The Washington herald., 1914-03-12
GUIDE SAYS EDISON
HAS WRONGIDEA
Act Of Chamber of Commerce
Won't Delay Construc-
ton Of Hospital.
ONLY OPPOSES LOCATION
Senator Gallinger Assures Committee
of Business Men a Full and
Fair Hearing.
ONLY OPPOSES LOCATION

Little doubt exists in the minds of
those familiar with the situation that
the action of the Chamber of Commerce
at its regular meeting Tuesday night in
Senator Gallinger with view toward
protesting against the plan of erecting
the new municipal hospital on the
ground owned by the District at Four
teenth and Upshur streets. will tend To-
ward postponing, perhaps indefinitely,
the construction OF this institution.
John Joy Edison, president of the Board
Of Charities, yesterday made a lengthy
statement voicing his regret over the
chambers action and adding that II was
IAN error growing out of enthusiasm 20
do the right thing
Chamber Not Opposed.
President William F. GUIDE, OF the
Chamber of Commerce, and other MEM
bers and officers of that body yesterday
emphasized that Il is erroneous to as
sumo that the chamber is opposed TO the
new building. What il i5 opposed to. is
the idea Of erecting an inebriate asylum
in a residential district. as was explained
In yesterdays issue of The Washington
Herald
The committee was specifically in
structed to make recommendation for
other sites.
The stand OF the Chamber OF Com
merce on the whole proposition was
manifested by the fact that an attempt
by one OF the members at the meeting
to have the item for the new institution
stricken of the District appropriation
bill and have the plan postponed. was
lau-r rpa ninnIrsly of fear, IL
was pointed out by speakers, that post
ponement in this case may mean eradica-
tion of the whole plan for an institution
which is badly needed and for which the
District has been fighting for the last ten
years.
Mr.. Edison explained yesterday that the
new institution is not to be an inebriate
asylum. but simply a municipal hospital.
He asserted that in his opinion, the
grounds at Fourteenth and Upshur streets
arc best fitted for the purpose in question,
and added that the residential section
would, to his mind. in no wise suffer be-
cause Of the proximity OF such an insti-
tuition. His statement follows:
Regret. Action of Chamber.
The action of the Chamber OF Com
mercc last night in protesting against
the establishment of the new municipal
street site provided for by Congress and
selected by the Commissioners about ten
years ago, is. / feel, greatly to be re-
GREETED.
II feel that had all the facts been
known the chamber would not have taken
this action. 1t is disappointing because
of the efforts that have been made Tor
so many years by the Commissioners
Board Of Charities. and other organiza-
81 f1,nniciDal
hospital that would provide proper care
of suffering humanity that has. no other
place to which to go for treatment.
The chamber was misinformed as to
the character of the proposed institu-
ton, since il appears there was an I'M
that IL was to be an inebriate
hospital and almshouse- The almshouse
is known as the Home for the Aged and
Infirm, at Blue Plains. II contains 30!
acres of land. was purchased about ten
years ago and has been equipped with
necessary and up-to-date buildings
The inebriate hospital has not yet
been authorized, and no plans have been
made for its establishment 1t should be
located out of the city and somewhere in
the country. |
"Au cities of our own size have |
hospitals and properly so. As
The Fourteenth and Upshur street site |
contains such an unusually large number |
IF acres. about thirty-five in all. 1t will
be possible to group the buildings and
in such a way as to give the |
Institution a decidedly attractive ap-
oearance. ! am certain there will be |
no detraction or injury to that section |
If the city. In a not very distant future
his site will be the center Of the city.
Praises senator GaIIinger.
In referring to Senator Gallinger, Mr.. |
Edison said:
I'VE all appreciate the great services
senator Gallinger has rendered the Ma
;onal Capital in his long, faithful, in
elligent and just term upon the District
II Columbia Committee of the Senate. AS
Senator GaIlinger has been a physician,
he sentiment underlying the naming of
he hospital for him Is all the more ap-
,ropriate.''
Mr.. Edison pointed out that protest was
made against the locating of the John
Dickson Home. the Borkhouse and the
Home for the Aged and Infirm on their
espective sites, but that these institu-
ions have increased property values in
heir neighborhoods and are now looked
lpon as an advantage.
while il is to be regretted" he said,
that our fellow citizens should have
aiken the action which is the source of
TO those of us who have
ndeavored SO long to have Congress pro-
ide for a municipal hospital. look upon
as an error growing out Of enthusiasm
o do the right thing"
The committee appointed by the
,hamber of Commerce, consisting OF
ormer Senator Marion Butler, chairman:
H. Classic, John Dolph, Albert
and w. n. Cromwell. held a
rief meeting yesterday morning. They
Tere assured by Senator Gallinger that
ull and fair hearings will be granted