New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-10-23
NAVY CARES FOR LEPER
Will Send Enlisted Man to
Colony in Hawaii.
From The Tribune Bureau.J

L. S. RULING on LEPROSY CASE
An enlisted man in the navy recently
developed leprosy few months before
the expiration OF his enlistment. He
was confined in the Naval Hospital at
Mare Island, and the Navy Department
feels Itself under obligation 20 send him
to the leper colony at Molokai, Ha-
wall.
This action was taken rather than
turn the man loose 20 become a charge
on the State to California. Further
more, he would have been unable 10 care
for himself If forced TO leave the hos
pital IL was necessary therefore. that
he be cared for both on his own account
and as a protection TO the community.
In passing upon this case the Con-
troller OF the Treasury, George f. Dow
ney, says: The question may arise
whether the Navy Department was I'M
der any obligations to care for him
after the expiration of his term Of en-
listmcnt and his formal discharge there
from.
IF II has no such obligation and no
authority 10 care for him, then on his
discharge he would be thrown upon the
community in which he happened to be
at that time; the said community would
thus be obliged TO care for him in its
own interests, and as an act of hu-
manity refused by the government.
~ think ii reasonable that when an
enlisted man at the time of his dis
charge from the navy Is so afflicted as
to be unable TO. care for himself the
government should not abandon him but
make provision for getting him placed
where he can be cared for during his
affection.
II understand that when an enlisted
man in the navy is in hospital at
the expiration OF his enlistment. too
sick 10 be discharged from the hospital,
the practice has been to formally dis
charge him from the service, thus stop
ping his pay. but retain him in the hos
ptal until sufficiently recovered 10 JUS
fifty his discharge therefrom.
The practice is eminently right from
a humanitarian standpoint, and it seems
10 me IL Is not going too far TO say
that when man has contracted disease
for caring for himself. and mis- enlist
ment expires and he is formally dis
charged from the service during such
incapaclty. the implied duty remains to
care Tor him until he is able 10 care for
himself
Any other conclusion would require
that when formally discharged he
should be physically thrown out and
left to die Of neglect, unless humani-
- NlV To-. 1
Aside from this duty 10 the man there
was certainly In this case duty 10 the
community. a duty which became i'm
perative because Of the horrible nature
Of the disease
ORDERS ISsUED.-The following or
ders have been issued:
ARMY
Captain JOSEPH r CUsACK. from 9Th 70 7th
cavalry. thence 20 san Francisco. sailing
January 2, FOR Manila
Captain BASIL o. LENOIR, signal corps. 10
Fort Leavenworth. November -. for exam!-
nation for promotion.
Captain SAM Ell Y. HAM QuartermastGr
Corps. from Fort lAwton 10 Vancouver Bar
racks. quartermaster and in charge con
struction work. vice Captain ROBERT N
BRAMBlI.A, quartermaster'R corps, assigned
assistant quarternaster. Vancouver barracks
Leave 81 absence. Second Liueten8nt JOHN
:. SINGLETON infantry six months.
NAVY.
Lieutenant C ". HAINEs detached William
Cramp q Sons Philadelphia. Asiauc sta
tiOn.
Lieutenant J.. r. LEAHY. detached the Dol
Lieutenant Junior grade) H. 4. MCCLURE
Branch photographic Office. Seattle, wee
Lieutenant : n. LAWTON. Jr., detached
Branch Photographic Office. Seattle connec-
ton fitting out the Texas. on board when
commissioned.
Ensign T. l. GuNTHER. detached the Mona
CHAN. connection fitting out the Texas; on
board when commissioned
Ensign WADLBlGH CAfEHART. detached the
Minnesota. duty connection hitting out the
Parker. on board when commissioned.
Ensign ". u. Ia MONT. detached reserve
torpedo division, Charleston. Naval Acad-
Ensign II l.. MERRING detached the Ster-
EFT: the Montgomery.
MOVEMENTS OF WARSHIPs. 80 The
following movements of vessels have been
reported to the Navy Department;
ARRIVED.
oct. 2I.-The Des Moines at Portsmouth:
the Florida. the Ohio. the Vermont and
the Virginia. at Hampton Roads, the
solace. at Hospital Point. the Alert. at san
Diego. the Truxtuu, al san Pedro.
SAILED.
Oct 2l.-The Mayfower. from Washington
FOR New York yard: the Tennessee, from
portsmouth for Philadelphia: the Uncas
from Portsmouth for Rockland. Me; the
Celtic from Boston for Gibraltar: the Leb-
anon from Norfolk for Philadelphia. the
CHEYENNE from BremertOu for cruise IN
Puget Sound. the Tingcy and the Thorn
ton from Georgetown for Conway, y. c.;
the Solacc from Hampton Roads for Hos
pital Point. the Alert. from San Diego for
San Pedro. the Bailey, from Yorktown Tor
Annapolis.
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