Evening star., 1903-07-03
A MILITARY HOSPITAL
Plans and Specifications Pre-
pared.
NO PROVISION MADE
CONGRESS FAILED TO APPRo-
PIRATE MONEY.
Misapprehension Regarding the Mat
ter-Surgeon General 0'Reilly's
Explanation and Comment.

Considerable misapprehension exists re-
garding plans for a general military hos
pital in this city, and all sorts OF stories
are in circulation as to where the building
is to be located, etc. In order to ascertain
the facts in the matter Star reporter
called on Surgeon General OReilly in his
Office in the War Department today and
was informed that while it was very de-
sirable to have general hospital IN this
vicinity for the benefit Of the army, there
was at present no provision for such an in
stitution. He said that the necessity for
such building was admitted by every
body at all cognizant of the subject, and 1t
was a matter of regret that Congress at
its last session failed to pass the measure
authorizing the construction of such
building
The military hospital at Washington
barracks was established during the Span
ish war under stress of conditions which
prevented proper attention to matters OF
detail required in a modern, up-to date hos
pital. The building was only intended for
temporary use and was located at wash
ington barracks as the only available place
at the time. That is not regarded as a
suitable place, however, for an 1nStftu-
ton of that character, and, moreover, the
grounds are now required for other pur-
poses connected with the establishment OF
the Army War College and the Engineer
School of Application.
Bill Failed to Pass.
It was on account OF these considerations,
said General OReilly, that efforts were
made to induce Congress to make pro-
vision for another and more suitable mill
tary hospital in this vicinity. Although
the bill containing the necessary authority
and appropriation received favorable con-
sideration in Congress, it failed of passage
Another effort will be made at the coming
session of Congress, and it is hoped that
1t will be successful.
Gen. O'Reilly explained that In order to
be fully prepared to show the proper con-
gressional committees exactly what was
wanted, he has arranged with local archl-
tect to prepare plans and specifications for
proposed plans will call for building for
the accommodation Of certain number OF
patients and will be SO designed as to suit
any site Of ordinary Typographical char
acteristics. The idea, Gen. o Reilly said,
was to utilize the plans in the construction
Of a hospital in any locality Congress
should fix upon, whether In the United
States or in the Philippines. The efforts
this line will be first directed, however, to
securing a hospital in this vicinity. Untii
there is some assurance OF success In tnat
direction, Gen. O'Reilly said, 1t would be
folly to consider the selection OF site for
the building He admitted, however, that
many sites had already been suggested TO
him, some in Virginia, some in Maryland
and some in the suburbs Of Washington,
but he had Invariably declined to consider
any sof the applications, and had even de-
clined to make personal examination OF
any of the sites.
No Occasion for Discussion.
In his opinion it will be sufficient to con-
sider the question of a site when there is
some certainty of authority for putting the
building upon it. In response to direct
inquiry Gen. O'Reilly said there was not
the least authority for the oft-repeated
statement that the army hospital was to be
located on Connecticut avenue extended