The New York herald., 1874-08-12
THE MARINE HOSPITAL SERVICE.

terosttng Details - to Our Mercenttl'
Marine.
Below win be found drafts Of petitions for pres
entation to Congress at It's next meeting, whicl
have for their object the permanent estab
lishment OF rhe marine hospital service OF tn.
country and i0r giving greater facilities to the scl
and disabled seamen of the United States mercan
tile marine. one Of the objects aimed ct afte
permanent organization is the creation in the cit!
Of New York OF marine hospital. which, II is De
lieved, can be MADE selfsupporting. The mel
constituting the American merchant marine az
gregate In round numbers about $4,000 souls
comprising the o11cers and crews OF 20, 1853 YES
ses , Of s.1M.4aS tons burden. Upon the IN
by statute, since 17ss, monthly taa
constituting the Marine Hospital fund, out o.
which is betrayed the cost OF the service the de.
1ciency being betrayed by annual appropriations
from Congress. In 1709 the law was amended to
include the navy, but In 1911 was established for
tlOn OF this fund and the management OF the
Marine Hospital were controlled by the Collectors
OF Customs tiil 1870 when the service was re-
organized BY act OF Congress, and the tax was In
creased from twenty cents 70 lorty cents month.
When the large interests OF this branch OF public
service are considered the necessity of having an
aoe surgeon general at its head Will be conceded,
and also That the department in question, like that
Of the Army and Navy Medical Service, should be
Tree from partisan influences.
THE SAILORS PETITION
TO THE HONORABLE THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRE-.
ssErArvEs OF THE UNITED STATES In CONGRESS Assem-.
The petition Of the undersigned seamen and
ntssS
e e psI upon sae
relief when sick and disabled:
e .sd s aS1 D. S t.
s h tie as hays ne on
inhuencel WAS traught with many and such grave
Complaint The recognition Of is TO be found in The
" resus ~ s % h e
Hospital act Of by which the conduct OF the service
was radcay and many OF the abuses OF the
That under the present administration Of the service
greater number Of ports at less per capita and agsre
annually improved under saia admiusirstion
A 81 sbs e
and thus we are unwilling be- eG paced IN the
position OF benefciaries Of the government
be II the fund is not economically and ntelgently ap
That believe such intelligent and economical sppli.
cation OF the fund to be feasible only through office
exSeDro1aiy qSsIasd or specially trained for snsh
upon their ndsnty professional attainmena aud ad
Hhs w eof with sa Ra sga alarm uDon the
S OF s evils and The
bidder the moneys collected from US for specific pur
g S 1 ana mo
honorable body OF such legsIation may permsneny
pray. &C y
MEMORIAL OF MERCHANTS. sHIP0wNKRs SHIPPERS or
rHE FORT or -, TO THE HONORABLE SkNATs
AGD HOUSE OF kRPREsHNrArIvEs or UNITED STATES,
In CONGRESS AssExBLkD-:
We the undersigned merchants shipowners and ship
pers directly interested land purely business col
sderatons) In the physical condition American sa H.
ors and thus in The building Of American commerce.
beg TO represent TO your honorable body that regard
the United States Marine Hospital service, in its object
and INTENT as OF vital Importance to American
and hence as Of direct interest TO American commerce
that Its value depends largely entirely upon the
character of those charged with its ad minis that
prior to the enactment OF the lawby which s
administration confde 70 the direction Of supervs-
tration OF the medical departments Of the Army and
Navy-the service was the subject of many grave
abuses which. In great measure frustrated the bepe
ncent object Of its establishment; that believe tn,
principles adopted and enforced by the super
vsing surgeon essential to just and intelligent conduct
tion of the trust fund by the upon
wages; and finally, that regard with grave appre
hension the probability Of such principles being ignored
IN the future.
can eamen and Others already about to be presented
after due consideration Of the subject and the in
terests involved may be necessary to permanently
secure the advantages which ha arisen from the ad
ministraton OF the service under the present act
The report Of the Marine Hospital Service of the
United States made by the supervising surgeon,
In 1873 states that II, ,697 cases were treated and
OutdOOr relief was given to S32 patients, and that
the total expenditure was $422 5O2 and the amount
OIL hospital money collected was $685., ,845 Relief
was furnished at nlnety.twO ports and hospital
money was collected In 127 ports.