The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1912-03-05
HOSPITAL REPORT
IS COMPLETE ONE
Council Is Presented with
Conditions Existing at
the Institution.

ssAS AsASSsSOktVI1s
The following was the report sub
United TO the city council last evening
by the special committee appointed to
Investigate conditions at the Reid
Memorial hospital:
TO the Mayor and Members Of the
Common Council:
In submitting herewith report of
3ts findings. the committee appointed
by you for the purpose Of investigat-
Ing the Reid Memorial Hospital de-
sires that II be understood that 1t ap-
Dreciates the scope Of it, authority. 1t
II only In 20 far a. this report is of
influence on your honorable body in
considering requests for appropria.
tions for the bene1t OF the hospital
that anything may be gained as a re-
suit Of the labors.
II 10 not our intention to criticize
without prescribing what We feel to be
an adequate remedy. nor 10 1t our de.
sire that there shall be any suppress
sion Of the facts, which. being made
public. would serve to give to the
Mayor and the Common Council as
well Al the citizens Interested. a bet.
ter insight into the affairs Of the hos
pital.
Your committee began its inquiry on
December 18th, 1911. meeting two ev.
enings each week thereafter. making
a total OF twenty-one meetings This 10
exclusive Of visit to the hospital and
thorough inspection thereof A total
Of twenty-seven witnesses were sum.
moned and gave testimony before this
committee. which testimony the COM
mittee has in detail, and which be-
comes . permanent record for any de-
tailed information that may be desired
in connection with this report, or 9th.
erwise. lf.
Our efforts have been mainly direct
ed towards ascertaining the facts az
to the organization Of the Reid Memo
rial Hospital. It's finances, and general
management.
keIerrng. to the conception of the
City Attorney ~ to the relationship
before the law existing between the
City and the Reid Memorial Hospital.
We quote from his signed statement
under date Of February Is, 1912. az fol-
lows: Fs&
In 70 ~ % the property rights are
concernod, ] cannot see that the legal
Relationship existing between the hos
pital ana The city 40 o municipal cor.
poration II any different from that ex.
listing between the city and any other
voluntary association not for profit. ex-
ceptins that the Articles Of Incorpora-
tion recite the fact that ten thousand
dollars (the Robert Morrison FUND.- Of
the twenty-five thousand dollars do
mated for the support Of the hospital
(the permanent endowment) was
transf4frsd BY the City Of Richmond
to such fund, etc. and to the end that
the Ctr az Richmond may have some
represe1 palon In the hospital work
and ovuDoleht OF its management. the
health 'odlces OF the city shall, by vir-
the Of his oflice, always be member
Of the medical stan. and the mayor Of
said city. by virtue of his once. shall
always have and be accorded visitorial
powers In and to such hospital, and
have ut all times free access thereto
for the purpose OF asccrtaining any
and all facts n to the management
and to make such suggestions and rec
concentrations to the Board of Trus-
tees ~ to him at any time may seem
to be In the interest of the public. and
right and proper"
In determining the question of the
legality Of the city appropriating funds
for the benefit of the Reid Memorial
Hospital. We would respectfully call at
tentton to the Acts OF 1907, Chapter
1S6. page $50. purp0rting to legaMxe
appropriations that had been made and
might In future be made by citizens for
hospital purposes. We quote from the
statute:
SECTION I. BE it enacted by the
general assembly OF the State Of Indi.
ana, That whenever and wherever in
any city In this state, there shall have
been established therein. or within one
mile thereof. . hospital at a cost Of
seventy-hve thousand dollars or more,
for the nursing and care Of the sick.
injured and disabled, and such hospi.
tai shall have been 20 established. con.
structsd and organised ~ a gift for
the benefit Of the people OF said city,
and such hospital shall have been in
corpor1ted under the laws Of this
state. not for profit but 90 q benevo-
lsnce. and by Its articles Of incorpora.
tion It II provided that its incorpora-
tors shall be its first board oe trustees,
which board shall be its sole govern
1ng body, and such board shall, at stat.
ed periods. eject its Successors from
reputable citizens Of such city and vi.
cinity. who shall be persons interested
In the benevolent work of such hos
pital. and that they shall be chosen
without any reference to any political
or ssctarian influence. and that such
trustees shall never receive any com.
pensation for their services. and such
plan OF organization 10 declared to be
Consumption
Anyone interested In the cure Of Con-
eumption should get one of the book
lets telling OF recOveriee by the use Of