Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-22
WANT A NEW BUILDING
CAMPAIGN IN INTEREST OF CO.
LUMBIA HOSPITAL.
Matter Taken Up by Board of Directors
ITO Appeal to Con-
gress.

An active campaign for the purpose of Sc
curing a new building 70: the Columbia
Hospital for Women is to be inaugurated
when Congress reassembles after the holt
days The board of directors of the insti-
tuition took up the matter yesterday at
their quarterly meeting, and the situation
was gone over in detail. AS stated In The
Star several weeks ago. for several years
past efforts have been made by the officers
of the hospital to secure an appropriation
for the construction of new building. The
Columbia Hospital is almost entirely sup
ported by the government, and is to all
ntents and purposes a government insti-
tuition. 1t has never had modern hos
pitaf building, nor hospital building OF
any kind as far that is concerned, dur
ing the thirty odd years of its existence.
Ever since the organization of the instltu-
ton. under the patronage of the War De-
partment, it has been housed i'll structures
that were unsuited to the demands made
upon them and IN which it has seemed al
most marvellous that the distinguished sur
geons and physicians of the house and Wis
ting stats have been able to make any
progress. The work of the institution is
known throughout the country, however.
and some OF the most eminent physicians
and surgeons in the United States are
members of its staff. The building in which
it is housed a present was constructed by
DR.. Maynard celebrated dentist and rifle
man of the District. as a residence in the
fftieS. and was later used by the British
embassy. When it was vacated by the
British government the United States pur-
chased the land and building and turned it
over to the hospital directors. From the
time of its purchase by the government up
to the present it has been necessary to
spend large sums annually to make the
building even comfortable for the patients.
Sounding Public Sentiment.
For several years past the members OF
the board of directors have been quietly at
work sounding public sentiment as to the
advisabiity of appealing to Congress for Il
Eew building, and a result of their in
Ql.iries it was decided last fall that deter
mined action should be taken and a de-
c.son was reached to appoint a legislative
committee to present all the facts con-
nected with the hospital management and
history to the proper committees. In the
annual report of the president of the board
to the board of charities of the District d
recommendation was made that Congress be
asked to provide 100000 for the erection
of new building. The board of charities
approved this recommendation and in rs
annual report to the Commissioners of the
District recommended that the request be
made of Congress and that the of
SiN0O0 be appropriated during the present
fiscal year for the preparation of plans and
specifications. This recommendation was
approved by the Commissioners and passed
up to Congress in the annual report and
book of estimates of that body. Things
having progressed this far the members OF
the board yesterday took up the matter Of
the appointment of a legislative commit
tee. and Gen. John NJ. Wilson. president of
the board: Col. Daniel Ransden, sergeant
alarms of the Senate. and Col. George
TrUesdeI We're selected as members of the