The times., 1897-05-02

reduction, he said, was done arbitrarily by
the Assistant Secretary. Stierlin was u
soldier; the young man who got the better
place was not soldier.
DIR. Charles B. Purvis said that he
had been removed by Secretary HOks
Smith from his position as surge0n-in-
chief OF the Freedman's Hospital. 1t was
in the fall OF 1898, he said, that he learned
there was a disposition to remove him, and
the dean Of Howard University called
upon Secretary S mith and learned thatsuch
was that officials intention When asked
for reasons. Secretary Smith told the dean
that DR.. Purvis had been offensive, polit-
icalIy, and he had decided to remove him
Subsequently, DIR. Purvis said, he saw
Secretary Smith, who told him that his
word was good. In the course OF their
talk Secretary 5 mith referred to speech
witness had made in favor OF the force bill
in church here in Washington, and asked
him if ne favored putting the white and
the colored people on an equality.
i did not deny making the speech, said
Dr.. Purvis, and tole che Secretary frankly
that 1 had don5 So"
Il have stpJng feelings on this questi Jn
Have you read an article Of mine in the
Forum, on 1.-The Federal Election Law?''
was the reply the witness said Secretary
Smith made
Yes, 1 have read it," DR. Purvis told
the committee he replied, land have
also read the article on the same subject by
Senator Lodge, and I must say, Mr.. Sec
retary, that do not think you comprehend
the subject. 1 should favor a force bill
if there was not coiored man in the
United States"
Then Secretary Smith, according to the
witness, told him that he intended to dis
miss him the moment he could find col
ored Democrat to take his place. In the
February following, Dr. Puryis said, he re-
ceived noteone night by messenger asking
for his resignation the next morning DR.
Purvis said he was an old soldier. He had
not applied TO Secretary Smith for rein
statement, but should do so TO Secretary
Bliss.
II regard the action of Secretary Smith
in seeking 20 interfere with my personal
opinions as an impertinence,' said Dr.
P0rviS as he left the witness stand.
DIR. Daniel Fl. Williams, surgeon-in- chief
of Freedman's Hospital, followed DR.. Pur-
Wis. He said he did not come to the iu-
stitution as surgeon-in-chief through poll
tics, and denied that there had been any
politics in the management of the hos
pitaI. Speaking of the training school for
nurses Dr.. Williams advocated an exsmt-
nation for admission into the school. He
thought the civil service had given them
the necessary assistance in securing quail
flied nurse pupils. The witness claimed
that when he came there many nurses in
the institution were unable TO read and
write. They were compelled also to pay
So month for the privilege of listening to
lectures. Now the nurses were admitted
to the training school after an examination
as to their qualifications.
Senator Lodge inquired what the train
ing school system was in the great in
stitutions, and DIR. Williams responded:
"Just the same as at Freedman's
''Is there any difference as to ooiOr?"
asked Senator Lodge.
"Yes; we do not admit white women in
the training school. 1t is not practical
There IS so much prejudicein Washington -
DIR. Williams advocated strongly the
civil service system, and paid a tribute to
his predecessor, DIR. Purvis, who was for
twenty years the surgeon at FTeedman's.
The committee will meet again on ca1
of the chairman