The Washington times., 1894-12-12
CITIZENS GAINED A POINT
Board of Trade Authorized to Select
a Contagious Hospital Site.
ACTION OF HOUSE COMMITTEE
Conference Between the Parties Interested
Probability that the Mount Pleasant Lo-
cation Will Be Abandoned-Commi
ers Will Offer No Objection to the Plan.

! So far as the Board OF Commissioners is
concerned officially the dispute over the To-
cation of a contagious disease hospital re-
mains exactly as it was when the question
was first raised. There is rift in the clouds.
| however, and the probability is that the hos
| pital will not be built on the Pleasant Plains
| SITE
| At a conference yesterday. In which the
/ Commissioners. the board Of trade, the OBJ
iecting citizens, and the House Appropria-
! tions Committee respectively were repre-
| sented, 1t was mutually agreed that there
! will for the present be no Congressional ac-
ton. Meanwhile the board of trade will APP
| point committee charged with the selection
of site that shall be free from objections,
! both upon the part OF the property holders
and the District authorities. and be in other
respects eligible.
| In case the committee succeeds, report of
the result will be made to the Commissioners
and by them later 10 the Congressional com
! mittee when something definite will be done
! Ii Is not an assured fact that the board of
trade comnittee will succeed, but the effort
| is TO be- made.
1t is not improbable that before the ground
| can be thoroughly canvassed Congress will
! De ready TO adjourn sine die or at any rate
be involved in the final struggle over the i'm
! peratlve work OF the session. In either case,
legislation on the contagious disease hospital
matter will be deferred until the incoming of
! the Flfty-fourth Congress.
| The conference that was to be held vester-
day at the District bdilding, between the Com
| mlssloners and the committee of citizens, did
! not take place.
! The committee, consisting of 3. H. Warner.
| NJ NJ Parker. j. r. Somerville, and Col
Balllnger. visited the Appropriations Com
mlttee OF the House yesterday to protest
81 hq nI it, rrL.
this for the purpose of bringing the matter to
the attention OF the committee before il should
/ act On the matter of appropriations for the
purchase of the site. They urged that a loca-
ton near the District Jail or near the insane
asylum IN Anacostia would be less objection
! able.
| The District Commissioners. who were
present, replied that they had ample medical
testimony that the Mount Pleasant location
selected would not be dangerous to public
! health, but that they were anxious for an ad-
| lustment OF the matter in a way as nearly
satisfactory as would be possible. To this
epd. they suggested that committee of un-
preJudiced persons be selected to look into
the question and report plan.
Mr.. Warner said he thought the suggestion
good one and hoped it would be carried
! out. He did not know how the committee
! should be appointed, but thought the general
| plan good one.
Inc members OF the District subcommittee
who had listened to what was said by the
citizens committee and by the Commissioners
eoncurred In the advisability of this method.
and remarked that they might decline TO do
anything in the matter of appropriations un-
less some step Of this character should be
taken.
The citizens committee then withdrew. and
1t is understood that an agreement is likely to
be reached by which committee will be ap-
| pointed by the board of trade for the purpose
| OF selecting a site and recommending the
same to the Appropriations Committee and
District Commissioners.
''One could not have asked for better treat
ment by the Congressional committee said
| Chairman James W. Somerville to a TIMES
| reporter last night. Every opportunity was
given US TO present our objections to the To-
| cation of the site at Mount Pleasant and we
| were much pleased by the interest manifested
| by the congressman, There was pleasing
lack OF friction between the members of the
committee and the Commissioners
The citizens committee considers the
| hearing of to-day q victory for the people.
! because the Congressional committee has
recognized the right of appeal to the National
! Legislature from adverse decisions OF the
| Commissioners on the part of the disenfran-
| chised citizens of the District This applies
| not only to the residents OF Mount Pleas ant.
| but property owners in every section, and
| we are confident will be beneficial to the best
interests OF the city at large.
"Mr. Warner will probably appoint the
! board OF trade committee in a few days, and
| anticipate an early choice of site and set
| tlement OF this important question.