New-York tribune., 1921-02-04
Baker Assailed
I'm Senate Over
Hospital Issue
Robinson Says Secretary of
War Refused to Permit
Use of Army Posts for
Treatment of Wounded
Asks $4,000, 900 Fund
Declares u. S. Must Provide
Places and Pay Debt to
Sick and Disabled Men

FROM The Tribune's Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, Feb. a. Senator
Robinson, of Arkansas, Democrat,
speaking in tha Senate to-day, assailed
the War Department for refusing to
turn over certain military posts to the
public health service to provide hes
pital facilities for sick and disabled
soldiers. Although disclaiming pur-
pose to criticize Secretary of War
Baker, Senator Robinson reflected
sharply upon him and upon the whole
course of the War Department in re-
gard to this matter.
Dealing specifically with Fort Logan
II Roots in his own state, Senator
Robinson pointed out that the Secre-
tary of War had declined to permit
this fort to be used temporarily to
accommodate sick and suffering SOL
diers, giving as one of the reasons
that the officers quarters at Fort
Logan H. Roots were needed for use
of officers and it would require con-
siderable remodelling in order to adapt
them to hospital uses.
At the same time. Senator Robinson
said that Camp Pike, which was close
at hand and which had accommodated
10000 men with their officers at the
time of the war, was now almost un-
1000 men being established there. He
contended it was utterly absurd and
indefensible to refuse the use of Fort
Logan H. Roots on the plea given by
the Secretary when there were many
unused buildings lying idle at Camp
Pike.
Bakers Reasons Only Excuses"
Secretary of War Baker has written
lo+t t1 {ho & ffot, t,c
Committee giving his reasons for not
permitting the use of the fort in ques-
tion for hospital purposes. Senator
Robinson declared the reasons given
were to say the least not sufficient. He
referred to the reasons of the Secre-
tary as Excuses"
He called these excuses 'f1imsy and
absurd" and said that as matter OF
fact Fort Logan H. Roots was used as
base hospital for time while the
war was on and thousands of soldiers
were treated there. He held that Camp
Pike could accommodate without diff
fculty ten times as many officers and
men as are there now.
Senator Robinson offered an amend
raent to the sundry civil appropriation
hill carrying $50, 1000 600 to provide hos
itals for sick and disabled soldiers
1t was in connection with his argumen;
for this amendment that he brought ur
the case of Fort Logan H. Roots. Il.
charged there had been indefensible
delay on the part of the War Depart
ment in dealing with the matter.
"No higher duty devolves upon Con.
gress," said Senator Robinson. Char
the obligation to provide necessary hos.
pital facilities for sick and disabled
soldiers. A number of measures or
the subject have been introduced n
the Senate and in the House of Repre-.
sentatives, but final action is not in
immediate prospect on any Of them"
Sees Danger of Delay
Taking up the Langley bill, whici
provides for five hospital plants 10
Gated in different parts of the country
Senator Robinson said it invited {
scramble or contest for the location o.
hospitals. In view Of the confused
opinion as to what should be done hs
said there was great danger of tn;
problem being carried over to the mex
session and he and a number of othe
Senators were determined this shoult
not be done.