The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1939-03-09
PIERCE SOLONS
STAGE BATTLE
TO CLEAR BILL
House Measure Puts
County Hospitals
Control in Group of
Trustees in 1910
Try Tacoma Times staff writer

tBy Tacoma Times staff writer
CAPITOL. Olympia - A
determined and resourceful
Pierce county delegation. after
a floor fight which extended
over a l2-hour period and
ended after midnight this
morning, finally pune h e d
through the house a bill ex-
pected to result in putting a
deteriorated Pierce county
hospital on the road to better
days.
This was accomplished after the
original hospital reform measure
had been killed last week by y
hostile rules committee.
The bill. passed by vote of 70
to 4. and to become effective Jan.
2. 1910. will place the hospital
under board of trustees made UP
of six Pierce county citizens. two
from each county commissioner
district. II is expected this will
get the institution "out OF county
politics.
The erstwhile dead" Bill
originally was introduced by Rep.
Hugh Rosellini II seemed gone
for good. until. Tuesday at noon,
Rep. Gerald Dixon. Pierce county
delegation chairman. by delegation
agreement. introduced IL again as
an amendment TO senate bill
relating to prevention of social
disease prior to childbirth.
Then the storm broke.
Rep. Thomas Benz. Spokane
druggist. objected vigorously. Rep
lack Vane, South Tacoma. rushed
across the floor and succeeded in
convincing Benz the amendment
was appropriate
Rep. (DrD William 6. Cameron.
Tacoma, told the house: We
want to clean up bad situation
in Pierce county. The Law now
restricts the trustee system to
hospitals Of more than 200 beds.
Our county commissioners keep
our hospital rated as one OF 1875
beds, though it actually has more
than 200 patients.
Citizens of Tacoma want the
hospital placed under secular
board. This IL a good amendment"
Would 1t apply TO Hsrborview
in Seattle ?" Rep. George kinnear
OF King asked.
1T applies 10 Hsrborview now"
Cameron told him.
Does it change our presen,
Law ,"
Not a bit"
seek Federal Funds
III this were separate bill, as
II should have been released on
this floor" Vsne declared. there
would not be vote against IL.
With board Of trustees. well
be in better position to ask and
get federal funds for hospital i'm
proyements. Our doctors want
this, our county commissioners
want Il, labor primarily Is inter
ested"
Here Rep. Charles FInucsnee
rose to ask for time TO Investigate.
TO protect the interests Of spo-
kane"
DR.. David cOwsn, Spokane den.
list. expressed desire to Kali the
measure. However. all agreed TO
several hours delay.
About u p. IN. the battle
MA rene "A ed "Me'te iuxex
figsted." Finueaare said.
This IL q good amendment, .
fine thing for Pierce county.
II should h. passed"
But now all over the chamber
members were on their feet. For
half hour the house was IN bed
lam. All counties seemed 70 fear
the proposal might Adversely af-
feet them. Pierce county MEM
oers rushed from colleague 10 col
league making hurried ezplsna-
lions
Finally. vsne got the floor again
TO force vote.
Di1ons amendment carried, 80
10 20.
Here Speaker John Sylvester be- 4
came doubtful. He cited a house
rule and a provision IN the state
constitution that amendments
must be germans" 20 the original
subject matter. He intinst ted ne
wished TO wsit until Wednesday
70 rule.