The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-09-17
FREE HOSPITAL
NEEDED BY CITY
Question of Caring for INDECENT
Ill Is Now a Pressing
Problem.
PLAN PUT UP TO COUNCIL
City Home Visiting Staff Sug-
gests Three Methods Which
May Be Followed.

The question Of adequately provid-
| ing for the INDECENT i'll came again u
the surface last night at the meeting OF
the Council Committee for Relief OF the
Poor, and with 1t a report by the visit
ing STAFF Of the City Home recommend
ing that the city take immediate actioh
on this pressing problem
After Reviewing the present neeos
of the City Home. the special commit
tee appointed by the visiting stan
comes to the conclusion that the prob
lem can be met by the city in only
three ways: 1t may rem odel the pres
ent City Home and add such buildings
as may be necessary; 1t may acquire
a hospital already erected and make
such additions as the demands OF the
city may justify, Or it may erect a
complete new hospital
Urge Immediate Action.
The report is signed by Drs. George
Ben Johnston. Charles r. Robins
Manfred Call and James w. Hensen.
each of whom was present last night
and addressed the committee. They
pointed out the utterly inadequate
plant at the dispo sal Of the city for
taking care IF the INDECENT sick, and
urged immediate action along some con
sistent plan.
Because of the fact that the total
cost of the improvements and add
lions recommended by the report would
exceed $4,000, the committee of physi-
clans advised that the Council decide
before taking acti On which Of the three
pans suggested 1t would adopt. If 1t
was the ultimate purpose OF the city
to build a new hospital on another
site, it was pointed out, a number OIL
the improvements at the City Home
could be held in allegiance. The same
was true if the city proposed to &C
quire a hospital Already erected.
Appoints Subcommittee.
Upon the suggestion Of DR.. Robins,
Chairman J. J. Mitchell appointed a
subcommittee consisting Of Messrs
Welsh, Moo:e and Jmlauf to confer
| with like committee from the visit
ing staff. with the idea of ascertaining
the relative merits of the three plans.
The join committee will meet at 4
o'clock tomorrow afternoon at the City
Home and report us findings to the
Council Committee on Relief Of the
Poor at its next regular meeting.
Pending the solution of the perma-
nent hospital problem ii was strongly
urged by a number Of physicians pres
ent that an appropriation be made for
the immediate erection at the City
Home or at Pine Camp of a pavilion
for tubercular patients. The pr ov,s-
.. ions for this class of the ciry's charges
II was reported. Were extremely mad
equate. This. as well as a number OF
related matters, were referred to the
special subcommittee.
No Caps For Chau6eurs.
The serious note Of the meeting was
in measure relieved by a commune
cation from the City Attorney passing
upon the right of the City Home &c
devote part of its appropriation to the
purchase of regulation chaufeurs
,, caps for the drivers Of the City Home
am bulances.
City Attorney Pollard gave 1t as
his opinion that if said caps can be
Included in the category Of legitimat,
automobile equipment. which the City
Home had an undoubted right to pur.
chase, il might supply the caps with
| out exceeding its powers. If, however
| said the City Attorney, they are items
| of personal dress used by chaureurs
! their purchase would not be justified
! 1t looked like no caps this trip.