Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-04
Present Municipal Institution
for Destitute Horrifies
Committeeman,
COMMISSIONERS WANT
100000 FOR WORK
Tuberculosis Hospital Inspected by
Lawmakers and Conditions Are
Found Admirable.

That members OF the subcommittee OF
the Senate appropriations COMMITTEES, in
charge OF the District appropriation bill,
look with favor upon the recommends
tons Of the Commissioners that a new
municipal hospital to care for the desti-
tute Sick OF the District be erected upon
the tract Of property owned by the Dis
trtct at 14th and Cpshur streets was
learned this afternoon, following q visit
OF the subcommittee to tho tuberculosis
Hospital. which occupied part OF the
thirty-nve acres Of land in the tract own
ed by the District.
Ar appropriation OF 100000. $4,000 Of
which Is to be made Immediately avail
able. has been recommended for the pro-
posed municipal hospital by the Commits
sieners.
Conditions Admirable.
Chairman John Walter Smith of the
subcommittee. who is also chairman of
the Senate District COMMITTEES, said that
he had found tho conditions at tho Tuber-
culosis Hospital admirable and that the
hospital was apparently well run.
I'VE went out to visit the hospital with
out announcing our approaching visit.
said Senator Smith. IT was very much
gratified to find things in such good
shape.
Yesterday I was Mortified with the con-
ditions at the Washington Asylum Hos
pital. which Is, in effect, the municipal
hospital OF the District. ! am not pre-
pared to say what the committee will
recommend regarding the erection Of a
new municipal hospital. for the commit
tee has not yet taken it up in meeting:
but personally / was favorably impressed
with the site at Upshur and 18th streets.
1t was at first thought that 1t might not
be well to build q general municipal hos
pttal near the Tuberculosis Hospital. But
the large area of the tract thtrty-hve
acrea and the contour OF the ground
make it perfectly feasible. l believe"
Not Critic of Management.
Senator Smith said that he did not in
tend to criticise the management Of the
Washington Asylum Hospital. for he
thought that the best possible was being
done with the means at hand there. But
the buildings, he said, are entirely in
adequate and it was a disgrace TO send
the poor of the community to such a
place.
THE members Of the committee want
ed to see for themselves just what the
conditions WERE" said Senator Smith,
and also to see what eon,o v pc posn n1 tai
j
at one site or the other. For this
reason we made d special trip to both
places. There Is no doubt but what
something ought to be DONE"
Work Not Completed.
The subcommittee failed to complete
its consideration OF the District bill
plete the bill until tomorrow or next
he tad
as possible. but with careful considera-
ton. and then reported to the Senate.
Following the visit paid the Washing
ton Asylum Hospital yesterday by mem
bers of the subcommittee of the Senate
committee In charge Of the
District appropriation bill. officials of the
local government today expressed the
hope that provision may yet be made at
this session Of Congress looking toward
the construction of a municipal hospital
building.
For an Up-to-Date Building.
Construction of an up-to-date hospital
building on the 18th and upshur street
property has long been recommended by
the local authorities as being the most
means Of providing Washing
ton with proper hospital facilities for the
INDECENT poor. 1t is pointed out that
of the present buildings on
the site of the Washington Asylum Hos
pital would entail little loss. as the struc-
lures practically are without value.
Another reason urged for removing the
hospital to a new location is the objec-
ton to the present intimate association
Of the hospital In name and administra-
ton and in the public mind with the Jail.
District officials, including members OF
the board of charities, believe that a
hospital for the sick poor ought not to be
with the local Jail.