Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-03-28
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Secretary Smiths Decision on the
Contagious Hospital Question.
NO LOCATION FOR IT At FREEDMEN'S
He VIII Not Consent to the Com
missoners' Proposal.
TENT OF HIS DECISION

The Commissioners of the District OF
Columbia cannot locate the hospital for
contagious diseases upon the grounds of
the Freedmens Hospital. The Secretary OF
g. Interior this afternoon rendered de-
cis.on adverse to the Commissioners on tn II
point. The Secretary, though recognizing
that the interests of humanity demand
that some provision should be made for the
accommodation of contagious cases. also
thinks that there Is question of humanity
involved in the interests of the patients
who come under treatment in the surgical
ward of Freedmen's Hospital He is un-
willing that Freedmen's Hospital, peculiar
ly adapted as it is to the advancement of
the colored race, shall have its facilities
lessened by devoting it to the purposes OF
a contagious hospital.
The secretnry's Decision.
The Secretary's decision was stated in a
letter sent today to the District Commits
sioners, as follows:
Your communication of recent date, call
ing my attention to the fact that the Com
missioners of the District of Columbia are
continuously embarrassed by the absence
of accommodations for patients afflicted
with contagious diseases. other than small
pox. has been considered by me.
I'm said communication you call my at
tention to the fact that the sundry civil ap-
preparation act of August go 1890. under
the head of Freedmen's Hospital and Asy-
lum G6 Stats, p. 1888, contains the fol-
lowing provision:
For erecting one frame building of four
rooms to provide for a class of patients not
provided for in other institutions, to wit,
those suffering with contagious diseases
such as measles. scarlet fever, diphtheria
and erysipelas, $2,50O.'
1T appears that in accordance with the
provisions of said act building was erect
ed within something less than twenty-five
feet of the surgical and obstetrical wards
of the Freedmen'S Hospital, and Is now
being used as nurses home. there being
no other building available for that pur-
pose.
Il am requested by the board of Com
missioners of the District of Columbia to
give direction that said building be imme-
diately devoted to the use for which 1t was
provided inasmuch as it is the only build
ing especially provided for by law for the
treatment of such contagious diseases as
are mentioned in, the appropriation act
hereinbefore mentioned.
Protests From Howard University.
''Dr. D. H. Williams, surgeon-in-chief of
the Freedmen's Hospital, and the Rev. DR..
j. E. Rankin, president of Howard Uni
versity, whose attention has been called
to the subject matter of your communica-
tion, have entered protest against the
use Of said building for, the purpose men
toned therein.
1T is represented by the surgeon in chief
that the patients occupying the surgical
and obstetrcal wards of the F'reedmen's
Hospital, which are in close proximity to
the building to which your communication
refers, would be in great danger, more es-
pecNlly since that class of patients are
peculiarly susceptible to such contagious
diseases as are enumerated in said appro-
priation act. 1t is represented also by DR..
Rankin that the grounds and buildings now
occupied by the Freedmen's Hospital and
Asylum are the property of Howard Uni
Versity, and We're leased to the Commits
sioners of the District of Columbia to be
used for the ordinary purposes Of such an
institution, and that the contract by which
said property passed into the possession of
the Commissioners of the District of Co
lumbia does not contemplate either by ex-
press provision or by implcatio that any
of said buildings should be used for the
purpose of receiving patients afflicted with
contagious diseases other than such as are
developed among the patients under treat
ment in the Freedmen's Hospital.
'Dr. Rankin contends further that the
erection of the building, made in pursuance
OF the provision contained in the appro-
priation act of $780, was done without the
consent of the trustees of Howard Univer-
sity, and that said trustees have never sig
nifled their willingness that any building
located upon the grounds occupied by the
Freedmen's Hospital should be used for
the treatment of patients afflicted with con-
tagious diseases.
The interests of Humanity.
Il recognize and appreciate the fact that
in the interest of humanity some provision
should be made for giving proper atten-
tion to cases of contagious diseases within
the District Of Columbia, but I am also
confronted with the fact that there is
question of humanity involved In the in
terest of the patients who may from time
TO time be under treatment in the surgical
ward of the Freedmen's Hospital
iS mi hnI Itt-it
physicians who entertain similar views
with those of the honorable board of Com
misSioners that in the use of the building in
question for the reception of such patients
as is contemplated by the appropriation act
OF 1890 If proper precautions were observ-
ed and exercised, there would he no danger
of communicating the contagion to the
patients occupying the surgical ward of
the Freedmen's Hospital. Not being
physician myself, I am not prepared to
settle this controversy, having every ccr-
hdence in the sincerity of the views taken
by the honorable board of Commissioners
as well as those taken by the surgeon-in-
chief of the Freedmen's Hospital
You doubtless appreciate the fact that
entertain feeling of great reluctance in
giving directions that the building in ques-
tion should be devoted to purpose which,
In the judgment of the surgeon-in-chief
would endanger the health and lives of
patients occupying buildings in such close
proximity. This reluctance is strengthened
by the fact that learned physicians of the
District of Columbia, with whom 1 have
conferred. concur in the views Of the sur
geon-in-chef.
"The Freedmens Hospital is recognized
by the government as being peculiarly
adapted to the advancement of the colored
race, and cannot consent that it's facilities
should be lessened by devoting it to the
purposes of a contagious hospital.
"Regretting the embarrassing conditions
which suggested your communication,
am &c.
Naval Movements.
kilograms to the Navy Department to-
day show that the cruiser Atlanta has left