The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-02-19
WAN 7 HOSPITAL
. TO Be FREE TO ALL
Councilmen Discuss Offer of
Charlotte Williams Cor
poration.
ANNUAL COST PuTAT $4,000
Questions of Operation and
Terms of Admission Are
Subjects OF Debate.
ANNUAL COST PUT AT $4,000

Conferences Will be held this week
between subcommittee of the Coun-
Gil Committees on Finance and Re-
lief of the Poor. and the board of tho
Charlotte Williams Hospital in regard
to plan OF mana cement In the event
which has been offered as a free pub
lie hospital. Eppa Hunton. Jr.. has
made 1t clear that the present owners
are not welded to any particular plan.
merely that they hold as n trust GER
tain charitable property which was
given for the relief of the INDECENT
sick of Richmond. and they hold 1t
to be n part of their trustceship that
In turning II over to the city, proper
safeguards shall be thrown around
the management to see that it carries
out tho intent OF those who gave the
funds with which 1t was erected. Tho
present plan under consideration as
proposed by Mr.. Eunton is for a board
of seven. to consist of the Mayor of
the city and tho chairman OF the
Council Finance Committee x-of1icio,
and i've citizens to be nominated every
two years by the Charlotte Williams
Corporation. and elected by the City
Council, the Council to have right
fails to make nomination.
Cousidcra Arrangement Fair.
Chairman II. r. Pollard. Jr of the
Finance Committee. who may be call
ed the father of tho new hospital
plan. since he first suggested 1t both
in the Council and TO the Charlotte
Williams board, considers this fair
and liberal arrangement, guaranteeing
the purposes of the hospital yet Civ
ing the city the right every two years
To get off the board any one who
might provo Objectionable. The Char
lotte Williams Corporation has sus-
Eested IS the first board John l. VIII
liams, Eppa Hunton. Jr., Il. 1. Bemiss,
Z. d. Taylor and James CaskIc.
II have not had the opportunity of
giving the proposition careful study
said Councilman Gilbert x. Pollock
yesterday, las / am not on either of
the committees to which It has been
referred But it seems to mo that
there is but one question involved
whether the city can afford to operate
Il large free hospital. Tho Committee
on Relief OF the Poor, which under
stand, is now operating a free hos
pital in the almshouse, has recon-
mended the erection of n city hospital
OF adequate size and modern construc-
ton, separated from the almshouse
The offer of the Charlotte Williams
Corporation is TO turn over TO the city
plant we could not duplicate for
100000 for $4,000. But whether We
build a hospital at the expense of the
city of say s25o.00o for initial outlay
or whether We accept this offer and
secure this plant by the payment OF
the mortgage of $4,000. there is yet
to he considered the annual cost Of
maintenance which I have been told
will be from $4,000 TO $50. 900 a year
The hospitals are al! doing such
charity work as their means allow.
II the city operates a free hospital,
would they stop this and turn over
TO the city all charity cases? In that
event the annual cost would be even
greater than has been stated"
Opposed TO Any ChunGc.
Another point of discussion Isl
wheth-r there shall be any charges
In the proposed city hospital Some
that they Will not vote either to ac-
cept this offer or to erect city hos
pial unless it Is 10 be an all free in
stitution, while others believe that n
moderate scale of charges should be
made for those who are able to pay.
giving absolutely free trea tment to
those who require II. How to make
rule reg uldllnG ADMISSION TO an all
free city Institution. without placing
the stigma Of r1uperism ON the in
mates on the one hand. and without
taking those cases which properly
should go 10 some private or general
hospital is one OF the problems got
to be solved. From the hearing Fri
day night il would seep that the med
ical profession is soiidiy in favor OF
the acceptance of the Memorial offer
including even those physicians who
now lease the building. and who will
lie put to some Inconvenience and pos
siblc loss by the change. and it was
significant that the plan had the un-
qualified Endorsement of trustees of
both medical colleges.
The issue IS now squarciy pre-.
sentcd" said one Councilman ycster.
d0y. at seems to me that we must
either accept this offer and face the
cost of annn1l ma lntenance Of fro;
institution. or else we must give un
all talk Of city hospital and enter
some arrangement with the public
hosp tails here to treat city cases. II
is foolish 10 talk of building IA city
hospital on the Woman's College site.
whcn wo have a modern and well
equipped building offered 10 lis on
rquablc terms. and are not certain
that we can afford to maintain it,"
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