tion Of his plan, and replied to each
of them
Mr.. Gunst stated that not men,
Der OF the COMMITTEES entertaining the
same view as he of this matter has
ever expressed himself in opposition
to an emergency hospital, and on the
contrary each has declared himself
favorable to such an institution, when
tho demand for 1t Is ripe, and when
the population and the financial con-
dition OF the city will warrant 1t. He
esnied the assertion Of DR.. Williams
mat the poor of the city realize that
the City Home is not n good and
proper hospital. declaring that tho
statement Is wholly creation of the
doctors own brain. He deniAa empha-
ticallv the assertion that the facts sus-
tanned such claim. He further
stated that the erection of new
colored home, containing hospital
and the Improvement of the hospital
Mt the white home. should be "the
highest ambition, thought and desire
OF q God-fcaring community"
Continuing, Alderman Gunst CON
tended that the plan Of DR.. Williams
city fully ten to nfteen years and
cause an outlay the city Is not now
prepared to meet. He agreed with
DR. Williams that 1t is manifestly
economical to take men and women
out of the dependent class and make
them wage earners, but challenged him
TO show that even with the lin
tied capacity of the hospital and the
lneagre appropriation single case OF
this sort had ever been neglected,
lilo denied that any cases of disabil-
lty or those requiring surgical re-
lief had presented themselves with.
put being relieved or cured. Mr.
Gunst eulogzed the management and
staff of the City Hospital. Many ma.
ternity cases had been treated without
a single case In which the mother
had died. Contagious cases were oi
such rare occurrence that the eXpen,
diture proposed by the doctor wal
not warranted. Tubercular cases art
already being cared for, said the speak
er, by the Board Of Health
lmpracticable Now.
Under different conditions MI. Guns
granted that II would be desirable u
Haye q centrally located city hospital, bu
to saa MIKE the the matter mpraeeabs aaa y unda
sirable and unfeasibe at this time" III
asserted that there Is MT q sufficient Dc
Thee the expense @ connected with erecting an, an,
maintaining same, and that this wa
sasy SR sRoTe bK the II rep9SF g hs PRES
HTakg HeTs up rsihsss ths asF Ae ot
Hams that d the pStifsnts IL s.as at an emergens
specialists, in order that they have til
experlenco and the students the henc
pr tho clinics, Mr.. ,tGllnst asked whY'th
ihe community We're 70 have no sue
:ssSsa :ss ma hsss III w tsss,s'ss
g. pSss Sp sa ssssssss nSspt o
s Grated by two faculties, which havo bee