The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-08-05
A National.H Home for Consumptives.

The Senate Committee on Epidemic
Diseases. by vote OF four to three. has
stamped on the scheme to establish
national home for consumptives at the
expense of the Federal Government.
In March last Senator GALLINaER OF New
Hampshire introduced into Congress joint
resolution providing for the appointment
Of commission to select site for the es-
tablishment OF a national sanitarium for
the treatment OF pulmonary Diseases" 1t
directed the President to appoint three
commissioners. two OF whom should be
doctors. to select. upon the public lands in
some one OF the Territories Of the
United States. site upon which
to establish such sanitarium. Upon
receiving a report from the commission
indicating what was the best locality In
their judgment, the President was to with
draw the lands described by the commits
sion from sale. presumption. or homestead
entry. land reserve the same for the pur-
poses OF said sanitarlum." Tho commits
sloners were to receive ten dollars day each
for every day Of actual service, in addition
to their travelling and other expenses.
and the resolution appropriated $4,000 for
their compensation and charges.
The Senate Committee on Epidemic Dis
eases consists OF Messrs. HARRIS OF Ten
nessee. BERRY Of Arkansas. WHITE OF Lou
isiana. IRBY OF South Carolina. CHALLENGER
OF New Hampshire. SToCKBRIDGE Of Michi-
gan. and FELTON, Of California. Messrs.
HARRIS. BERRY. WHITE. and IRBY concurina
majority report adverse to the resolution
which was presented to the Senate on Tues
day. The objections to the project which
the resolution contCmpatcs are we'll stated
In these words:
"Your COMMITTEES considers the resolution "a com.
hitting the United States to tho establishment of
hospital tor tho treatment of particular class of dis
Ard laying tho basis for large expenditure of
public money hereafter to that end While the appro-
priation asked for by thu resolution IL small It Is only
initial one The nrst stop bsng taken and tho Gov
eminent of the United States being committed
to this work. tho result will inevitably DO that here
after tho Government will be called upon to establish
and main tain costly establishment for tho purposes
named. Ferrous as m ,y tho ravages of pulmonary
diseases your comm,ttee thinks their treatment falls
properly under the domain OF private enterprise
and that It Is not tho mission Of the Gov.
| eminent Of the United statos to undertake such
work. Tho bill. the opinion OF your committee Is
ultra and be yond the power OF Congress- not In
its immediate purpose at least In tho ultimate purpose
when 1t conenpates. 1t indicates development In
the direction of patsrnalism which your committee
thinks !ll.advised and unwise."
Senators CHALLENGER, STocKBR1DGE. and
FELTON,. however. dissent. AS presidents
for the constitutionality Of the measure
they cite the enactments relating to the
Hot Springs Of Arkansas. the Yellowstone
National Park. the Government Hospital for
the Insane. the National Geological Park in
Washington. and the Bureau OF Animal In
dustry. They add that. even II there had
been no chlegislation heretofore. the gen.
eral welfare clause In the Constitution would
authorize the establishment Of the pro-
posed hospital.
In our opinion the majority OF the Com
mittee are clearly right. 1t is probably
true that tho sanitarium for consumptives
would be as constitutional as number Of
undertakings which have been set on foot
| by the Republicans in Congress; but the
fact that the fundamental law Of the land
has been disregarded in the past is not
valid argument in favor Of disregardlng
| 1t now or In the future.
| The Federal Government has more than
enough to do already in tho exercise OF the
functions which undoubtedly belong to it
under the Constitution. There should be
no addition to its duties or responsibilities.
Tho several States OF the Union and the
medical profession in the country are
amply competent. able. and willing to do
all that can be done in the present state OF
human knowledge to avert and cure the
insidious disease which always contributes
the largest figure to our death rate.
|