Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-10-04
THE FREEDMAN'S HOSPITAL
Appointments and Supervision Still With
the Secretary of the Interior.
An Opinion by the Assistant Attorney
General On the Subject Sent
to the Commissioners.

The Secretary Of the Interior has notified
the Commissioners that the supervision Of
the appointments to and the general SUPER
vision OF the Freedman's Hospital is still
with the Secretary of the Interior.
This opinion. which was rendered by the
assistant attorney general. was called forth
py the applications of the attorneys Of DIR.
Charles b. Purvis, late surgeon in charge
Of Freedman's Hospital, who made applica-
ton to the Commissioners for the recognf-
ton OF DIR. Purvis as surgeon in charge of
Freedman's Hospital. Notwithstanding his
resignation. They based their claim on
the act Of March g. 1893, which they argued
transferred the power Of the Secretary OF
the Interior to make changes and appoint
ments.
The opinion OF the assistant attorney gen.
eral on the subject is as follows:
1T appears that on February Is, 1894,
DR.. Charles b. Purvis. surgeon-in-chief Of
the Freedrnan's Hospital, rendered, In writ
Secretary OF the Interior. stating. among
other things that I infer that you desire
my resignation as surgeon-in-chief OF the
Freedman's Hospital
''On the 9th Of September, 1894, q letter,
signed by John NJ Langston and George A
King. as attorneys for DIR. Purvis. was i'd
dressed to the Commissioners Of the District
OF Columbia, requesting said Commission
chief OF said hospital. Notwithstanding his
previous resignation, and presenting as
ground for such action the statute OF March
g. 1898 e! stat. $50. by which. II is claim
appointments removals In said hospital
is taken away from him and conferred upon
said Commissioners
The statute in question has received
different construction in the Interior De-
partment; see anr ual report OF the Secre-
tary Of the Interior for 1888. page Is; IL be-
ing held that the act in question only trans
ferred the supervision Of expenditures to
the Commissioners, leaving the supervision
OF the appointments TO. ind the ger eral
administration OF the institution. as here
This view Of said act has also been
adopted by the Attorney General In his
opinion OF August 81. 1893.
1t would seem, therefore, that the ques-
| ton was fairly settled and the position OF
Messrs. Langston and King Is not well
taken, and therefore advise you that the
act In question does not In any manner
aoridge the authority OF the Secretary Of the
Interior in his supervisory control Of APP
pointments in said hospital
In the letter of said attorneys to the
Commissioners Of the District the follow
ing paragraph appears: We are Informed
by statements contained In the daily news
papers that Assistant Attorney General
Hall Of the Interior Department has given
an official opinion in accordance with the
| views herein submitted
Il desire to say in connection with this
statement that IL the newspapers 30 report
ed it was through error. for have not had
| this question before me for consideration
| until the present time. On July IA, 1894
did submit an opinion to the Secretary OF
| the Interior to the effect that under said
act the Secretary no longer had control Of
property purchased for said hospital
| This view, you will observe, Is consis-
| tent with the original construction OF said
| statute, as noted in the foregoing, and not
| Inconsistent with the opinion expressed
herein"