Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-23
PLEA FOR COLUMBIA
Woman's Hospital Subject to
Debate in the House.
Mr.. FOSTER ITS CHAMPION
Asks $4,000 to Make the Structure
Proof Against Fire.
NEW BUILDING SUGGESTED
House Is Told That $500, 900 Would
Be Required-Help Given
Other Hospitals.
Mr.. FOSTER ITS CHAMPION
NEW BUILDING SUGGESTED

The point Of order made at the be-
ginning of yesterdays session Of the
House by Representative johnson of
mittee. against the paragraph In the
District appropriation bill appropriating
$975,408 for interest and sinking fund
on the funded debt was not decided
yesterday. Representative Garrett of
Tennessee. who was in the chair, de-
cided to take the point Of order under
Amusement until today.
After Mr.. Johnson had finished his
long speech in general criticism of the
District, and with particular reference
to the sinking fund item, and Repre-
sentatives Burleson of Texas and Saun-
ders of Virginia had replied, twenty
pages of the bill were disposed Of
Mr.. Johnson made a point of order
against the paragraph providing that
hereafter patients may be admitted to
IRE dmen's Hospital for care and treat
ment on the payment of such reasonable
charges therefor as the Secretary of the
Interior may prescribe" After Representa-
tive Cox of Ohio had explained that the
item was carried in the bill at the eX-
pressed wish of the colored people, Mr..
Johnson withdrew his objection.
Are Anxious TO ray.
They wish to be treated there said
Mr.. Cox, ''but under the present condi-
lions they must certify first that they are
paupers before they can receive medical
attention They simply want to be per-
mitted to pay for medical treatment"
Representative Foster of Illinois, who is
g. physician, offered an amendment in
creasing the appropriation for Columbia
Hospital for Women from $4,000 to
$4,000.
II desire to say just a word in refer
ence to this amendment. The Columbia
hospital was purchased by the govern
ment in 1866, and the act specified that it
must be used for the purpose of lying
in institution and for the treatment of
diseases of women. This is govern
mental institution, in which the govern
ment owns the building and all the
grounds connected herewith The rec
ord shows that since 1866 the govern
ment has spent upon this building for
maintenance and repairs about 1891 900.
Originally the building was a residence,
and afterward, at the time indicated,
was converted into a hospital
Now, in looking over the record, it is
found that there is peculiar condition of
affairs which has existed in this city for
good many years. For instance take
the Chldren's Hospital. I do not desire
to go back a great length of time. but
let us go back for ten years, say, and in
that case you will find that for the
there has been appropriated for mainte-
nance $160.0OO and for alterations and
improvements of buildings $4,000.
Government Not Interested.
these are institutions, / desire to re-
mind the committee, In which the govern
ment has no interest whatever. We find
that for the National Homeopathic Hos
pital, in which the government has no
interest whatever and owns not a dol
lars worth of property, there was ap-
propriated from 1901 to 1912 for recon-
struction and completion of buildings
S6S 66S.62 and for maintenance S1O3. coo.
We find that for Providence Hospital We
have appropriated in the ten years named
for maintenance and new buildings $685.
1880 At one time we appropriated for
additional buildings the amount of 500,
600 At another time we paid mortgage
upon Providence Hospital amounting to
$4,000.
Another time we paid for the recon-
struction and completion of the old Provi-
dence Hospital building 100000; for re-
endorsement for expenses in the recon-
struction of buildings, $130.GO: erection
and equipment of power house and nurses
home, $4,000; erection and furnishing of
nurses home, $4,000; heating and light
ing and power plant, machinery and SO
forth, $34,IJO. We also paid $500 for
screening of doors and windows of that
institution. This is another institution in
which the government does not own one
dollar.
eve find that for the Garfield Memorial
Hospital, another one in which the gov
eminent has no interest, In ten years we
paid for maintenance $4,000. We pur-