Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-03
JARS CHARITY. b0ARD
Gaaiinger Questions Right to
Interfere in Appropriations.
BUT OPINION is DISPUTED
George E. Hamilton and John Joy
Edison Disagree With Him.
BASED ON ACT CREATING BODY
Different Interpretation Placed on
Paragraph Cause Of Stand Taken
at Recent Hearings

The authority of the board of charities
to make recommendations which mean
the withdrawal of federal appropriations
for the Columbia and Emergency Hospi-
tails and along similar lines was ques-
toned in the course of the recent hear
ings on the District appropriation bill be-
fore the subcommittee Of the Senate
committee on appropriations.
Not only did the Senate committee turn
down the recommendations of the board
of charities for a municipal hospital, and
in opposition to the wishes of the board,
take steps to insure further government
support for the Columbia and Emergency
Hospitals by amendments to the District
appropriation bill, but Chairman Gallinger
of the subcommittee expressed the opinion
that it was the boards authority to look
after the administration of the funds ap-
propriated to it by Congress and nothing
more.
), nile George E. Hamilton was stating
the recommendations of the board OF
charities for a municipal hospital. 1T is
shown in the hearings made public yes
terday, Senator Gallinger interrupted
him.
Gallinger Questions Authority.
Before you proceed further he re-
marked II want to ask you another
question. Have you recently read the
statute creating the board of charities?
Il have read it several times Mr..
Hamilton said.
IT have just read it, Senator Gal
linger remarked. Il wish you would re-
read it at your convenience and see
whether it is your function to take pre-
cisey the attitude you are taking as a
board with reference to this question
"All right. l will read it," Mr.. Hamilton
said. Il have always thought that under
1t we had to report each year to the
Commissioners.
Eyes, as to your administration of the
appropriations over which you have had
supervision" Senator Gallinger com
mented.
eve have exceeded our authority, then
from the beginning, and unchided and un-
disturbed by this committee or the House
committee Mr.. Hamilton flashed back.
Not unchided.' put in r. K. Mac
Mahon. head of the Columbia Hospital
which has been fighting the board.
Absolutely so.'' responded Mr.. Hamil-
ton. Il have been a member of this
board for three years and l have had
nothing from any of them to- the con-
trary."
Later Mr. Hamilton came around to this
Reason Plan Is Urged.
eve have got to expend the public
money according to our conscience, under
our oath, and. it is for these reasons that
are capable the proposition that We put
before YOU"
1T looks to me as if your function is
to administer the appropriations made by
Congress-" Senator Gallinger remarked.
Mr.. Hamilton responded by calling at
tention 10 paragraph of the law Great
ing the board of charities. which con
cludes about an annual report to Con-
gress: So
The said report shall also include rec
concentrations for the economical and
efficient administration of the charities
and reformatories of the District of CO.
lumba.''
Certainly. you have supervision over
existing charities and reformatories,
Senator Gallinger remarked
and are we limited to that and are
we to make no recommendations outside
of that in regard to the NATTER"
THAT is the way l read it, but l may
be mistaken Mr.. Gallinger said.
II will not express my view, but |
think a court would construe it diff
ferently," Mr.. Hamilton came back.
Mr.. Edson's Interpretation.
John Joy Edison. another member of
the board, also defended the position of
the board later, by saying:
when the report of the committee
was made to Congress in 1898 it stated
that it found the charities of the District
in a chaotic condition, and the only rem
edy it saw proper to make was to organ
ize board of charities, and such law
was passed, and in that law it said:
The said report shall also include rec
ommenda tons for the economical and eff-
cient administration Of the charities and
reformatores of the District of Column
bia'
81 have read that law over and over
again. and perhaps I have been mistaken
all these years, but l thought that from
that voluminous report. and the acknoWl-
edgment that they found these charities
in a chaotic condition, they expected
this board to inquire into matters, and
from time to time recommend to Con-
gress those things that they considered
were remedial. We have tried to do
that OF course Congress had adopted
great many of the recommendations
made by the board, and great improve
ments have been made. But If we differ
on this great point (making recon-
mendation), let it be settled now, SO the
board can act accordingly"
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