The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-03-11
OPPOSE PLAN TO
BUILD HOSPITAL
Chamber of Commerce Adopts Resoiu.
tion Condemnlnn Sanatorium Plan

The chamber of commerce at special
meeting yesterday afternoon adopted a
resolution expressing opposition to the
proposal to build a tuberculosis sana-
forum in this county. Speakers who sup
orted the resolution included VIII III.
Watson. DIR. C. E. Hutchinson and ].
Simpson Reese. No one appeared in ia
vor of the proposed sanatorium and the
resolution was adopted without dis
senting vote.
The arguments which were set forth
in opposition to the proposed sanatorium,
which will be decided at an election
Tuesday, are summarized in the resolu-
ton itself which follows:
Whereas. an election has been called
hy the board of county commissioners OF
Escambia county. Florida, under chap
ter 1886. laws of Florida acts of 1917, up
on the petition of certain qualified yot-
srs of the county, asking that a tax be
levied annually for the establishment and
maintenance of a county tuberculosis
hospital for said county, and
Whereas, 1t is believed that such an
institution is not necessary and that the
state board of health of the state of
Florida already has full power to care
for needy tubercular citizens. therefore,
Resolved, that il is the sense of t.
body that the voters OF Escambia col
ty should vote against the levy of
for such hospital; because:
l. There is not in Esoa ubfa u
any such known consi,sfable numb
tubercular sufferers. .hdTk or d
wise. as to require 80 instit
to be established, nof e {Justify tA37
cident increase in the alrekdy heay,t
dens of the county tax payers ths-1 the
provision. equipment and maintenance of
such an institution would occasion.
2. That the establishment Of such
public institutions s.ouId be undertaken,
if at all, by the state. A hospital for
tubercular patients is no more a county
concern than is a hospital for insane pa
tients.
3. That the state board of health of
the state of Florida already has and for
practically IL years has had under chap
ter 5932, laws of Florida, acts Of 1909.
power by law to establish and operate at
state expense a sanitarium for the treat
ment of persons suffering from tubercu-
losis.
4. That the state board of health has
the power and has had for practically
years, under chapter 1892, laws OF
Florida, acts of 1909 at state expense to
care for and treat without charge indi-
gent persons suffering from tuberculosis.
SO that the people of Escambia county
need not take upon themselves a burden
which the law already provides may be
discharged at state expense.
S. The practical effect of the creation
of a hospital by Escambia county at
county expense would be that the state
board of health would cease to expend
any of the state funds In the care Of
tubercular patients in Escambia county,
although such state funds are provided
by the tax payers Of Escambia county
in common with tae other tax payers of
the state.
6. Since chapter 1896. laws of Florida.
acts of 1917, does not resm4ct. the free
dom of locomotion Of tuber5llaf persons,
nor require them to submit ror treat
ment in the proposed tuberculosis hospi-
tai, nor to accept treatment from or I'M
der the supervision of its authorities,
such an institution would afford the pub
lie no substantial protection against
contagion.
Z. That the United States navy de-
partment abandoned the treatment of
tuberculosis in the naval hospital at Pen
sacola station because experience DEM
onstrated that satisfactory results could
not be obtained in so moist a climate.