The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-03-14

With every doctor present arrayed
against him. John l.. Rupe. president
of the board of trustees of the Reid
Memorial hospital. fought to the last
ditch last night against the appointing
of physicians to membership on the
board of trustees of the hospital. The
was overwhelmingly against
them; his arguments were not to the
point; his answers to direct questions
unsatisfactory, and council finally,
after two hours of grilling cross exami-
nation by both sides voted unanimous
ly to submit the report of the council
manic investigating committee to the
board of trustees with the recommend
alton that the report be accepted, and
it's suggestions complied with in
every particular. The report recon-
mends a reorganization OF the board
of trustees.
Mismanagement of the nurses train
ing school was directly charged
against the administration. 1t was
also charged that the hospital site was
selected in opposition to the wishes
of local physicians.
Domination of the hospital by the
superintendent against the wishes of
the doctors and the public, and with
the consent of the board, was alleged,
also frequent working OF the nurses
for over sixteen consecutive hours;
hostility to the doctors in their work
at the hospital on the part OF the su-
coriofcrde~<. v,io,n a ne U>unnuf of tho
nurses training school by barring doc
tors from having charge OF the train
ing OF the nurses; and too rigid dis
cipline.
By direct accusation OF insinuation
these. sharges with others Of minor
importance were directed ut John =.
Rupe, as spokesman for the board Of
trustees, by the various physicians.
Host Of Physicjans. ..~
Practically every physician in the
city attended the meeting. and they
wore their fighting clothes. They were
invited by council to speak, and they
told their grievances in q straight.
forward manner that convinced the
councilmen. Mr.. Rupe answered all
questions. He went into detail In re.
plying to some questions. Several doc.
tors openly sneered in his face when
he arose to talk. They laughed In his
face. Some of his replies were received
with derisive smiles. -...
Mr.. RUPEES principal oposition to
having physicians ON the board oi
trustees OF the hospital was that the
board did not deem it advisable to
have physicians on the board. The
doctors gave great variety Of reas
ons why they should be represented
and gave them in a manner convinc
ing to council. There was no doubt
in the minds Of the council as to the
sincerity of the doctors, from the man
ner in which they delivered their state
ments.
having sent word it would be fmpossi
BILE for him to attend. So councilman
Bartel was selected to fill the chair
Clerk Bescher read the motion made
at the last meeting Of council which
resulted in the meeting last night be
ing called. Then Mr.. Rupe was asket
to give a statement in reply to tht
councilmanic investigation commit
tees report.
He stated that the board had reai
the report and considered some Of tht
changes advised as good ones, while
others it did not favor. He objected
to the insinuation that the city wa,
called upon ''to make up deficits - say
ing it was unjust. He showed the nv
erage cost to railroads for keeping pa
tients In other hospitals was abou
81 per day. while here they ar.
/ charged $1.50 per day. He then ex
planned the endowment fund, statinl
I that there was but $25.00e ii the reg
ular endowment fund, and that sum,
taken from this fund for additions t.
the hospital, was money contributes
| to the hospital since its establishmen
and placed In the endowment fund.
He explained Why the money appro
priated by the city for the installation
,of additional sleeping quarters. bu
used to build laundry, by saying III,
board did not know 1t the time Ii ask
ed the city for the appropriation tha
d. G. Reid would donate m additions
fund to the hospital. and stated tha
aI imputAtions and insinuatfons til,
committee report had made. impuns
Ing the motives u the trustees II asl
ing for this money. were without fouu
d2tiOn- He stated the board wanfe,
the money for the addition and not tn