The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-06
DEFEATED IN THE House
Proposition TO Buy Land for t.
Eiizabetb's As lum Fails.
The Section Stricken From the sum
dry CiyiI Bill, Which Is Passed
With Amendments - conferences
Ordered on the Army and For
tiGcations Appropriations Bills.

The Sundry Civil Appropriation bill
passed the House late yesterday afternoon.
The feature of the day was the discussion
OF that section of the bill which provides
for the purchase of land for the Govern
ment Hospital for the Insane. This Sec
ton follows:
For the purchase, in the discretion of
the Secretary of the Interior, at total
40 acres of land adjoining the present
building site. Provided, that If said
amount of land cannot be purchased for
cost not exceeding s21O,0O0 OF not less than
said amount or for a less sum, the amount
herein appropriated shall be applied to the
construction of buildings for special classes
of patients on the present grounds of the
hospital, suitable for the extension
herein proposed
This provision OF the bill was stricken
out
When the House had resolved itself into
Committee of the Whole the pending ques-
ton was on Mr.. Mudd's amendment to
strike out the paragraph relating to the
purchase of the land. 4 division was or
dered and the amendment was agreed TO
d. by vote of 40 to 81. The paragraph was
stricken out. Mr.. Talbert made point of
no quorum, but promptly withdrew ii. Mr..
Cannon offered to amend the bill giving
acquire the land thereby indicated by con-
,lemnation, provided the cost should not
exceed S210. 600. Mr. De Almond offered
substitute authorizing the Secretary of the
Interior to accept as gift or to buy tract
of land not less than 500 acres al cost OF
not less than 500 an acre.
Mr.. Cannon said this substitute would
authorize the purchase OF iald for tie
hospital in Maryland, Virginia, or Mis-
souri,. There was, he said, for this no
warrant of Law and he made point of or
der against the substitute. The point OF
order was sustained. Mr.. De Almond then
took the floor s-ainst Mr.. Cannon's amend
ment. He said the amendment was quite
as Objectionable TO him as the original
proposition. 1t sought, he said, to bring
about the same condition by the same
means He did not see why all the Gov
eminent insane should be cared for in the
District of Columbia. Branches of the
hospital might be established in different
parts of the country.
Mr. Cannon summed up. He told of the
emergency that existed at present The
hospital was over-crowded. There was an
urgent demand for expansion along ra-
tionai lines. He made a strong plea for
the adoption of his amendment.
Mr. Benton of Missouri opposed Mr..
Cannon's amendment. He thought the
amount of s210. 900 should be better applied
to buildings on land that the Government
already owns on the east side of Nichols
Avenue.
Mr.. Grout advocated the amendment.
The proper treatment of the insane de-
manded a large tract of land. All the
land ought net to be covered with build
ings. The land On the east side Of the
road is used as farm and is needed as a
farm The land which it is proposed to
obtain was admitted TO be desirable.
Mr., Loud of California said he did not
think the land worth more than $500 al
acre.
Mr.. Allen said that on the occasion of
visit to the asylum he had been impressed
with the necessity of relief from the over
crowded condition of the hospital. M. Al
len dwelt upon the eligibility of the pro-
posed site.
Mr. Pearre of Maryland explained TO the |
House that a delegation from the Congress |
Heights Citizens Association had called |
upon him yesterday and had made the ar |
gument that tie price was exorhitant. He |
opposed the amendment.
Mr. Norton of Ohio spoke eloquently in |
favor OF the purchase OF the land. He |
deprecated that the comfort of the insane |
should be sacrificed to a cheeseparing |
policy, which would place the Insane Asy- |
lum on wheels and cart it through the |
highways and alleys in search for cheap |
land.
Mr.. R1dgely opposed the amendment MI |
De Almond offered a second substitute for |
Mr.. Cannon's amendment providing for the |
appropriation of $4,000 for the temporary |
accommodation of the insane. The Ques-
fior on this substitute was put and on
division resulted in i3 ayes and AZ noes,
S'hereupon Mr.. Cannon called for tellers.
This vote thus registered was ayes Al,
Eoes 49, The substitute was not agreed
to- The question then being on Mr.. Can
mons amendment that amendment was lost
without a division.
Mr.. Wilson of Arizona made success
full fight for an amendment to the bill
providing an appropriation of $4,000 for
Fort Whipple, near Prescott, Ariz. After
a strong resistance by Mr.. Cannon, tellers
were ordered and the amendment was
adopted by IS to AZ.
Mr.. Linney of North Carolina moved an