Omaha daily bee., 1899-09-10
SANITARIUM FOR SOLDIERS
Favorable Outlook for an Establishment Al
Hot Springs, s. D.
CONGRESSIONAL ACTION EXPECTED SOON
Proposed Location Possesses Greatest
Known Advantages, Especially
for the Treatment of
Rheumatic Cases.

Captain II. F.. Palmer has returned from
the annual national encampment Of the
Grand Army at Philadelphia He was
chairman OF the committee to which was
referred the resolution asking congress to
establish a soldiers home at Hot Springs,
s. D.. under the name OF the Sanitarlum of
the National System OF Homes. He re-
ported to the e~ncampment that the pro-
ject was backed by the entire Board of
Managers Of the National Homes, General
w. b. Franklin, chairman Of the board, be-
ing especially active In the matter.
Through the influence of the Board of
Homes thirty test cases of rheumatic dis
eases, the men being totally disabled, were
taken on stretchers from the national
home at Leavenworth, Kan, to the
state home at Hot Springs and treated for
sixty days only. General Averill, in
spector general OF the national homes, re-
ported that one died, A per cent were cured
and that all others we're greatly benefited.
He further reports that the saving to the
government by curing rheumatic cases
would more than pay the expenses OF es-
tablishing and maintaining the sa~nitarium.
With such an endorsement the encamp-
ment did not hesitate to pass the resolution
unanimously and asked the commander-in
chief to appoint a committee to wait upon
congress to secure the passage OF the nee
essary bill.
The committee having this project In
charge was not named until January, 1899,
and consisted Of H. e. Palmer, past de-
partment commander, Nebraska, as chair
man.; E.. P. FAIR, George A. Silsby, l.. v.
Lucas, c. s. Palmer, all past department
commanders Of South Dakota. and w. r.
Manning and Richard Root of Iowa. The
committee was instructed to act without ex-
pense to the organization, and the first
meeting was held in Washington on Jan
uary 29 OF the present year. AT this
meeting a memorial was drafted for pres.
e~ntation to the house committee on mil
itary affairs. Upon investigation It was
found that the bill for the establishment Of
this sanitarium had twice passed the SEN
ate and that at that time a similar bill was
before the house military committee.
On February 8 an argument was made be-
fore the military committee by Captain Pal
mer, assisted by General Henderson and
Congressman Gamble Of South Dakota. The
immense pressure Of war business, the Hull
bill and other obstacles prevented a report
Of the military committee on the bill, al
though Captain Palmer and Mr.. Silsby re-
mained some weeks in Washington trying
to obtain a report.
Since the adjournment of congress the
matter has not been allowed to rest and
the support OF Colonel Henderson,, who is
slated for the next speaker OF the house,
has been secured. Chairman Hull OF the
committee on military affairs, after a visit
to Hot Springs last July. is strongly in
favor OF the measure. 1t is hoped that with
this Influence behind it there will be but
very little difficulty encountered in passing
the bill at the next session OF congress.
At the present time the only sanitarium
under government control is a small one
for the regular army at Hot Springs, Ark,
where malaria and heat for nine mooths of
the year make the location undesirable. At
Hot Springs, S. D., the attitude Is 1882 feet
above the sea, the climate is most delight
full the year round and the waters are the
best and most curative in the world. 1t is
the hope Of the committee that 1t win
be able to secure for the members OF the
Grand Army on a larger scale what the
government now provides for the regular
soldiers at their sanitarium at Hot Springs,
Ark.