Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1905-02-27
Optic Correspondent Writes
From Washington That
Fort Stanton May Re.
ceiye the Honor.
BILL AS IT
PASSED SENATE
Secretary shaw and Surgeon
General Wyman In Favor
or II Appropriation
Of &2JO,OOO.

Special Correspondence Of The Optic
WASHINGTON. u. G., Feb "a
There can be no doubt but II ia the
belief Of Secretary Of the Treasury
Shaw. Surgeon General Wyman and
many OF the congressman. that New
Mexico Is the territory that should
furnish a leprosarium for the nation.
In the letter OF Surgeon General wy.
man TO Secretary Shaw. In the sec.
retary'a reply. In the correspondence
that has passed between other govern.
ment officials on the subject, not one
word has been said MS 10 whether or
not New Mexico or any other territory
would object TO such an institution.
The senate passed the bin without
much comment. Some of the mem
beers of the house believe each state
should take care Of It's own ieprous
citizens. and the bill may be killed.
II In certain that the purpose Is 10
establish the ~instltution In a cont.
mental territory and. as the bill Itself
shows. To coatine the inmates 10 con
tinental people. There has been
some ialk stoat the Hobbies that Fort
SsanGca IL 10 be chosen for the honor.
However. as Fort Stanton II occupied
rs q marine %sanitayium. this Ia doubt
full. although Il Is suggested that the
insvnslon may be- TO moy,, the tuber
cular sanitarium to Las Vegas and
bring the lepers TO tho old post.
The bill IL stiginatly introduced
merely authorized the sugcon general
ITO select u site now owned by the
United States but tho amended bill
limits The institution 10 q territory
or m insnlar possession IL Is be
iicyed here that II sufficient objection
be urged by the territories. some re-
mote island viii be chosen rather than
q site in New Mexico ar Arizona.
Following IL the text Of the bin as
amended, which passed the senate
February IL and was introduced into
tho house February II:
An Act 10 provide q leprosarium for
the segregation OF lepers and 10 pre-
vent the spread OF leproay in the Unit
ed statar.
Do II enacted by the senate and
house Of representatives Of the United
States OF America in congress assem-
bled. That for the purpose Of carrying
out the provisions OF this net the sur
ton general of the public health aud
marine hospital service OF thu United
States. under the direction Of the sec
rotary Of the treasury, IN authorized
To select u site. within a territory or
insular possession Of tho United
States. suitable for the establishment
OF a leprosarium TO be administered BY
the said service; and tho secretary Of
war. the secretary Of the navy. the
secretary Of the interior, or the sec.
Rotary OF agriculture IL authorized To
transfer to the secretary Of the Treas.
nry NJ abandoned military. naval. or
other reservation suitable for the pure
pose, or as mach thereof as may be-
necessary, with All buildings and I'm.
proycEnsnss thereon. . be used for
the purpose ~ said EeproSari,m.
Sec, 2. That che medical officer &c.
tailed or appointed In charge of said
ieprosariam shall. under regula
sioas prepared hy the surgeoa
general Of the public healta |
and marine hospital service. With me
approval ~ the secretary az the treas
ury, receive into me lgprosarium any
lepssr presenting himself or herself for
care or treatment. or any leper duly +.
consigned 50 said -lepfosaflum hy a
state or territorial board q health og
the healtA department az any STATE 81
territory 81 me District cf Columbia
with the approval If he governor q
said afe ur territory 81 tbe eafamis
slonsas g the District II Columbia
The sarspon eenogal O. the nabHe
hsaa 4 sn3 nlarneh ospgtal wegylee Is
snlhoriAe upoR request from sala sa
thprl % sena tor any leper witA5a
their respective 3ars1lafiops an5 80
coagey said lepeF 10 the nattoasl t
Tosar.uHs gor a~stentlon and tuataaeut
ana ee re transportation u asiA
iepe tie hprosdarn Il ua aken
for 'ae protection az t4e public health
che e1p q sgeh removal SHAH 9e
raia iron funds SCI, aside fer tbs main
teaanee 81 ths ~ns,ita'itm; Provided