The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1921-02-24
Congressman Interviews Secre'
tary of Treasury and Reports
Site Contest Is Open.

ADVISED congressman RANDALL tnaC one
of these hospitals would be located in
the Great Lakes region and declared
that the effort of the government
would be conferred on locating it~in
district where it would accommodate
the largest number of soldiers.
Every state in the country will de-
sire the location of one of these hos
pitals," says Congressman Randall
GAINESVILLE is an aspirant already and
the Milwaukee Chamber of Commerce
is hot for the plan. / am suggesting
to Mayor Joachim that southern Wis
consin should unite on one location.
Must Act at Once.
"The assistant secretary of the
treasury, with whom I talked, led me
to believe that no definite locations
were in mind and that the question
was entirely open. He did, however,
tell me that it was his belief that one
of the new hospitals should be located
in the Great Lakes district The place
of location will depend upon the num-
Der Of soldiers that are within the
district, together with accessibility and
methods Of transportation. If the city
of Kenosha is to do anything, as sug-
gested to the mayor, definite plans
must be presented at the earliest date
possible"
1t is possible that Mayor Joachim
will present the matter TO the common
council this evening and ask that a
committee be named to take care of
the interests Of the city of Kenosha
and it is possible that this committee
will confer with a similar committee
named in Racine with view of secur-
ing the location of one of the hospi-
tails midway between the two cities.
Explains Plan of Government.
Assistant Secretary of the Treasury
LaPorte talked at some length with
Congressman Randall in regard to the
plans for the erection Of the hospitals
and he gave the assurance that the
plan was to be carried out either by
the adoption of conference bill or by
the passage by the senate Of the bill
which has been passed by the house.
Proceeding on the plan now before
the senate for adoption" Mr.. La Porte
"the treasury is making
ready for the expansion of fifteen ex-
listing hospitals and the erection Of
five new plants, in order that the work
may start on short notice. Completion
of the program would provide accom-
mediation for treatment Of about $4,000
patients, which is the average daily
number expected during the coming
year. At present the government has
about 10000 beds Of it's own for the
treatment of service men, $4,000 more
are cared for in private hospitals and
an addition of 5000 beds to the exist
ing federal facilities is planned"
Selection of Sites.
"The five new hospitals" Mr.. La
Porte explained, "will cost about
$2,500,000 each and three of them will
contain 1000 beds each, if the present
plan is carried out. Consideration now
is being given to the choice of sites
for these institutions, which means a
careful study of the facilities in vari-
Gus localities of population for dis
abled veterans"
Expansion Of existing public health
service hospitals and army forts now
used for that purpose and increases in
medical personnel" Mr.. La Porte said,
would absorb the rest Of the funds,
now contemplated. These hospitals
are located at Boston, New York, Per-
ryville, Md, Norfolk, Whipple Bar
racks, Ariz., Chicago, Lake City, Fla,
Atlanta, Louisville, Fort Bayard, N NJ,
Evansville, Ind, and Pittsburgh, while
the army forts are Fort Mackenzie,
Wyo., Fort Whlla Walla. Wash, and
Fort Logan H. Roots, Ark"
Efforts will be made, Mr.. La Porte
stated, to have the disqualification pro-
gram in operation within a year.
Men Never Turned Away.
Although new hospitals are needed
by the public health service to take
care of patients now in contract or
state hospitals, or in buildings not en-
tirely suitable for hospital purposes,
Surgeon General Cummings said that
ex-service men entitled to treatment
had never been turned away by the
and that those in need of
attention were always
placed under the care of a physician
while the question of their eligibility
for treatment was being investigated.
The departmental regulations define
the term patients of the bureau of
war risk insurance. as any sick or
disabled former service man or woman
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