Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-06-05
NEW HOSPITAL PROBABLE
MUNICIPAL INSTITUTION PROVIDED
FOR BY CONGRESS-.
Com missioners Preparing to Garry
Out Provisions of Resolution Max
ing Appropriation for Site.


ing Appropriation for Site.
The first step toward the establishment
and erection of municipal hospital for
the District was taken yesterday, when
Congress, in finally disposing of the bill
providing for the expenses of the District
during the fiscal year ending June 30. 1901.
adopted resolution offered by Representa-
tive Babcock chairman of the House Dis
trict committee, providing the sum of $780,
600 for the purchase by the Commissioners
of suitable site for the proposed lnstitu-
ton. This item in the bill was the only
one upon which up to yesterday a disagree
ment existed between the two houses of
Congress, the Senate having inserted an
amendment providing the sum of 100000
for the purchase by the Commissioners as
a site for the hospital of not exceeding ten
acres of land. The Senate insisted upon
its amendment, while the House, when the
first report of the conference committees
was submitted. directed its committee to
secure. if possible. the elimination of the
amendment. In this the House conferees
were unsuccessful, and. after a long debate
in the House yesterday, the Fiction of Mr..
Babcock was adopted, and later in the day
1t prevailed in the Senate.
The Commissioners have several times
urged upon Congress the construction Of
municipal hospital here, regarding such an
institution matter of the utmost i'm
portance They have explained more than
once to Congress that. while there are hos
pitfalls here, conducted by boards of truS-
| tees. which render efficient service yet
they have not and do not now meet the
demands which exist for a municipal hos
pital. Only several days ago the Commits
sioners, in a communication to Senator AL
lison. chairman of the Senate committee
on appropriations. urged the construction
of such a hospital here, transmitting to
him copy of communication from the
sanitary officer of the District to the chief
OF police, in which it was shown that dur
ing the calendar year 1899 no less than
sixty-eight applicants We're refused admis
sion to the local hospitals. During the
present calendar year a large number has
also been refused admission.
Explain Existing Conditions.
The Commissioners explained to Senator
Allison that they have no control whatso-
ever these hospitals, and have re-
course In such cases as those reported
other than to send the unfortunate persons
to the hospital of the Washington Asylum.
While this last named institution is be-
lieved by the Commissioners to be well
conducted, yet, as they explained to Sen
ator Allison, 1t has not the proper facili-
ties for placing patients in wards adapted
for their treatment, it being necessary, be-
cause of the absence there of such facil-
ties. to keep chronic and acute cases in the
stated that the hospital of the Washington
Asylum does not possess a capacity sufh-
cient to permit it to receive all cases which
should be taken care of by the munich
paity.
Every consideration, therefore. of hui
| manity,' wrote the Commissioners, would
Seem to prompt early and favorable action
looking toward the erection of a municipal
hospital. In case this appropriation tfor the
purchase of a Site is made at the present
session of Congress. it is the unanimous
purpose of the present board of Commits
sioners to advertise for proposals for the
sale of suitable site which to erect
the new building, and in the selection of
such site the Commissioners will be guild
ed only by what may seem to them to be
the best interests of the entire District of
Columbia"
Comment by Commissioner Ross.
Speaking today of the action of Congress
in the matter yesterday. Commissioner Ross
said he feels that the people of the District
are to be congratulated upon the appro-
priation made for the purchase of the site
for the hospital. That such an institution
is badly needed here, he added. there can
be no doubt. Mr.. Ross believes that a
municipal hospital cannot only be conducted
with economy. but also that patients therein
can be cared for and treated with as little,
if not less, expense to the District than has
been or would be the should they be
placed in those local hospitals now receiv-
ing aid from Congress. Referring to the
proposition made during the debate In the
House yesterday that the ground upon
which the Columbia Hospital for Women is
located be sold and the proceeds estimated
at about S3O00OO, used toward the construc-
ton of the municipal hospital. Mr.. Ross
said the land belongs to the United States
and that a bill was introduced during the
present session of Congress authorizing its
sale by the trustees of the institution and
the placing of the proceeds therefrom in
the treasury of the United States, one-half
thereof to be placed to the credit of the
District. This bill authorized and directed
the trustees of the hospital, subject to the
approval of the Commissioners, to purchase
a suitable and convenient site and to erect
thereon such buildings might be neces-
Sary for the accommodation Of the INDECENT
sick of the District, including maternity
cases, and appropriated the sum of 5000 900
for the site and the sum of $4,000 toward
the erection of the required buildings, the
total cost of which was fixed at an amount
not to exceed $20O.00O.
Amendments Suggested.
This bill, explained Mr.. Ross. did not re-
ceive the approval of the Commissioners,
but they suggested such amendments to the
measure as would have. in the event of it's
enactment provided the desired municipal
hospital.
Mr.. Ross stated that. upon the approval
of the pending District appropriation bill,
the Commissioners will take up the uues-
ton of the purchase of the site for the
municipal hospital. and that in due time
proposals for the sale of a suitable and con-
venfent parcel of ground will be invited
through advertisements inserted in the local
newspapers. The owners of land believed
by them to be suitable for the purpose will
have to enter into a competition In the mat
ter, therefore, which competition will place
all of them on an equal footing, and the
site purchased will be such as. in the
opinion Of the Commissioners, will be for
the best interests of the District. Several
sites have. 1t is said, been suggested to the
Commissioners. but they have refrained
from expressing preference for any par
ticular one, and, as explained by Mr. Ross,
that parcel of land will be purchased which
appears to them to be the best obtainable
Judge Taft Reports Arrival.
Secretary Root received a cable message
from Judge Taft, president of the Philip
pine commission. this morning saving: