Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-06-04
Conference Report on Appropriations
up IL House.
QUESTION OF MUNICIPAL HOSPITAL
Mr.. Lewis. Superintendent of Char
aies. Attacked.
u sG'
BABCOCK'S MOTION

Mr.. Circuit Of Vermont presented the con-
ference report on the District appropria-
ton bill In the House this afternoon. The
only point at issue between the two houses
was the item Of 100000 proposed by the
Senate for the purchase of a site for mu-
nicipal hospital.
Mr.. Fitzgerald Of Massachusetts took the
floor to discuss the question OF appropria-
tons for sectarian purposes. He said the
District bill carried at least two items OF
sectarian appropriations and yet the House
had refused on sectarian grounds to allow
appropriations for st. Johns EpiscopaD
and st. Josephs (Catholic) orphan asylums.
He said the blow dealt to the Sisters of
Charity would be felt by every Catholic In
the country.
Mr.. Lewis Attacked.
Mr.. Fitzgerald at this point made an at
tack upon Mr.. Lewis, the superintendent of
charities. He characterized Mr.. Lewis as a
bigot. and said he ought to be tarred and
feathered. He said no civilized community
would tolerate the existence of Mr.. Lewis
in office for twenty-four hours. He charged
that Mr.. Lewis. in a printed report. had
treated with scorn and ridicule the rites OF
the Catholic Church as practiced in St.
Joseph's Asylum He criticised incidentally
the action Of the conferees on the bill
Mr.. Bingham of Pennsylvania. one OF the
from Pennsylvania he was able at all
times to take care of himself. AS con-
feree he would obey the instructions OF the
House.
Motion to Concur.
Mr.. Babcock Of Wisconsin then moved
that the House concur In the Senate
amendment appropriating 100000 for the
purchase OF q site for a municipal hospital.
Mr.. Babcock said that when the subject
VIC 10 hnr obi yy &hnr NJ
be. he thought dissenting vote to the
proposition.
He said the hospitals Of the city were
crowded and the support Of inmates in
some OF them was very expensive to the
government. He said the sentiment in Con-
gress was strong In favor of the plan for
q municipal hospital. and he thought that
the appropriations for hospital work would
be reduced 80 per cent.
Mr.. Babcock said the sale Of the ground
upon which Columbia Hospital stands would
pay for the new buildings. He said that
Providence Hospital was a model institu-
ton. and that the government was not
paying for what 1t received. The sisters in
charge were doing the work at low figure.
Mr.. Babcock said this proposition has the
Endorsement of four committees of the
House and Senate. The only opposition. he
said. comes from certain hospitals which
do not want to lose their patronage.
Mr.. Payne of New York opposed the ap-
preparation for the hospital.
Mr.. Payne said that experience proved
that It was cheaper to make contracts with
private hospitals than to conduct govern
ment institutions.
Mr.. Payne wanted to know where the
proposed hospital was to be located He
had understood that # was intended to buy
the old SchuetZen Park
He thought that by going little further
out 1t would be possible to get q whole
farm instead Of ten acres
Mr.. Babcock said the amendment as now
prepared contained no reference to ten
acres. but left the site question open.