Omaha daily bee., 1908-12-01
BIG BOOK MISSILE.
Council Chamber Scene of ely
Democratic Row.
DAVIS HURLs CHARTER AT sE
Volume Misses DR.. Connell and :
Lee Bridges.
ZIlrMAN AND JOHNSON END FRA :
Tackle Bellicose Alderman and Hold
for Down"
CoNNELL GETS VOTE OF THANKS
Health Physician EmerEes UnscHthed
Physically and with Endorse
ment of All CounciImen
save Two.
CoNNELL GETS VOTE OF THANKS

Boarding the lion In his den and being
compelled to dodge city charters. heavy
ordinances and important and bulky Off
ciai documents sent flying through the air
i'm his direction by DR. j. c. Davis, demo-
cratic councilman frCm the Eighth ward,
DR.. II. W. Connel, the democratic health
physician emerged from the council
chamber yesterday afternoon, not only un-
harmed and unscathed, but with a nice
little resolution OF recommendation from
the council tucked away.
The Eighth ward councilman last Tues
day night challenged the health comms
sioner to combat and the democratic
health commissioner accepted the chal-
lenge, the fray being scheduled for the
Monday afternoon meeting of the com
mlttee OF the whole. DR.. Davis lengthy
report showing the number Of charity
cases cared for in private hospitals and
paid for by the city, was referred to this
committee and the councilman was there
TO defend 1t, and the health commissioner
10 defend himself The councilman en-
tered into a lengthy dissertation in which
he contended that the city should not
pay for INDECENT persons iii or injured,
that they should be taken to the county
hospital or at least within three days,
and that the health commissioner should
be restricted in his powers, He closed his
address by saying that the health COM
missioner was off" when he accused the
councilman OF enraity.
Here They Come.
Then the trouble began.
Il don't accuse you OF enmity." replied
DIR. Connell. II just accuse you of being
a d-n fool. that's all"
The words were barely out OF his mouth
when DR.. Davis grabbed bound volume
of the city charter and ordinances and
hurled It at DIR. Connen
~, The health commissioner lodged and
the big book hit Councilman Bridges, who
was sitting behind, on the nose. Then
Dr. Davis threw q handful of Official
documents and was just starting 70 climb
over his desk to get to the heath COM
missioner when Councilman Zlmti an and
Councilman johnson tackled and ksld him
for down, though he struggled for a
time.
Chairman Bedford raised his hands in
N1he motion OF benediction and said:
There, there, this won't do, gentlemen"
DR.. Connell stood firm and resolute with
his arms folded on his manly breast, and
a dead calm settled over the comDatants
and the non-combatants.
Then COnneII Talks.
Then DR.. Connell gave his side of the
story.
He gave the council the same facts as
to the treatment Of the eight leading
cases picked out by DR.. Davis (as pub
lislied In The Bee last Thursday and fol-
lowed with statistics to show that he
has spent less in caring for indgcnt per-
sons than his predecessors In office. Ac-
cording to these official figures, during
the fourteen years from 1892 TO 1906 sl5sS2,
or S.14l per year, was spent for the care
OF sick and injured in private hospitals.
From June l, 1905, to June 1, 1893. 1856,
or $500 A year was spent by DR.. Connell
in private hospitals. The present city ply
sicIan has spent sl6l year less. there
fore, than his predecessors.
The ,health commissioner said his instruc-
tonpf to all hospitals In all cases were
to collect II possible from the patients,
their relatives friends or their employ
ers. and he read a letter from DR., B. N.
Torrey. superintendent Of the Omaha Cen
eral hospital substantiating this the
perintendent stating that from 25 to 30 per
cent of all city patients paid for their
care
During 1907, 621 charity cases were cared
for In 81. Joseph's hospi hl, the total num-
ber OF days care being gt5si, or an average
OF forty-four and halfl days each. Dur
Ing 1905 55S charity caseS have been cared
for at St. Joseph's the total number OF
days care being 23,S25. or an average of
horty-thrce and one-third days each. Fully
two-thiris Of these charity cases came
from the city OF Omaha, cases which the
city rightfully should take care Of. the
health commissioner said. but cases for
which the hospital authorities received no
c1n
In return for all this the city of Omaha
has paid St Josaph's hospital but N,1sl
since Or Connell has been health commits
slcner. on ssaS.5o per year,
pr. Cornell closed by characterlzing DR.
Davis reiuluton TO limit the care Of in
dlgent petsons IN private hospitals TO three
eays When they must be removed 10 the
county Hospital, II they are residents Of
the county, or somewhere else n they
are not. az a disgrace to the man who
introduced the resolution and a disgrace
% the rarity ne Claims - rooresent'
CommissiOner Commended.
Councilman Bridges then made a motion
70 place DR.. Tavis resolution and the
lengthy document accompanying It on file
and 10 commend Dr. Connell for his action.
The motion was adnrted Or. Davis and
Councilman Bruoker from the Fifth cast
ing the only negative votes.
But little other business was transacted
by the council in its committee meeting
Counoilman ElFasser brought up the city
abstraeter's report OF city property which
As occupied by private parties and tried
10 pass a resolution requiring for the ap-
praisemsnt OF all city property. This was
lost and upon motion OF Councilman Nc
Govern the report was placed on file.
Councilman Bridges then made a motion
which was carried, instructing the city
legal department to enter into contracts
on the part of the city with the occupants
OF all city land, the contracts requiring
the payment Of rent for the occupancy.
The demand OF the s. D. Mercer COM