The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-06-07
May Re Opened Free I'd
Public I naer Deal
Now Pending.
PLANS DISCUSSED II
AT CONFERENCE.
While No Definite Agreement
Has Been Reached, It Is Known.
That Negotiations Have II
About Been Closed To
Be Operated BY s5
City. .5

Although no DEFINITE statement hal
been given to the public, 1t became
known yesterday that negotiations ara
pending. the result of which map
mean that the Memorial Hospital Will
be presented to the city of Richmond
to be owned and operated is II free
institute Va Several months ago when
The Times Dispatch printed a state
ment TO this effect. there were vig-4
orous denials. due evidently to the
fact that no definite or final agree-
ment had been reached
Several Conferences Held
The plan was never aba ndoned 4
Lately. however. there have been
number of conferences at which rep-A
resentatives Of the hospital board and
representatives of the city have dis
cussed the matter In all OF Its de-
tails. and now 1t Is known that an \
agreement is In sight But the propo-
sition. SO far a the city is concerned Il
Council. inasmuch as the city will be 1
called upon In the event the deal Is
closed. TO appropriate money to MAIN
tain the hospital This cost ii is 4
claimed, will be nominal, compared
with the magnitude OF the gift.
sclf-Pcrpetuntlns Board.
BY the terms OF the agreement now
pending. the Memorial is to be man
aged by a board OF Ave members.
three representing the institution and
two representing the city. tits stlpn-s
lated that the Mayor and the presl-
dent OF the Board of Health shall be
ex-offlcio members OF this board.
though.t will be self-perpetuating,
Under this arrangementit is pointed
out that the hospital Will not be under
political management. that no such 4
conditions could prevail as have been
found heretofore In the conduct of the
city Home Hospital. that 1t could be
as in the past, and therefore continue
to rank as one of the best organiza-
tons in the South.
No Offer to Sell.
There is no offer on the part OF the
Hospital Board 10 sell the Memorial to
the city. The property as 1t stands
to-day is worth s226,o0o. although this
does not include its good name, It's E
reputation and Its record of years OF
usefulness. Exactly what 1t would cost
the city for maintenance Is not known.
Should 1t be turned into Il strictly
free institution, the cost might be
heavy. although the general under-t
standing is that this would not be the
case; that while 1t would be free to all
who asked, there would still lie high
class pay wards for those who could
afford 1t. Again. 1t Is stated that the
influence and standing OF the institu-
ton would not be hurt BY the fact that 4
1t is free, especially as the Memorial
for years has done tremendous \
amount OF charity work, and has never
turned away a patient because he hap-&
pcned to lack funds M, 3st5B z
There were reports yesterday that
the city's end of the negotiations had
been handled BY Chairman II. r.. Pol-5.
lard, Jr.. of the Finance Committees,
but Mr. Pollard declined last night 10 /.
discuss tho matter In any of It's phases.
Mny Soon Reach Council.
The Council Committee on Relief OF
the Poor. which conducts the AFFAIRS
OF the City Home Hospital. has before
II now q movement by which IL is hoped
to secure 100000 by q special bond
Issue rider for the erection and equip
ment OF strictly free municipal hos
pital There is objection to the rider"
feature because of the lack OF infor-
nation and because of the belief that
the whole bond Issue plan for improve
ments might be defeated should elev-S3
enth- hour provisions be added. Itwas y
said yesterday that the new hospital
proposition had fastened negotiations .
with the Memorial board. and members
OF the Council who have heard of the
offer believe that the matter may be-.
presented at the meeting Of She lower
branch tomorrow night 5ss