The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-03-19
City Council Favors Naming
the Physician Trustees of
That Institution in Alpha
betical Order.
CHAIRMAN A. BAVIS
ENTERS A PROTEST
He States That by This
Method Incompetent Men
Would Serve From Time to
Time on the Board.

4. Bavis, chairman Of the commit.
3se appointed by council to investigate
conditions at the Reid Memorial hos
pital. In q signed statement enters a
vigorous protest against the appoint
ment of physicians on the hospital
board Of trustees in alphabetical or
der. ~ council, by unanimous vote, de-
cided was the most desirable way.
Mr.. Bavis states in his communica-
ton that his committee did not recon-
mend such method OF appointment. al
'leging that II it was adopted the board
OF trustees. from time to time would
have a. members physicians not quail.
fled for the office. He also states
that he would prefer council to reject
the committees report absolutely in
preference to the decision council has
taken regarding the appointment Of
physicians as members Of the hospital
board. Es
Amended BY Council.
The provision In the committee's re-
port covering the appointment OF ply.
sicians on the hospital board was
amended by council last night to read
that physicians who shall serve as
trustees shall be appointed. .by and
from the licensed practicing physi-
clans In alphabetical order" Each ply.
sician appointed to the board, by coun'
ellis plan. would serve for one year.
Mayor Zimmerman stated he would re-
fuse to serve on the board. His refus-
al was probably unnecessary as he is
the last on a long. alphabetically ar
ranged list Of physicians.
Councilman Weishaupt stated he
had been approached by . local ply.
sician. not q member OF the Wayne
County Medical society, who had in.
formed him that unless council make
proper provision only doctors who
were members of the society would
serve as trustees. Councilman Burd-
sail stated that he believed doctors
should be appointed to the board In
alphabetical order. He said that he
believed this was the intention of the
investigating committee.
Or. Gentle Protests.
DR.. Gentle objected to a plan pro.
posed by Councilman Weishaupt OF
having one member from the medical
society, and one doctor representing
the physicians who are not medical
society members appointed to the
board. DR.. Gentle said that this plan
was unfair - medical society has 81
members and there are not more than
fifteen physicians who are not mem.
bers Of the society.
Mayor Zimmerman explained his
views. saying he had told q committee
OF physicians who called on him a
short time ago. that he was not In fav.
or OF having doctors on the board. but
since this policy was favored he sug-
~gssted selecting them alphabetically.
He stated he told the investigating
committee that he had no trouble with
the Duperintendent Of the hospital. his
trouble being confined to the nurses.
who would not give his medicine to
his patients - he had prescribed. The
nurses objected toehis method of treat
ment, which he explained 10 medicine
In water. He voiced his preference
for treating patients at home rather
than at the hospital. except In emer.
'gency cases.
No Fractional Flight.
Dr.. Weller explained that 1t was
not . factional fight to secure mem.
bsrs on the board only from the medi.
cal association. but q fight to secure
representation ON the board. He said
Representatives In or out Of the asso-
citation would be acceptable to the
medical fraternity ~ long ~ the men
selected were efficient men.
Alfred Bavis. chairman Of the hos
pital probe committee took the floor
at this juncture. and stated his view
on the subject. He outlined the many
suggestions presented for selecting
two doctors to serve on the board. He
said the committee had thoroughly
INQUIRED into the value Of each. and
had thought best to leave the matter
to the physicians, 90 the phrase by
and from the licensed practicing ply
eicians Of the county" in the report,
WAS incorporated.
He stated further. "The root OF trou-
BILE at the hospital 10 that the superin-
/ tsadent Of the hospital has subordi-
mated the hoard Of trustees instead Of
itAs board subordinatins the superin-
Itsndent a. should BE- the case"
Mr.. Batis' statement sent to the
Palladium. viii BE- found elsewhere n