The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1921-05-07
4 HOSPITAL CRAZE.

The federal government IL pledged 10 erect
fivo great regional hospitals Tor tho caro- of
oN-sorvico men. The aggregate cost Of these
nstltutions--construction alone considered
viii probably be In excess Of $5o.OOO,OOO. Tho
intention OF congress was to provide adequate
hospitalizaiion for oil cS service mcn requiring
such service without regard TO their state citi-
Ecnship,
Other states have aoccptcdS this &C: OF CON
Rross settling the need OF hospaigation for
cH-ervco men. Not 80 Oklahoma The leg
islaturo has Just made appropriations for SOW
cral hospital projects for eN-sorvioe men. tho
total running well towards million and
half dollars
SO we are OF on hospital craze and
other meriorious sentiment has been CONNER
cialized and made political football The fact
that one OF the institutions has been located
near Tulsa" does not In the least affect the at
titude OF Tho World towards tho whole Inn
possible proposition, II money of the taxpay-
crs is to be squandercd usclessly II additional
state Institutions are 10 he created for mere
pork barrel oxpedlency. Tulsa is entitled to her
part OF the profligncy OF course. That n as
much az be said of that.
But tho fact remains that there has never
been the genuine need for hospitalization paint
cd by tho proponents OF tho project, and since
tho action OF congress there Ia no more justifi-
cation for tho state of oklahoma erecting hos.
pitaIs than there Is for the state OF Oklahoma
to establish an admiralty at Oklahoma City and
construct wharfs and warehouses on the banks
of tho Arkansas river.
we say again, and wo desire that record no
made of the forecast that the state Legislature
has deliberately precipitated a scandal that will
dscrcdit all concerned We say again that In
erecting these hospitals the legislature has
opened additional rat holes OF waste instead
Of stopping any Of the numerous ones that ex.
istcd. Because there must be equipment main.
tcnancc, executive Stairs, etc" etc. PROVIDED Tor
those new state institutions.
And within a very short time the state will
have everything In tho way of hospitals It
wants excepting patients in sufficient number
of that class which alone justified tho con.
struction and maintenance OF tho institutions
Members Of tho legislature may flatter them
selves that they can run for reelection on these
hospitals They but foot themselves When the
hospital beds vacant; when there will be an
overhead cost Of thousands OF dollars per patient
per annum; when deficiency appropriations for
their conduct are coming before succeeding leg.
some state administration because OF them--and
all of these things will surely come to pass--thon
the gentlemen who are responsible for them viii
pray for the hills TO fall on them.
There is not practicing physician in the
state of Oklahoma today who would advise a
having patient TO attempt to cure himself OF a
tuberculDr affection in the Oklahoma climate.
And yet the state legislature, giving heed 70
All titt,tn. a
leaders OF the cx-service men, has appropriated
hundreds OF thousands for tubercular hospitals
in Oklahoma! In common decency Il should
have also appropriated n million dollars for tho
establishment OF a hospital for the cure of ma
Iaria in the swamps OF Red river! And at least
a hundred thousand Tor the Establishment Of
A ward in a boiler factory for the cure OF those
afflicted with nervous disorders