The Washington times., 1904-01-29
WILL ASK MONEY
FOR NEW HOSPITAL
Charities Board to Go Be
fore House Committee.
ALMSHOUSE APPROPRIATION
Would Remove Paupers From Contact
With Inmates of Two Penal
Institutions.

The Board of Charities OF the Dis
trict expects TO 90 before the House
Appropriations Committee either Mon
day or Tuesday OF next week. The two
most important items of legislation
which it viii request are $4,000 for the
new municipal hospital and Sl25,OOO for
the new almshouse
At the meeting of the board. held
Wednesday night. the chairmen of the
vaFious committees rehearsed the argu-
ments which they will present to the
Appropriations Committee. The chair
man Of the hospital committee declares
the proposed building is absolutely es-
sentiai for the accommodation and
treatment of cases Of pulmonary tuber-
culosis. This is the only class of cases
II IS intended 10 treat at the municipal
hospital for the present. as there is am
pie accommodation for all other cases in
the many local hospitals.
No Place for Consumptives.
1t is pointed out that there is not a
single bed in any local hospital where a
oonsumptive patient can be treated
without placing 6he case in a ward and
alongside of patients suffering from
. other diseases. This. according to the
board. is great source of danger TO
both patients. 1he proposed hospital
Tor cOnsumptives has been indorsed by
every medical man and organization in
the District
a site of thirty acres has already been
purchased. at a cost of $40. 600. in Bright
wood Avenue. and the board has every
reason 10 believe that Congress will
look favoratAy upon its request for a
building fund of $l5O.000 IN speaking
OF the matter today. Secretary Wilson.
OF the Board of Charities, said:
Ut is criminal 10 continue mixing
these consumptve patients with those
suffering from every other disease in
the medical category.
"Over Hill to Poorhouse."
The board is also trying to effect an
arrangement which win make it neces-
sary TO so ''over the hill to the poor
house" That is. the board has al
ready purchased site for a new aims
house near Giesboro Point, on the Mary
land side OF the Potomac. opposite Alex
andria. and Il viii next Saturday APP
peal FOR a fund of $4,000 with which TO
build the necessary houses.
The need Of such a structure was
brought before a previous Appropria-
tfons Committee, which considered the
matter at length and finally authorized
the expenditure Of $4,000 for the site.
and $500 for the preparation OF plans
for the desired buildings The commit
tee told the members Of the board that
II could count on an apprOpria ton Of
Sl25-O00 when the plans were complete
ana approved DN the committee. These
plans have been completed, and VIII be
submitted with the request for the
money
Complete Within Year.
Ti1e board thinks the buildings can be
completed' within a year. If the money
is made Immediately available, the new
almshouse will be ready by February,
1866. or IL the fiscal year rule is adhered
10, not later than July, 1906
The principal objection TO the present
location is that il is between the Dis
trict jail and the workhouse. and that
many OF the inmates Of the almshouse
whose only crime is poverty. are COM
peLed 10 mingle with persons who are
serving time for criminal Offenses. The
former Appropriations Committee con-
sidered this feature OF the question. and
recommended that the new almshouse
be removed from the present site as far
afs possible. At the new home il will
be possible for the inmates to indulge
in gardening and truck farming on
small scale, the surroundings will be
much more pleasant. and every body. in
cluding the citizens Of East Washing
ton viii be better satisfied.