The Washington herald., 1908-02-01

A bin has been drafted by Health Off
ceg Woodward regulating the establish
ment and maintenance Of private hos
pitfalls and asylums in the District of
/ Columbia
/ This bill purposes 10 license and 10
subject private hospitals and asylums 90
! the supervision and control of the Dis
/ tTict Commissioners II has received the
/ approval Of the District Commissioners
and VIII be submitted to the corporation
/ counsel for his consideration. II he ap-
proves il, the bin Is to be transmitted 10
/ Congress with recommendation for its
/ enactment II its enactment be deemed
/ not advisable 10 Congress, then it is
recommended 10 Congress to repea! the
/ proviso in the present Law which the bill
! Is designed 10 remedy.
Regulations aud Penalties.
! Tie bill provides that no person shall
/ in the District Of Columbia establish or
maintain any private hospital or asylum,
either for the reception Of human beings
or Of domestic animals, unless or until
! licensed by the Commissioners Of the Dis
/ trict Of Columbia so TO do; that it shall
I be the duty OF the health officer OF the
/ District Of Columbia and his agents to
/ enforce the provisions Of this act; that
the health officer and his agents are
/ authorized TO enter and inspect during all
reasonable hours all private hospitals and
asyiums in the District, that no person
shall interfere with the enforcement of
this. or hinder OF refuse 10 permit any
/ inspection authorized by the bill
The punishment for the violation Of the
provisions OF the act or for aiding In the
violation thereof is fixed at a fine not
exceeding 500 or Imprisonment for not
more than thirty days, or both fine and
] Imprisonment, in the discretion Of the
court
The District Commissioners are author
lied by the bill 10 pr0mulgate from time
20 time such regulations as In their Judg-
ment public interests require 10 govern
the establishment and maintenance OF
private hospitals and asylums. and to
regulate the issue. suspension. and revo-
cation OF licenses required by the bill
The Commissioners are further author
lied TO afIiX 10 such regulations such PEN
alties as may be necessary in order TO
insure compliance,
Repeats Present Law.
All prosecutions OF cases of violations
Of this act come under the jurisdiction
of the Police Court Of the District OF
Columbia. subject 10 information furnish
ed and signed by the corporation counsel
All acts and parts Of acts inconsistent
with the provisions Of this act are 10 be
repealed by the bill.
An act making appropriations to pro-
vide for the expenses OF the government
OF the District Of Columbia, approved
March p 1888, provides for the regulation
Of these private hospitals and asylums
but no means are provided 70 carry out
its provisions
BY the legislation Of March . 1885 the
Commissioners are directed 10 require all
private hospitals ia the District OF Co
lumbia 10 obtain permits yet no power
is provided To enable the Commissioners
70 do so. nor are any conditions specified
as necessarily precedent TO the issue Of a
permit
In the opinion Of Dr. Woodward of the
District health Office. this former legisla-
ton as il stands fails to accomplish any
good purpose, and. therefore. should be
repealed, or so amended as to make it
accomplish the purposes for which the
present bill is designed.