Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-08-22
BOARD IS DIVIDED
ON SELECTION OF
HOSPITAL NURSE
Newark Woman Named Assist
ant Matron of County Insti-
tuition in BeIIevilIe.

BY a vote OF TO MISS Laura 6dnl
a graduate of the Newark City Hos.
pital Training School. and at present
a private nurse in this city, was APP
pointed assistant head nurse and ma
tron by the board of managers of the
Essex County Isolation Hospital al
Soho at meeting of that body in the
institution yesterday afternoon. Miss
Cant was opposed by Miss Mary Nc
Keen, an employee of the isolation
hospital, and Miss Grace MeVeigh, OF
this city.
Prior to the selection of Miss Cant,
Timothy B. Foyle. one of the mana
gers of the institution. decried the
loose financial system in use at pres
ent at the hospital. and also took a
fling at those patients who. being rea-
sonably able. deny the county the
meagre compensation requested for
the treatment and accommodations
received.
The election of Miss Cant was ac-
complished only after a spirited dis
cussion. in which all the members of
the board took part. The position OF
assistant head nurse and matron
carries with it a salary of s115a month.
1t has been vacant since the death
several months ago of Miss Anna
Zimmerman, who had held the posi-
ton since the hospital was opened.
The three applicants for the position
had recently undergone examination,
with the result that Miss Cant aver
aged sO79 per cent. Miss McKeon,
7275. and Miss McNeigh, I'LL
Miss McKeon has been an employe
of the institution for four years, and
her practical experience, aided by
her competency, implied from the
fact that no charges had been en-
tertained against her by the board
during her career were used in her
behalf Mr.. Foyle contended that too
much reliance is placed upon the re-
suit of the civil service examina-
fions in some cases. He said such re-
suits are the tests of the technical
knowledge which lose a great deal of
their weight when applied to prac-
teal work, as was experienced in
their recent tests for positions In the
laundry department of the institu-
ton.
Scores Training School Committee.
He scored the training school COM
mittee for advising the selection of
Miss Cant, and contended that the
board was capable of making its own
selections without any outside infiu-
ence. He said he had no personal
choice in the selection, but as the
board was aware of the competency
of Miss McKeon through her connec-
tion with the institution considerable
weight should be given her applica-
ton.
Mr.. Foyle was supported by John
r. Flanagan, of Bel1eville, who adj
vised that recent requisition on the
part of the management for an in
crease in salary in behalf of Miss
McKeon, was an evidence of her
competency.
DR.. J. K Adams, however. thought
That the first on the list should be Sc
1ected. He aKyued that lack of insti-
futional trafting initiated against
Miss Nick cons chances. general
discussion on the merits of the ap-
f5Iicants then ensued, when Mr.. Foyle
Remarked: ITS plain to be seen Miss
Cant will receive the appointment,
and I move a roll call on the same,
and settle it.
Miss Cant received the support Of
DIR. Adams, DIR. Francis 70. Knowles,
DIR. Eugene W. Murray and Roger H.
Rutterworth, while Miss McKeon was
supported by Messrs. Foyle and
Flanagan. Miss McVeigh was not
mentioned.
Miss Cant, who is a graduate of
the Newark City Hospital. and was
employed for a time in the old iso-
1ation hospital, l.. understood to be a
classmate of Miss McCue, head nurse
at the institution. She will assume
her studies September l. \
The adjustment of the present
financial system of the institution
was urged by Mr.. Foyle after DR.. j..
H Ricketts,, superintendent, in pre-
eenting his report, said the auditors
employed by the Board of Freehold
ers in making an investigation of the
institutions financial standing had
reported a shortage of $4,000 on the
disbursement side of the finances,
while articles purchased for that
amount were received and retained
Mt the institution. DR.. Ricketts, said
the situation was due to the fact
that bills covering he articles pur-
chased were presented to the free
holders and paid by them and not
credited to the institution.
Mr.. Foyle censured the system en-
ployed by the freeholders and thought
that no bills should be paid by that
body for goods received at the hos
pitaI unless the bills received the 20
X" of the hospital committee. He
advised the adoption of a uniform
system that would abolish the prac-
qjce in the future. DR.. Ricketts, said
the auditors were at present engaged
in compiling a uniform system which
would be adopted by the freeholders
and applied to the county institutions.
J. B. Slater, secretary of the board
in rendering his monthly report for
the number of applicants for treat
ment admitted, said a physician of a
nearby vicinity had been treated by
the authorities. Mr.. Foyle wanted to
know If the hospital had been COM
pensated and was answered in the
negative. He said measures should be
adopted by the board whereby those
able TO pay should be requested to do
so.
The board decided to make no
requisition on the freeholders for an
Increase of salaries for employees this
wear. The reason given was that the
budget was already adopted by that
body. appropriating $4,000 for main
saining the institution, which equaled
the amount expended last year.
DIR. A. ]. Douglass, assistant super
lntendent, advised that additional i'm
provements to the institution involv-
ang an expenditure of $50, 900 was con-
aemplated by the freeholders. The
improvements will include a central
dining hall and an additional ward
building. The institution at present
Is taxed to its accommodating
capacity.