Newspapers / The New Bern Mirror … / July 17, 1970, edition 1 / Page 4
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Page Four THE NEW BERN MIRROR, NEW BERN, N. C. Friday, July 17, THE NEW BERN MIRROR PublUhcd ivcry Friday at 410 Johnson Stroo* Now Bom, N. C., 6y tho Solo Ownor j. GASKiLL McDaniel Editor and PublisKar SUBSCRIPTION RATES: . On# Year $2.50' Socond Class Poatapo Fold at Now Born, N. C. THE WRONG WAY Someone may have considered it a master stroke of strategy to hold a public meeting on the hospital matter last Friday night where only charges and ques tions, not answers and explanations, would be forth coming. Such ground rules, ordered by a presiding Hospital Board Chairman who was destined to be asked, and was indeed asked, about free ambulance service from which his family is said to have reaped benefit, im posed a handicap on citizens who had the courage to speak up. The fact that many did speak up, despite the omnious announcement that a “court reporter” was present to write everything down, is an indication of not only the public’s genuine concern but its refusal to be intimidated by obstacles that never should have been placed in its path. Certainly one can appreciate apparent lack of de sire on the part of the Hospital Board Chairman, Mr. Larry Pate, to explain circumstances surrounding free ambulance service said to have been given a member of his immediate family. No one can deny, and make the denial stick, that a member of the Craven County Board of Commission ers, Mr. Grover Lancaster, told approximately two hun dred citizens in open meeting the previous Tuesday night that Danny Jackson, a top official at Craven County Hospital, had admitted he gave Mr. Pate’s rela tive free ambulance service. No one can deny, and make the denial stick that the Chairman of the Craven County Board of Com missioners, Mr. D. Livingstone Stallings, then told the assembled citizens. In a manner that would have done credit to an Academy Award winner, “I will see to It that this bill is paid.” Actually, there is little reason to believe that the Hospital Board, or the Craven County Board of Com- misioners (none of whom showed up for this most Im portant meeting) stood to learn anything new at last Friday night’s gathering. No one has denied, nor could such a denial stick, that the very officials who proposed to investigate charges at this late date have held secret meetings with the accused parties (they didn’t show up for Friday night’s meeting either) to thoroughly discuss the charges. To this extent, Friday night’s meeting was meaningless, and could serve no useful purpose. A local citizen, Mr. Mack Bennett, who requested an investigation by the Craven County Grand Jury on the morning foliowing the Tuesday night meeting of the Craven County Board of Commissioners, has explained to the press why he took this action. “I attended the Tuesday afternoon session of the Commissioners,” he told The Mirror, “and inquired about alleged acts involving Craven County Hospital. I was told that the matter had been investigated, straightened out, and there had been no improprieties.” Then, according to Mr. Bennett, and the facts bear him out, he was among approximately two hundred citizens who, less than three hours later, at the Tuesday night second session held by the Commissioners, heard Commissioner Grover Lancaster state that “We found truth in all but one of the charges.” One of the charges brought out at this Tuesday night meeting, concerned a stainless steel sink and other equipment, said to have been taken from Craven County Hospital, installed in a camp or cottage belong ing to Hospital Administrator Lonnie Moor, where it reportedly has been in use for two years. No one can deny, and make the denial stick, that Chairman Stallings, in the presence of aoproximately two hundred citizens on the Tuesday night referred to, said, “I understand this matter has been attended to.” He told the citizens he understood the equipment was being returned. These are things that John Clark Wheeler, com mentator for New Bern’s television st'^tion and a friend of Stallings, described as “minor” in his Friday night newscast. Incidentally. Wheeler, the station’s top news man, covered none of the meetings, but In each In stance presented Stallings in a favorable light. This surprised no one. GREENLEAF PARK FLORIST ] Flowers - Gifts J I I I Ji DUIRROR MORSELS As diamond cuts diimond, and one hone smooths a second, all the parts of intellectual are whetstones to each other; and genius, which is but the re sult of mutual sharpening, is character too.—Adolfo Bartoli. To the young I offer two max im: Don’t accept superficial solutions of difficult problems. It is better to do a litUe good than much harm. I should not offer anything more specific; every young person should de cide on his or her credo.—Ber trand Russell. Private opinion creates pub lic opinion. Public opinion overflows eventually into na tional behavior and, as things are arranged at present, can make or mar the world TTiat is why private opinion and pri vate behavior, and private con versation are so terrifyingly important.—Jan Struther. Research teaches a man to admit he is wrong and to be proud of the fact that he does so, rather than try with all his energy to defend an unsound plan because he is afraid that admission of error is a con fession of weakness when rath er it is a sign of strength.— H. E. Stocher. Science has sometimes been said to be opposed to faith, and Inconsistent with it. But all sci ence, in fact, rests on a basis of faith for it assumes the per manence and uniformity of natural laws, a thing which can never be demonstrated. — Tryon Edwards. Be unselfish, lliat is the first and final commandment for those who would be useful, and happy in their usefulness. If you think of yourself only, you cannot develop because you are choking the source of devel opment, which is spiritual ex- P. O. BOX 2S2S NBW BIRN, N. C. MAROAkIT A BOB COTTIN PHONE A3B-5IS6 J. W. SMITH AGENCY, INC. • Automobile • Fire • Home Owners • Workmen's Com pensation • Ufe • Hospitalization 2003 Neuse Blvd. Over Carolina Power A Light Company ME 7.S500 - ME 7.4954 Village Verses vox POPULI How sad it is, in this free land. That just a few will take a stand; The silent many stay resolved To never ever become Involved. Play it safe their constant creed, “I won’t speak out. there’s no need.” Pontius Pilate, one distant day. Washed his hands, then looked away. —JGMcD. panslon through thought for others. — Charles W. Eliot. It took thrift and savings, to gether with tremendous char acter and vision, to make our nation what it is today. And it will take thrift and savings, together with constant ingenuity and stamina, to conserve our remaining resources to enable us to continue to be a great nation.—John W. Snyder. COMPLETE SERVICE WORK Wash • Grease Oil - Oil Filters Air & Gas Filters X Tires BEN MOORE SHELL STATION 900 George St. New Bern use your Belk credit card it’s convenient Now - July 18 Is a good time to open a charge account. Now is the time to enjoy summer savings and a plan for easy budgeting. Our annual interest rates are the same as always, 18%; or 116% per month based on the unpaid balance. We have layaway accounts without interest; long term ac counts — up to 24 months to pay on major items. Your Belk Charge Card is a Prestige Card. IPs convenient and designed to make your shopping more enjoyable for you and your family. Any sales person In our store will be happy to help you. From now until July 18, we will have desks on tho sales floor for your convenieneo.
The New Bern Mirror (New Bern, N.C.)
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July 17, 1970, edition 1
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