Evening star., 1897-01-29
A HOSPITAL CHANGE
Senator McMillan's Amendment in
Regard to Freedman's
LETTERS SENT 10 TEE COMMITTEE
Opposition by Secretary Francis
and Surgeon Williams.
RPORATORS' PIE "A

The managers of Freedmen's Hospital
and Asylurn are opposing the proposition
contained in a notice given in the Senate
On the 18th instant by Mr.. Mcmillan that
he would propose an amendment to the
bill making provision for the expenses of
the District of Columbia so as to provide
among other things regarding the Freed
mems Hospital and Asylum that 1.-The In
corporstors of this institution shall have
the full control and management thereof"
A number of protests against this action
have been made to the Senate committee
on the District of Columbia. Secretary
Francis of the Department of the Interior
has written to Senator Mcmillan ON this
subject. inclosina a letter from the sur
geon-iE-chief of Freedmen's Hospital Sec
retary Francis says:
This hospital was originally appropriat-
ed for and placed under the control of
the Secretary of War by act of March
= 1sl1. and subsequently, by act of June
x, 1874. was transferred to the Interior
Department. By the act of March 3, 1898
the supervision ard control of the expendi-
lures of the appropriations therefor was
transferred to the Commissioners of the
District of Columbia. The appontive and
administrative power over the institution
Is. however. still vested in the Secretary
OF the Interior. No complaint, as far as
am ADVISED, has been made regarding the
management of this institution; 1 have no
Information as to the personnel of the
1ncorporators referred to in the proposed
amendment, nor am l aware of any good
reason why the management of the Freed
mems Hospital should lie transferred from
the supervision of the Secretary of the
Interior to such incorporators."
secretary FRANCIS goas on TO -ecite facts
regarding the management of the hospital
and the good work it has done.
Committee of IncorpOratOrs.
The committee has also received a letter
from committee in behalf of the incorpor-
ators of the hospital. signed by Francis J.
Grimke. Neil F. Graham. NJ. D., c. B. Pur-
Wis. NJ. d.. T. b. Hood. NJ. D., James H.
Meriwether and John NJ. Cook This COM
mittec states:
When the appropriation bill for tho Dis
trict OF Columbia passed the House of Rep
resentatives four years ago 1t trans ferred
the management and ccntrol of the Freed
mems Hospital from the Department of the
trict of Columbia. The disinterestel friends
OF the institution feeling that Its future
success and welfare dep pauded upon having
1t removed entirely from politics, presented
the matter to the Senate committee on ap-
propriations. After full and thorough
discussion with the committee and the
Commissioners 1t was decided that the wise
and correct way was for these friends to in
T.,
This was done, and the House bill. was
amended with a view of Investing the in
corporators with the management. thus
placing the hospital upon the same foot
ing as the other hospitals and other char
liable institutions of the District. The
wording of the amendment was unfortu-
nate and the authority over the hospital
was divided between the local and general
governments. an anomalous condition. The
incorporators now seek to have the present
Congress secure to them the promised con-
troll of the hospital
The committee then goes on TO enlarge
upon the necessities for having the hospital
placed under the control of incorporators,
and says that the item OF salaries under
their control could he reduced 81 ,NW and
the services of assistant surgeons, as now
provided for, could be dispensed with. They
state that the professors of the medical de-
partmcnt of Howard University are willing
to give their services to attend upon the
sick. and state that the change they seek
to have made is desired by all the repre-
sentative colOred men of the city. such as
ex-senator Bruce, e,ex-RepreSentatives Lynch
and Langston. and by all the leading min
listers and physicians and by all the color
ed trustees of Howard University. The
transfer of control to the incorporat tors
does not, the committee states call for the
transfer of any property. as the govern
ment does not own any building or grounds
IN connection with the institution.
Surge On williams Opposition.
The committee then submitted the form
of an ame ndment which they desired to
have made to the appropriation bill for the
District of Columbia making appropria-
tiCns for the Freedmen's Hospital, and it
as this amendment which was introduced
ir the Senate by Mr.. Mcmillan, that has
stirred up opposition to the proposition to
place the control of the hospital under the
incOrDorations and called out the above
letter from the Secretary of the Interior
The surgeon-in-chief of the hospital Dr.
Williams, in stating his opposition to the
proposed change, has written a letter TO
Mr.. Mcmillan reciting numerous facts re-