The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1907-02-07
Men and Things in Augusta

The deferred hearing on the resolve APP
proprating $1,000 year for two years for
the Waldo County General Hospital before
the committee on appropriations and finan-
cal affairs was held in the State House, Au-
gusta, Wednesday afternoon, ia. 30th
There were present in behalf of the hospi-
tai Hon. John R. Dunton, Mayor of Bel
fast, Hon. VIM. B. Swan, eX-mayor, and
Mrs. Swan, Hon. L. T. Shales, eX-mayor,
Mr.. and Mrs. Thomas b. DinSmOre, Arthur
Richie, Esq, A. A. Howes, VIM. A. Ma
son, Elmer A. Sherman, James e. Durham,
Drs. S. W. johnson, E. D. Tfpley, Elmer
E. Brown and A. Millett of the hospital
staff and Miss Christine Hall, the superin-
tending nurse Mayor Dunton is member
of the law firm of Dunton q Morse, of
which his brother, Robert F. Dunton, who
represents Belfast in the legislature, is the
head. Hon VIM. b. Swan is one of the
oldest business men in Belfast, the head TO
the Swan & Sibley Co., wholesale dealers in
groceries ,grain,e etc. Hon. L. 7. Shales is the
senior member of the grocery firm OF
Shales & Follett, groceries, etc. Mr.. Dins-
more is the head of a large wholesale and
retail shoe business. Mr.. Richie has
served one term as county attorney and is
in practice in Belfast. MIR. HoweS is the
head of the firm of A. A. Howes Co., gro
ceries, drugs and medicines, and has been
in business in Belfast more than half
century William A. Mason is the senior
member of the hardware firm OF Mason u
Hall and has done the city good service on
the board of assessors, the school commit
tee and as a road commissioner. MIR. Elmer
fisherman is leather board manufacturer
and does a large business in that line. Nj.
James c. Durham is the proprietor OF
woodworking factory, having succeeded his
father in the business. DrS. S. W. john
son and f. D, Tapley are practicing physl-
clans of Belfast and Dr.. A. Millett of Sears
mont. The latter is a member of the U. 5.
board of examining surgeons DR.. Brown
is an eve and ear specialist with offices in
Belfast and Bangor. Mrs. VIM. b. Swan
and Mrs. Thomas B. Dinsmore are active
members of the Woman's Hospital Aid, an
organization which was largely instrument
tai in securing the establishment of the hos
pital and " nici has rendered it great finan
cial aid. Mrs. Swan is one of the vice pres
idents of the W0man's Aid aud Mrs. DlnS-
more is the president. 1t may be justly
claimed that this is a representative dele
CATION of citizens and they Went to the hear
ing without solicitation. and at their own
expense, simply to manifest their interest
in an institution which has amply demon
strated its usefulness. 1t is to be regretted
n H. =
nance committee, who has given so much
of his time and his no less valuable bust
ness experience to the financial manage
ment of the hospital, could not have been
present. He went to Augusta to attend
the hearing first appointed, but his arrange.
ments were then made for going to
California and he was on his way when
this hearing took place. His person
al acquaintance at Augusta, he having rep
resented Belfast two terms in the legisla-
ture, would have been of great assistance.
In opposition to the resolve in aid of the
Waldo County General Hospital there APP
peared DrS. Kilgore and Wilson of Belfast,
hired attorney, stenographer and few
witnesses
Al lut opening VI Inc hearing photographs
of the interior and exterior of the hospital
and copies of the report for the years 1905
and 1906 were handed members of the COM
mittee. This perhaps is a good place to
correct some Measurements as to the
value of the hospital property. The house
was built by wealthy resident of Belfast
for his own occupancy at cost of up
spared in obtaining the best of material
and most perfect construction. On the
death Of the owner and of the members of
his family the house was unoccupied for
some years, but was not on the market nor
was it ever offered for rent. 1t might have
been sold at ore time to a southern gentle
mau for summer residence for d much
larger sum than was paid for it by the
hospital association, and the buildings
alone could not be duplicated today for
four times their cost to the association.
Mayor Dunton in presenting the case to
thu committee submitted petitions, numer-
ouSly signed, from many Waldo County
towns and was followed BY other friends
OF the hospital. DR., kilgore presented the
case for the opposition, aided by his hired
attorney, who seemed to be of the imprt S.
sion that he was in police court and cross
examining a lot of criminals. As the hear
ing progressed it was sized up by disinter-
ested persons as d doctors quarrel - and
as The Journal does not wish to take part
in quarrel-having at heart only the in
terests of the hospital, which are of far
greater Importance to the community than
those of an individual or individuals-We
shall not attempt to go into the details of
what was at times an acrimonious con-
troversy. Dr. Kilgore's main point was
that the hospital was close corporation
and that many physicians of the county are
excluded. He denied that he had been
asked to join in the movement for estab-
fishing the hospital, while others state that
he was invited. This is a question of
veIacity which We do not feel called upon to
decide. He made many and serious charges
against the hospital, but as a gentlemen
present said after the hearing ''proved
none of them" The hearing which began
at p. m. lasted until nearly O'Clock.
Among those present was DR.. w. H.
Harris, grandson of the late Hon. A. G.