The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-03-28
100000 ITEM
FOR HOSPITAL
UNITS RESTORED
Council Votes Money After Ne
cessity for Prompt Action
Is Shown
BARNETT FAILS TO HAVE
APPROPRIATION CUT
Third Warder's Attempt to
Block Scheme Draws Hot Re.
buke from Aid. Lodge

After listening TO foIceful argu-
ments and earnest pleas for more
hospital accommodation In Detroit,
the common council, In committee or
the whole, Thursday night. restored
the 100000 item in the poor commits
sion's budget. to be used In building
annexes TO st. Mary's, Grace and Har
per hospitals.
Aid Vernon led the fight on the coun-
Gil floor and was supported by Aid.
Lodge. Allan, Bell, Owen and Keat-
ing. DR.. Stanley c. Miller. Or. j. B.
Kennedy, DR.. John s. Hall. Poor
Commissioners William M. Walker,
Health Officer Guy l.. Kiefer and
others reviewed the hospital situa-
ton and impressed on the aldermen
the need OF immediate relief In the
way OF frst-class detention hospital
and other units for properly taking
care OF the city's poor patients.
Aid. Barnett, opposing the separate
unit plan, attempted to have the ap-
preparation cut to 100000. Aid. Din.
geman suggested that $4,000 be ap-
propriated to start the separate unit
plan. When Barnett saw that he
would be unable to block the hos
pital plan by cutting tho appropria-
ton, he accepted Dingeman's sugges-
ton and asked that 3S60,0O0 be al
lowed. An attempt was made to line
up the aldermen on Dingeman's pro-
posal. and IA intimated they would
vote for 1t.
Gentlemen, IL you vote down this
s6OO.o appropriation you will regret
1t to your dying day." declared Aid.
Vernon, concluding his second plea
for the item. The terse remark or
the alderman sounded q warning that
a majority Of the aldermen obeyed
with alacrity. When the question Wis
put to vote, only three aldermen
stood against 1t.
During the discussion Aid Barnett
declared that he had been told by the
corporation counsel that the city
would never be able to collect cent
ments made and paid for by the city
on hospital property under the pro-
posed arrangements.
Aid Lodge was inclined to accept
the aldermans remarks as an attack
on the honesty and integrity OF the
philanthropic business men interested
in the welfare OF the various hog
pitfalls He scored Barnett for the
statement, which he said he hoped
the alderm would retract.
This Is a business proposition ana
l have only stated the opinion Of the
corporation counsel; | will not re-
tract a word" said Barnett.
Dr. Minor, in behalf OF st. Marys
hospital, told the aldermen that the
separate unit plan was not intended
as a block to the municipal hospital
plan, but that immediate relief for the
sick was needed In Detroit, and II
would be years before a municipal
hospital would be built and ready for
use. The doctor said that ST. Mary's
hospital was ashamed OF the way II Is
taking care OF city patients at pres
cft,r explaining that the hospital IL
overcrowded, and Is doing the best il
can under the circumstances. He
lauded the work OF the self-sacrificing
sisters in charge Of the institution.
II am not here at the request or
the sisters, but appear at the request
OF the hospital medical board" he
said. I'VE average 1875 poor patients
a day. and can no longer take care or
the citys sick unless we have more
room. Conditions In the basement
wards, where the disturbed cases are
handled, are appalling. st. Mary's at
present, has a mortgage OF $4,000 on
Its property"
Supt. Babcock, OF Grace hospital,
said that last Sunday census OF the
hospitals showed that there were 14S
patients IN the waiting lists, the
crowded conditions Of the hospitals
Preventing the doctors from getting
IT. cir pp'ients into the institutions.
Grace hospital Is In debt to the extent
OF $4,000.
The 100000 appropriation will next
have to get through the board of es-
Inmates where there will be consid-
cradle opposition to It, It Is under
stood.
The item for a 100000 geological
park was disallowed the recommen.