South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-10-01
DOCTORS OBJECT
TO Ne VI HOSPITAL
Say Epworth and St. Joseph
Should be Taken Care
of First.

Several South Bend physicians
Tuesday characterized the agitation
for the erection Of a new county
hospita! as an attempt on the part
of the Carson administration TO
foist another gold brick on the pub
lie through the efforts Of Or. Z. c.
Freyermuth, secretary OF the city
board of health. who came out in a
signed statement last week in favor
of the hospital project
The need OF more hospital facili-
ties in South Bend is admitted by
all members Of the medical PROBES
sion and others who are in touch
with health matters here. The OBJ
lection 70 the administration latest
project is that il is purely "A political
move, intended possibly 10 befog the
movement for enlarging Epworth
and st. Joseph hospitals.
Half Million.
DR.. Freyermutb and the city ad-
ministration are said TO be interest
ed in the spending of half million
dollars for new hospital here in
order TO reap the political benefits
TO be obtained, at least that is the
opinion Of number of the leading
physicians of the city
Besides claiming most of the
glory for having the new institution
started and possibly completed dur
ing the present administration, the
republicans are also anxious to have
the choosing of the heads of the
| hospital.
South Bends hospital facilities
| at the present time are admittedly
/ insufficient 10 care for the needs Of
| the city said one of the city's lead
/ ing physicians Tuesday. The best
/ way TO remedy this condition at the
| present time is to insure the sue
cess Of the campaign which is to
raise 100000 and which will be di-
vided between Epworth and St. Jo-
| seph hospitals in order to allow
| them 10 expand.
when the population of South
! Bend reaches 100000, or possibly
! 125. 900. as it will very soon. addi-
| tiOnal hospital facilities Will be an
| absolute necessity
Oppose Plan.
However, physicians Of the city
are opposed to the proposition OF
| allowing DR.. Freyermuth and his
| political friends to put the city To
an expense of $500, 600 for the cree
| ton Of their county hospital and
then put some political friends in
charge. Unless civil service meth
DDS are used 10 choose the heads
and staff Of the institution, the
! county hospital, if built. might be
conducted by some incompetent
whose only qualification for the of
flee was that of a republican"
The physician cited several in
stances in the past history of South
Bend and Chicago where institu.
tional STATS were selected through
| political channels, and in which il
was necessary to put the institutions
under civil service methods before
they proved their worth to the com
munity.
Benefit Hospitals.
Through the campaign of the
Federation for Social Service, South
| Bend people will be asked to con
tribute $25O,OOO for the variou,
charitable Institutions of the city
and it is understood that about
100000 of this amount will b,
given 10 the two hospitals now il
| operation.
This is the plan which meets tn,
! approval Of most of those interested
in the matter of a solution Of oul
| present needs. When the city grow,
10 100000, it will then be possibl,
to secure the additional facilities a
less expense than would be required
| now.
Healthwin. the county anti-tu
berCulosis hospital is doubling it,
| present accommodations. The pres
ent buildings provide beds for 3.
patients. and it is expected tina
Healthwiu will be able TO care To-
| 10 when the improvements ar,
completed The work will cos
S125,OOO, according to the esti
| mates