South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-08-22
CITY OFFICIALS TO
WELD KNIFE TODAY
Hospital Petitions for 5000
600 May Gain Disfavor
of Executives, Said.

.
pend largely upon the action taken
toward the petition when Mayor
Carson and City Controller Swygart
WELD the pruning knife today on
the various department budgets, it
was said last night by persons spon-
soring the movement 70 modernize
and fully equip the two institutions.
That the petitions submitted 10 the
city controller Saturday, asking ap-
preparations OF 100000 for each OF
the two hospitals, will meet with
the disfavor OF the administration
officials was the belief expressed by
/ persons closely in touch with the
citys financial condition.
Increase of the 1922 budget TO the
extent Of approximately $3.50
will also come under the scrutiny Of
the two officials today, when the
( city's two highest officials g,eam
the figures admitted as necessary
for the city's upkeep next year. In
cluded In this is the increase listed
by the board of public safety. which
estimates that $4,000 additional
money will be needed in 1922 10 run
/ its val ious departments. Purchase
Of new fire apparatus is proposed
in the petition Of the roard mem
5ers for the additional fund.
/ IL is said to be the intention Of
Mayor Carson and Cont. oller Swy-
CART 10 hold the total revenue for
1922 within the present tax levy.
IN order TO do this, il was said that
the pruning knife would dig deep
! into the various departments.
The petition filed in duplicate by
the two hospitals follows:
South Bend, Indiana,
/ August 13, 1921.
To the Honorable Mayor and the
Honorable Comptroller Of the
City of South Bend.
Gentlemen:
The undersigned com mittees
pray in behalf of Epworth hospital
and training school of South Bend,
/ Indiana, and Sisters OF the Holy
Cross Hospital association, Operat-
\ ing St. Joseph's hospital, South
Bend, Indiana, and respectfully pc
tition that the maximum levy au-
/ thorized by law be made for the
benefit Of these institutions for the
year 1921-1922, the proceeds Of such
levy to be shared by them equally
/ for the operation and maintenance
and aid to SAID hospitals for the en-
\ largement of their facilities.
Be II remembered that the Gen
eral Assembly of the state Of In
diana on the 9Th day of March. 1921,
passed an act expressly intended to
provide funds foc South Bend hospi-
tails. See Acts of 1921, chapter 1856,
page 393. This act was drawn with
the undersigned petitioners and
their needs in mind and both of said
petitioners come within the terms o.
the act
The honorable mayor and Comp
/ troller of the city of South Bend
will be sufficiently familiar with the
needs Of the petitioners and the de-
tails of their necessities will not be
set forth in this petition, but will be
/ presented at any hearing it is seen
fit to grant petitioners.
Hospital statistics show that In
1 the city OF South Bend seven hun
dred beds are needed for adequate
hospital service. 1t now has less
than two hundred beds, making al
lowance for one hundred and fifty
beds in the institutions represented
| by petitioners and fifty beds now in
private hospitals or institutions that
could be called hospitals in the city.
To double the capacity Of South
Bends present hospitals is an i'm
perative necessity and shoIld be
commenced at once, and with the
assistance Of the city, authorized un-
der the act of the General Assembly
just referred to. the hospitals can
make immediate preparations for
the renewal of wornout equipment
and extensions to provide for addi-
tional beds.
Neither of the institutions repre-
sented by petitioners are financially
able to expend money for extra re-
pairs and renewals or for extensions
Of any kind. Their income is con-
sumed in current expenses, and but
for the aid of charitably inclined
citizens these institutions could not
function. Even with the aid already
received, both are in debt with no
Immediate visible means Of meeting
their obligations, and the increase
Of their service to the public from
their own means is impossible.
Both institutions have in the past
and expect in the future TO take al
patients who apply for treatment
and care, and this tAct alone makes
1t impossible to operate either insti-
tuition so that its income will meet
it's expenditures in a given year.
Both institutions are housed in old
buildings which are in immediate
need Of alteration, repair and extern
sion. Both institutions are in need
Of more adequate housing facilities
for nurses. Both institutions are in
Immediate need Of more modern OPP
Grating room equipment. heating IA
cilities, elevator service and many
other details which go with hospi-
tai service that require the expendi-
ture Of large sums Of money.
1t has been estimated by experts
that the immediate expenditure OF
100000 by each institution would
be the minimum amount to place Il
in the class Of modern hospitals.
Your petitioners pray that the
city Of South Bend will go TO the
limit of its ability in making apprO-
| -t-.s--. r,rGar +ha af0rncqid act