Notes from Washington News.
Among the appropriations made at the recent session of Congress was $136,029.67 “to reimburse Providence Hospital in the District of Columbia for expenses incurred in the reconstruction of the Providence Hospital building.” This institution is under Roman Catholic control, tho doubtless it does have a quasi-public character. Its sectarian character is shown by the symbols which appear upon and about the hospital building and is proclaimed to the city at large by the symbol of the cross conspicuously displayed upon its ambulances which are frequently seen upon the streets of Washington. It is evident that Congress recognizes that the institution is not one over which it has control or which may not be withdrawn at any time from the quasi-public use upon the strength of which Congressional appropriations are asked for and granted to it; for in connection with the above appropriation it was provided that “if the said property be sold or diverted from use expressed in the act of Congress entitled ‘An Act to Incorporate Providence Hospital, of the city of Washington, D. C.,’ approved April 18, 1864, all money advanced by the United States and the District of Columbia on account of the reconstruction of any of the buildings shall be first paid out of the proceeds thereof into the United States Treasury to reimburse the sums heretofore appropriated and hereby appropriated.” Of course such a step will not be taken by the Roman Catholic sect with respect to this institution. It will stick to that course which enables it to take money from the treasury of the United States, rather than take a step which would reverse the order and require it to pay money into the treasury.