The times., 1899-10-25

The nOn-appearance of the report of the
board of visitors of Freedmans Hospital
has resulted in a spirited correspondence
between the Superintendent of Charities,
Herbert W. Lewis, and George E Evans,
Chairman of the board Mr. Lewis wrote
to Mr.. Evans on the 18th of the present
month, requesting that a report of the
conduct of the affairs at the hospital be
sent to the Commissioners as soon as pos
sible, as the District authorities were about
TO commence the compilation of their an
nual report and it was necessary to have
the statements of the superintendent or
persons in charge of all the District in
stitutions in order that the document might
go to Congress complete. Mr. Evans re-
piled that he did not see where ne was
called upon to report to the District Com
missioners on any matters whatsoever. and
ne did not propose to do so unless some
good authority could be shown for such
action.
The Superintendent of Charities stated in
reply that if the chairman of the board of
visitors would refer to the act of Congress
approved March 2, 1889, ne would find au-
thority for the request that had been made
of him
To this Mr.. Evans answered that he had
carefully examined the act and had found
no reference to the institution in which
he was Interested therein contained.
Freedmans Hospital was under the direct
control of the Secretary OF the Interior,
Mr. Evans stated, and he again claimed
that he could see no reason why he should
submit report to the Commissioners of
he c+Yi.f - H.I,-
reported to the Secretary
Superintendent Lewis then wrote another
letter TO MIR. Evans, in which he again
asserted that the act referred to in his
previous letter did relate to Fresdmans
Hospital. The paragraph providing for the
report was cited, as follows:
That hereafter the several institutions included
under the head OF asylums, reformatories, indus
trlat schools and charities named in this act and
succeeding appropriation acts for the support Of
the District OF Columbia shall report TO the
Commissioners Of the District Of Columbia on or
before the first day Of October Of each year, a
full and dstaied account Of the receipts and ex-
penditures and all their operations.
Mr.. Lewis maintains that this law was
enacted subsequent to the one under which
the hospital was placed under the control
of the Secretary of the Interior, and that
all acts that conflict with it are therefore
null and void, a later conflicting law being
given preference where the clauses conflict
The only way in which the hospital author
tiles could claim exemption from this law
would be for them TO set forth that this
institution is neither an asylum nor char
liable institution, and that it is not spe-
cifcally mentioned in this or any other
bills passed by Congress. Both of these
claims, 1t is said, cannot be given serious
consideration, from the fact that since 1893
Freedman's Hospital has been maintained
annually out of the District appropriation
and in addition to this the board Of visitors
have never until now assumed the position
taken by Mr. Evans, but have always been
prompt in sending in their reports. which
have been transmitted to Congress by the
Commissioners.
Again the chairman of the board of visi-
tors failed to agree with the Superintend-
ent of Charities. In letter dated October
20 Mr.. Evans says that Freedman's Hos
pital is not an asylum, a Teformatory nor
an industrial or charitable institution. 1t
is supported, he says, solely by the United
States Government, and is under the con-
troll of Government officials. The act OF
March ?, 1889, cited by Mr.. Lewis. has alb
solutely no bearing on the case in hand.
Mr.. Evans contends, and relates in no way
to the administration Of the affairs OF the
hospital. The authority for this state
ment OF Mr.. Evans is based on a bill passed
by both houses of Congress June %. 1874.
transferring the supervisor and control o.
Freedmans Hospital to the Secretary OF
the Interior, which, Mr.. Evans claims has
never been repealed, and therefore the
Secretary continues to exercise jurisdiction
over the management of the affairs of the
institution, and is its only recognized head
An act to which Mr.. Lewis refers.
Mr.. Evans states, only transfers Ihe
supervision and control of the ex-
penditures of the institution 10 the
District Commissioners and if they desire
a detailed account Of the use of the money
provided for its maintenance this can be
secured by consulting the records Of dis
bursements, which are on file at the hos
pital.
Regarding the reports that have been re-
ceived in previous years. Chairman Evans
states that such action was only a courtesy
extended the District authorities by the
chief surgeon, and there is no law or stat
ute which requires such report. The
duties of the board of visitors were purely
supervisory. their chairman stated and
they did not have the authority TO submit
a report to the District Commissioners
even if they had wanted to. In couclu-
sion Mr.. Evans says inasmuch as the af-
fairs OF the institution are all in the hands
of the Secretary of the Interior all further
correspondence on the subject should be
held with him.
Superintendent Lewis has not pro -eeded
further toward obtaining the report but
has laid the matter before the Commission
ers, together with the correspondence on
the subject
THE SCOTTISH RITE MASoNS.