The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-02-13
REPUBLICAN HOUSE SI.AYS
HOSPITAL BILL

us AlAh ilitAl 4iltSs aNQ tItAS anu HWY
nurses, suffering disabilities and dis
eases; the appropriation for the build
ing 10 be $500 200; u commission to be
created for the administration Of the
act. and authorized 10 lease the hos.
pitai to the federal government. The
commission would consist OF the gov
ernor one member selected by the
senate, one by the house, and one by
the state legion.
| Leroy Elmore OF Cotton county pro-
posed 10 amend the title AMI first
part Of the. bill by striking the word
"honorably"; he thought all ex-serv-
Ice men should be eligible TO the bene-
fits OF the hospital, whether they had
been honorably discharged Or not.
Friends OF the bill objected. Sam Nicely
o. LeFlore county said the federal
government would not take over the
hospital II dishonorably discharged
soldiers were admitted. Gibbons added
that the proposed amendment woulc
allow slackers. listed as deserters, to
receive the same benefits from the
state as those who had done their
AANys AhN Ndo iOSk.
Most of the amendments proposed
TO the first sections and the resulting
discussions were friendly. Opposition
began to develop with the consider
alton OF section 8. Porter Newman
rose to inquire why the federal gov
ernment should not be ef,allowed TO /
handle this matter. He said he under |
stood plan was pending for the |
government to spend some "a million |
dollars on such hospitals. He ex-
pressed the opinion Oklahoma icgis- |
lators were going in advance Of their
duty IN seeking TO have the state
shoulder the obligation at this time.
Roy Harp OF Major county, Replb-
lican floor leader. wondered what
assurance there was the United States
would take the hospital off the hands
OF the state. He said Col. Hugh Scott,
the government representative. should
be called before the irousc 10 give
what Information he could on this
point. He made such motion but
withdrew 1t. W. A. Schofield. Adair
county, Republican, spoke along the
same lines. Dave Stovall o: Choctaw
county, said the question was not /.
serious obstacle, for If the federal
government didn't take over the nos
pital, Oklahoma ought 10 be able ana
willing to operate it for the purposc
Tor which II was built, the state ought
20 be able to take care af its dis
loled soldiers.
To meet objections. Perry Miller Of
Muskogee submitted an amendment 10
he effect that there must be a con-
ract for leasing the hospital 20 the
government before the contrac, for
he construction OF the building was
nade This was adopted. Then r. II.
Matthew'S OF McAlester, offered an
amendment providing tina; none OF
he appropriation would b. available
intl tentative contract with the
Jnited States had been made. This,
'lso, was adopted. An attempt was
made by some o. the Democrats 10 ,
lave the adoption OF the Matthews ,
mendment reconsidered. but it failed. !
Ben Harrison OF Hughes county ar 1
ued the amendment would tie the ,
lands OF the commission appointed TO
AIRY out the act, as It would allow {
hem no money to have piars ana
peciCcatons made. {
In connection with the discussion OF c
ne Matthews amendment came one OF {
he most sensational developments oi :
ne day. 1
Leslie L. Saiter Of Alfalfa county, q
and overseas veteran, !
ook the floor and in no uncertain
,r7ns put himself on record as cp- $
osed 10 the bill. He said he had 9
zen wounded In action. and had
pent 10 months in q hospital: he IL
$50 member Of the soldiers relief :
ommittee. But he declared H., was : !
or the Matthews amendment, even !,
hough IL would kill the bill. as had :
cen charged. In fact, he said. nc :
'as against the bill; II ought TO &c !,
ii'ed temporarily. He said they were n
oing into the hospital matio- too =
astty. He asserted he realized IN, n
riuctsm that he would be subjected h
Tor his stand IN the matter, and n
hat he probably would be called r
raltor TO the soldiers, but he insisted
Q had the interest OF the soldiers at
cart. The legislature has gone astray
rom the original plan. which was
Or immediate relief. he said. He
eclared he favored immediate relief
'easures such rs would be afforded q
y taking over the Clinton sanitorium T
nd one floor OF the university hos II
.tal, but thought the preparations for n
permanent hospital should be put n
u Tor time. He sat down amid pro- u
'need applause from the Republican n
de d the house.
Al ono or two places in Salters u
peech there was an exchange o. v
eaSantrics between him and Neely.
'eA'inH ihe Impression that the sol .
cEa r"aief committee IS not entirely 4,
40rinony with Itself. Gibbons. how .,
yer. sad he respected Sal,er's open a.
ahu; othcrs. he said, were hiding n,
'olr opposition behind nuRifying Z,
Jcs, Purilcn OF Murray county. ap. G,
ltenuy did not have such regard. n
r Saiters speech. In an impassloned ot
alton which refused 10 De shu, off q.
the chair or anyone else. he as ci
rted he was soldier In Uncle u
lm's army before the draft caayh, m
hter' lie also declared Saltcr VAS
9Wing government compensat ton. He "
TED that he was gor the bill. on a u
lint OF personal privilege. Saltcr ex- CO
aimed he hal been In the navy b., &c
re entering the army and had re- ', VI
nay recovered from an attack of "
leumonia when he presented him. -. =,
" TO the draft board. and insisted on ~ :.
ing Indicted into the army. ~ ~
Aher al sections OF the bin had -,
en adopted /, was moved tho co,n. -