New-York tribune., 1902-05-20
AT ODDS OVER A HOSPITAL
MOST OF STAPLETON'S PEOPLE WANT
GOVERNMENT To BUY MARINE IN
STITUTION-OTHERS OPPOSED.

The question to whether the United State
Marine Hospital StapIeton. Staten Island is L
ne permanent institution not is causing mucI
discussion and bitter feeling between a majority
OF the StapletOnians. the members of the Marin
Society who own the property. and the hospita
corps who all in favor of hospital remain
ing where it is and various real estate agents
politicians. who favor its removal so that tbs
property may be divided into building lots. The
latter are even attempting make the question
political issue
The Marine Society has been leasing the buildfns
and grounds 10 the government from year 70 year
hut has now refused to continue doing so. The
lease expired May Is, The government. how
ever. has option its purchase for $4,000 anc
bill is now before Congress authorizing appro-
priatiOn for that amount. The Senate made this
amendment the Sundry Civil Appropriation
bill WHICH had been passed by the House 1t needs
now hut the concurrence of the House 70 becoms
a law. Its opponents have sent Perry Belmont &c
Washington 10 obstrUct its passage If possible
Meanwhile Congressman Montague Lessler is fight
ing for its approval The final decision Will be
dered within few days.
The property is also of historical value 1t
decided the Marine Society I770 by George Ill
II contains in all thirty acres and faces the nava
anchorage. George Washington and Governor Ciin-
ton We're members of the society when it frs
organized and aided a great deal in it's efforts te
care for old and disabled seamen of the merchan'
marine The present building erected about
fifty years ago by the State. which maintained
by imposing a every seaman that entered
the port and by appropriations. The tax event
ually declared Illegal and in 1SS2 the State decided
over the entire property the Marine Society.
latter refunding to the State $4,000. the OF
erecting the building
At this time the government had been maintain
ing an institution BedOws Island, but the
placing of BarthOldis statue there obliged the
army post TO move. The building in Staple
ton was then leased from the Marine Society. and
thus became government institution Since then
1t has been caring for over thousand seamen of
the merchant marine every year. The building Is
a large four story stone structure and can
commodate nearly two hundred patients at ons
time. II is in charge of DIR. Preston H Bailhache
His staff consists of two commissioned officers Of
the regular service. acting assistant surgeon,
Two nternes. young medical graduates who
there Tor practical experience, and two pharrna-
clst5. Besides these there thirty attendants.
AT present there hundred patients. Several
chronic diseases Patients suffering from con-
taglous diseases are never taken there An
cepttOn 10 this are cOnsumptives but III able to
TaNeI these sufferers receive first class ticket TO
Service has established a for seamen suf-
fering from this particular disease
If this hospital is taken away. and the Marine
Hospital Service is obliged farm its wards out
country will be the only one in Which the Arneri-
can merchant seamen will have no hospital set
for a site tor another hospital, but suitable
ing cheers sick seamen so much as TO be able TO
gaze out the water. Here they may do SO to
10 find another place the ships.
The principal objection raised to the govern
ment's purchase of the property has been that the
town would he benefited by the removal OF the
building and the division of the ground into build
ing lots. which would all be taxable property. A
Tribune reporter yesterday interviewed several OF
the leading of the town. and they all declared
that the $4,000 which the hospital annually spent
there was worth far more than the difference in
taxes to the community. All the shOpkeepers who
expressed their opinions the subject said the
same The objection that the price is too high is
more than counterbaIanced by the fact that no
other property could be bought cheaper, and that
he flTyr vFn he tn
porting the Home for Sailors Widows and the
Home for Sailors Orphans. both under it's care
y petition has been received by Congressman
IeSsler, signed by fifteen hundred persons, urging
him to exert his influence in having the approprta-
tion passed. Another like petition. signed by ffty-
seven steamship companies and ship owners, has
also been sent in The actual ground leased
by the government is only ten acres. This, tf re-
served. will prevent the laying out OF but few
streets. The only real benefit that would result
from the hospitals removal, according to several
of the leading men Of StapletOn. would be fnan-
builders.