Evening star., 1916-05-26
Mr.. Mann Moves to ReCommit,
With Instructions to Favor
HaIf-and-HaIf.
ATTACK ON COMMITTEE
AROUSES WARM DEBATE
Difficulty in Selection of Hospital
Site Given as Cause for Failure
to Appropriate.


passed the House late this after
noon, and Immediately Represen-
tat1ve Mann of Illinois moved to
recommit the bill to the appro-
pr1atlons committee with inStruc-
tons to bring it back to the
House written in conformity with
the half-and-half plan. \ roll-call
vote on the Mann motion was in
progress when The Star 5 accOuns
closed.
The bill was completed in COM
mlttee OF the whole with no i'm
portant changes. with the excep-
ton of an additional $4,000 for
street cleaners wages. Represen-
tative Mondell endeavored unsuc-
cessfully to get into the bill pro-
vision for public parks on the
Dean and Patterson tracts.
The location OF the proposed
municipal hospital, which has
aroused countless protests in the
District OF Columbia from nearly
every neighborhood in the city,
threw the House of Representa-
tives into a slam-bang battle to-
day, after Representative Mondell
had delivered heavy and
diversely worded attack on the
District committee for not pro-
ducing legislation covering the
citys hospital needs.
The diversion was a part of the Dis
trict appropriation bill debate, and was
responsible for what was regarded as
one of the most remarkable PROPOSE
tions ever heard on the floor of the
House. This came from Representative
Howard of Georgia, whose facility at
throwing hand grenade retorts has
given him place in the Legislative
trenches on the appropriations commit
tee
Why doesn't the District committee
act on this hospital matter?" inquired
Representative Mondell. walking up
and down as if patrolling the frontier.
He said it again and again:
Why doesn't the District committee
act?"
At this Representative Howard
jumped up and, rushing half way
across the hall. put up this proposition:
Why don't you climb creased pole
backward with your arms full of eels?'
Mr.. Monde1 Parries Blow.
And thus the Wyoming republican
parried the blow:
Were it my sworn duty I would at
least make a start. The District COM
mittee doesn't even start"
Chairman Johnson of the District
committee had the appearance of a
man distinctly bored by the clatter.
He didn't pay the slightest attention
TO Representative Mondell and it was
not until the long. wordy battle over
the municipal hospital had subsided
that Representative johnson made re-
ply.
truth of the situation he would not
have made the criticism There is no
legislation concerning a municipal hos
pital before the District committee. He
said the appropriations committee. of
which the gentleman from Wyoming is
a member. had been begged by the
District to provide for a municipal hos
pital and there had been no response.
Representative Mondell bowed a sweep
ing bow and promised to introduce a
bill on the subject If the District COM
mittee would assure him action.
1T has been possible replied Chair
man Johnson. within the past few
months to get the attention of the District
committee on no subject except that OF
pensions for iremen and policemen
Reading of Bill Proceeds
This ended the battle and the reading
tof the bill proceeded. There is no item
IN the bill for municipal hospital. but
the mere mention of one by Representa-
hive Page. who explained why there had
,siot been any attempt to appropriate for
a hospital aroused a storm
Representative MondeH asked why
there had .een no appropriation for the
proposed institution, and Representa-
tive Page then told the House that the
present hospital on reservation II is
oyercrowded. and said the conditions
there are a disgrace TO the city The
appropriations committee was dispose ed
to carry out the original plans and
place the hospital at l4th and tpshur
streets, but the intense opposition
from every quarter had convinced him
an item through the House.
What is the objection asked Rep
resentative Mondel.
"f think people are unduly alarmed "
Then you are prepared to say the
absence OF an appropriation for this
much needed hospital is due to the pro-
tests against a sIte?
Yes. The residents in no section OF
the city are willing to let the hospital
he built near them. The only thing
left is to dump these unfortunate peo-
pie into the river ship them out OF
the District said Representative Page
who continued to explain that the pres
sure brought by the residents Of the
city and by private institutions had
been felt in Congress that he de
SPARED Of ever getting the item
through the House and had therefore
not included IL In the District bill
Unable to Settle Differences.
The appropriations committee CAM
settle the differences of residents o,
this city, said he. and yet it s cry.
ing shame that there are no better pro
visions for the INDECENT sick than ther.
are here. They are crowded into tn,
corridors of the present hospital In
shameful fashion"
Representative Howard of Georei;
said the trouble reminded him OF d ca
and cog fight and said there are tw,
interests inyolved-one the priyatel,
maintained hospitals which, ne said
are interested in getting appropriation,