The Washington herald., 1912-06-13
'Tnsane" Deficiencies.

The local Chamber of Commerce, at
its meeting Tuesday night, took official
cognizance of a matter Of such impor-
tance to the residents and taxpayers
of the District that public acknowl-
edgment IS due that body for the prompt
action taken, as well as to the men,
Der upon whose initiative the matter
was decided. There is only trife of
three-quar' of million of dollars
involved and Attorney Lancaster has
done his duty by the public to ask 10
have the case sifted.
The ball was set rolling by President
Taft in a special message sending the
report of the District Auditor to Con-
gress last Monday for legislative action.
1t concerns the Government Hospital
for the Insane (St Elizabeth's), and
It is claimed that the District owes
the government the sum named above
for the care of INDECENT patients.
The House Committee on Appropria-
tions has inserted in the sundry bill Oh.
R. z5O6o) the following provision:
TO reimburse the United States the
amount due on account Of one-half OF
the per capita cost of maintenance of
INDECENT patients in the Government
Hospital for the Insane from the Dis
trict OF Columbia in excess OF the num-
Der charged TO and paid for by said
District during the fiscal years 1881 to
IQII, inclusive. there shall be trans
ferred from the revenues of the District
of Columbia to the United States, be-
ginning with the fiscal year 1913. the
sum OF S76o.536oo in seven equal an
nual installments, which amount so
transferred shall be covered into the
Treasury as miscellaneous receipts"
This proposed legislation is opposed
by the District Auditor because there
has been no audit by the District au-
thorities, or the accounting officers OF
the Treasury of the accounts OF the
Government Hospital for the Insane
during the thirty-one years involved to
justify so extraordinary legislation.
Both he and the Board Of .Commis-
sioners recommend strongly that iegiS-
lation be delayed until such audit can
be had. They further advise that au-
thority be given the District officials
and the Treasury Department to make a
careful examination and audit of the
books and accounts of the hospital and
to report the result of their labors to
the next Congress.
This proposition. in view OF the i'm
portance Of the subject to every tax
payer in the District, is not only fair,
but it is just to all parties interested.
Congress should be slow to act on a
financial matter Of this magnitude with
out 4 thorough examination and re-
port on the facts by the proper officers
of the District, otherwise a great wrong
NAV be committed for want OF such
information 1t has been asserted that
many INDECENT patients are sent TO St
Elizabeth's and charged to the District
who are not bona fde residents here
This is one of the grave matters that
ought to be investigated, and if errors
have been made they should be cor
rected and the District given the credit
Furthermore, 4 this provision is new
legislation on ah appropriation bill and
therefore a violation of the rules of the
House and Senate 1t should promptly
be stricken out on a point Of order
made by a friend of the District in the
House Being new legislation, it should
be covered by a separate bill and re-
ferred TO the District Committee, be-
fore whom the people Of the District
and all interested can be properly heard