The San Francisco call., 1908-03-23
STIRS STRIFE AT
FRENCH HOSPITAL
Helps Accusations Against
25uchan and Miqueu Are
Presented
Stormy Meeting of Members at
Which Roncovieri Calls
GOdeau a Liar

A stormy meeting OF the members
OF the French Hospital society was
held yesterday afternoon. at which
the charges made against Germain
Pouchan. q prominent restaurateur and
president of the society, We're aired.
More than 700 attended the meeting,
which was held in Red Mems hall,
Golden Gate avenue. and President
Pouchsn and other officers of the hos
pstsl were accused of conducting the
affairs Of the hospital for their own
hnancisl benefit
During the meeting Julius s. Godeau,
who has taken an active part in op-
posing President Pouchsn. accused
Alfred Roncovieri. superintendent OF
schools. who was acting as chairman, of
favoriug Pouchan. Roncovieri called
Godeau liar, and Godeau replied.
Thank YOU" No trouble ensued as a
result of Roncovieris remark.
AS a result of the meeting a special
committee was selected te investigate
the charges against Pouchan.
Several weeks ago Alexander Help.
an expert operator OF the Y ray ma
chine. who had been dismissed by
President Pouchan. brought charges
AGAINST Pouchan and Superintendent
Alexander Miqueu. Both the president
and the superintendent were charged
with taking articles of food and other
supplies from the hospital and appro-
priating them for their own use. As
p result OF the charges made against
Superintendent Miqueu his resignation
was demanded by a large number Of
the members. superintendent Miqueu
rendered his resignation at a previous
meeting. The committee appointed by
The members TO Investigate the charges
brought by Help reported that the su-
perintendent had been guilty of GER
tain indiscretions.
DEMANDS RECORD OF CHARGES
President Pouchan refused TO resign.
When the meeting was called to order
yesterday afternoon the minutes of the
previous meeting were read. AS soon
as Secretary Millet concluded his read
ing Of the record several of the men,
bers jumped TO their feet and remon-
strated and demanded in angry tones
that a record of the charges be made
in the books Of the meeting. Presi-
dent Pouchan refused TO allow a copy
OF the charges 10 be inserted in the
books as part OF the record of the last
meeting. Instantly there was a cry of
Monsieur le President from several
points Of the room. Considerable ex-
citement prevailed, and a demand was
made that the charges be read and
that the secretary be instructed 70
make record of them in his report of
The meeting.
At this point Julius s. Godeau. who
has been one of the foremost opponents
Of President Pouchan and the leader Of
the faction which is seeking to defeat
him Tor reelection, gained the floor and
made a motion that the charges be
read IT was the consensus of opinion
that the charges should be read. and
when President Pouchan at last con-
sented TO put the question to the meet
ing nearly every hand went up as q
signal that the charges should be read
ORDERED TO TAKE A STOVE
Alexander Helps letter. in which he
charged President Pouchan with an
propriating the property of the hospital
Tor his own use, was read. Cheers were
given Help by those who were In favor
OF The deposing of President Pouchan.
when the charges had been read cries
OF Help" filled the hall. HeIip made
brhf address, in which he said that
ms charges were true, and he called
on Jean Carrere 10 speak. Jean Car
rere said the President Pouchan had
ordered him to take a stove from the
hospital and take it to one of his
restaurants Carrere was at one time
employed in the hospital
AFTER long discussions il was finally
decided that President Pouchan and his
accnser should each choose a COMMITTEES
On nNe 10 investigate the charges and
nlahe report at meeting to be held
April ~ President Poucban chose
Messrs- Raas. Careau. Gouistioux. Thorn
as <-ascoste and Chartrey. and Helms
committee consists OF Isador JassaIIe
. >. Carrere. Ortion, Thiel and Carbe.
"LIAR," SAYS RONCOVIERI
During the reading of the charges
and Tor the remainder of the meeting
Alfred Roncovieri, superintendent of
schools, acted as president he was
accused Of favoring President Pouchan
oy j. > Godeau, the leader of the move
nent against the president. Romeo
Nleri told Godeau that he lied. and
Gedeau said thank you"
Mention was made of the execut,va
committee by Godeau, and President
Pouchan said that Godeau had been the
entire executive committee for several
years.
j. Bergez, chairman OF the committee
appointed to Investigate the charges
mace against superintendent Miqueu.
read the report of the committee. The
committee blamed Superintendent MI
queu Tor taking property belonging TO
the hospital without first obtaining tl,e
consent OF the members. but no men
ton was made of President Pouchan
IN the committees report This caused
another outburst of Indignation from
Eaany OF the members present
President Pouchan was denied tbe
right to speak at the meeting after tbe
charges had been read, bug his persist
ant demand TO be heard was granted
Setter by the chair. He admitted that
ne had taken some of the articles
named ~ Help. but said that he had
scsid for them, and in addition to this
Slat he had given the food and furni
sure 10 poor people. He denied that he
lad ever taken any wine from the hos
pital for use in his restaurants
President Pouchan has brought sniff
against Julius S. Godeau for defama-
eIon OF character. The annual election
of the officers of the French hospital
Will be held next Sunday. and the out
como of the campaign against President
Pouchan and several of his friends
who are also officers, is awaited with
considerable interest.
MEETING OF UNEMPLOYED