Mr. WASHBURNE, of Illinois. I have a communication here to the SecyTreasury, which I ask to have published in the Globe for future refgrence. No objection was made. The communication is as follows: Tasxsunv DEPT. January 22. 1866. Six: I have the honorto acknowledgethereceipt of a letter from the committceonCommerceof the HoRepto the SecyTreasury. requestingucopy of my report relative to hospitals themarine Dept visited lastyear under instructions from the my report on my return was oral and not required to be made in writing a literal compliance with the request of the committee is impracticable: but I will. by reference [OUly notes. endeavor to present a narrative of my visit of inspection. With the result of my observations. The marine hospital fund has for many cars been insufficient for the support of those entitle to its ben efits and large appropriations have been annually required from congress to suppl the inadequatetax ifviod on the tailors wages: an the SecyTreasury as can desrronsto devise some plan by which this trust fund might be expended with greater eflicicncy and frugality. I was therefore instructed. under date of August 1, 1865, by the honorable secretary of visit the Treasury to and inspect the marine hospitals of the U.S. except thoseon the Pacilic coast and to report their condition. particularly as to the locality, site, and sec o of accommodation; to designate the ports where ospitals could be advantageously discontinued and the placeswherehospital relicfcculd btacibnotter administeredby privatecontract: to ascer spective pnourmtsbdeurrionfgstihcek psaesatm yeeanrr, e Wheth vetdheatatvheerarege cinegstt of each patient and to present a statement show under p difference of cost between relief administered contract and in a hospital proper. In conformity With theseinstructions, setout on the 8th of August to visit, in the order specified. the followmg hospitals: Chelsea. Massachusetts Port land, Maine: Burlingtqn. Vermont: Cleveland. 0hio: cPaitgtsoburg. Pennsylvania; Detroi Michlgnn Chi St Illinois; Galena. Illinoisr urlington, owa; ouLtonuckisy.; EMviassnosuvrilil;e, CInindeiainnnaa; ti Ohio: Louisville. Napoleon, Isaducah, Kciitucky; Arkansas; Vicksburir. Mississip i; Natchez. Mississippi; McDonougli. Louisiana; on Or idlcuans. Louisinna Mobilc. Alabaina; Pensacola. Eldr 5t. Marks. loriilu; Charleston. South enrohna; lWinaM; hlDaBnldOlk NoOrflofllkl, CVarirogliinnaia:; Ocinracaolkl ct. wNoonrtthyis Ccavreon marine hospitals. OlieLvea. aunchuoetto. Thil hospital is Chelsea. near Boston, on an located at elevated site, not can paacctioemitsm. Od That one time about 150 wards are clean and final vsnti ated and the home was in perfect order. The lot it on which rai. sle!r. naulillttchoemvepgrleietl about W, ” es. on which are usedin the the aarondingJuneliU house. During 1860. 1100 and oi lit botutlhnd been under treatment in the hurdtuf: iailors visit the 256 of whom were seamen of the U. S. Navy. Whose expenses were paid by theNavy Dept. There is a lar ctrnct oflnnd in Chelseaoccupiedby the old marine capital. It comprises about 7 saqcureasr. Ecmbracing about 150,000 feet of city lots 25 in number. The corporation clerk kindly furnisliednic With a sched ule of these lots. which. at an estimate of 25 cents a foot, would produce about 37,000 dollars. There is. besidesthese. the lot on which the old hospital stands. now occupied as a public school. containing about 14,000 square feet. which. at an estimate of 30 cents a foot. would produceabout 16,000 dollars. The building is valued for public sale, at about 3000 dollars. A wharflot. Also included in same tpercotp, erty, containsubout 100,000s uare and is valued at about 30,000 dollars. I respectfullysuggestthat this property be sold. The lot on which the marine hospital now in use stands is valuedat 530011 There are not sutheient accommodations at Boston for the number of sailors requiring relief at that port, and I respectfully suggestthat the merine hospitalat Chelseabe continued and sustained by Government. Some repairs are needed. which may require an expenditure of about 3000 dollars. onPahrigllahngdr. oAufnfidrm This marine hospital islocnted surrounded by the riteof the presumpscottriver. Comprising about 11 acres. The physician informed me. that these flats exhale no morbific atmosphere, and that the patients are attacked by feverscausedby malaria. The honspear I can accommodate about 60 patients. During the fiscal year ending June 30. 1865. 83 sick sailors were admitted to the hospital. The past year. however is no fair criterion of the usual number of patients. The piraciesduring the late rebellion disoouraged commerce and the number of sailors was much lessthan in formergears. All the wards of the hospital will be needed creafter. Thereis noprivate hospital at Portland and werethis he ital discontinued. there would be no refuge to sic sailors but the aliashouse. The interests of commerce, thhoesrpeiftoarleb. yrtehqeuire the continuance of this mnrinc Government. It is kept in fine order. Burlington, Vermmil. this marine hospital occupies a lot ten acresin extent. about 2 miles south of the city. It is well built. but it hasneverbeenregularly organized. It is under chargeof the collector of the port. During the late rebellion it was transferred to the War Dept for use as a military hospital. The building isin goodrepair, and has been sincerestoredto the Treasurywith substantial frame buildings. about 2 thousand fect in extent, crcoted by the war Dept. During the fiscal yearonly 14 sick sailors were admitted to the hospital. The building is a mere expenseto the Government and I respectfulty suggest that it be sold. Cleveland. OhioThis marine hospital is within the corporation built limits. on a lot containing about 8 acres: and its site is about 80 feet abovethe lake. It is very muchout of repair and requires considerable outlny to render it ablehabitation During the fiscal year endeionmg fJourntea 30. 1865. 230 patients were lid initted. at an expenseof$8. 521. A lar c hospital is in processof erection at that port. with ample capacity for marines; and it is respectfully that the marinehospital could be advantages ouugsgedsitsed colnfltrinauliieud. ga. Intldllltahyelvptrronpt ger. trsllolfild. Marine hospital is cated lo about 3 milcs ivest of the cityonalot containing 10 acres. It can accommodate about 150 patients. During the fiscal year of $6465 115sick sailors were admitted. The site is low and altogetherunsuitable for hospital purposes. Largo rollin –mills and furnaceshave can erectedon the lots cont guous with each side and the air isfilled with smoke and eoal dustundpoise. ample private accommodations are available in the city for sick sirleis and a sale of the marine hospital property could be advantageouslymade. I spectfully suggest that this marine hosthpeitraelfobreidries contiiiued and the property sold. Ijelroir, Michigan. Tbis marinc hospital is located near the city ona lotcontmnin aboutfour acres. The building can accommodateu out. 100 patients. Dufing the fiscal year of 18615259 sick seamen were admitted. This port is the thoroughfare on the route of the great lake trade and is readily accessrble to almost ovary sailor employed therein. There are no private hospitals in Detroit affording accommodations sutilcient for the sailors. The marine hospital is mirable in adorder“ and the expenditures are frugally made. The biulding nceds considerable repair and improvement. I respectfully suggest that this hos pital be continued. Chicago. Itlff. 3t8. TlllSmarinehospitalhaving been cold. no particular report need be submitted. he trade of hicago is very great, and a large number of ort. during the fiscal year of 18645 mviottehdu. ndTrehderaenar 27 sick sailors were adno private hospitals at Chicago requiring accommodation for the number of seamen relief. Some provismn must, of course. be made for these beneficiaries alter the building now ocgnpiedshall have been transferred to the purchaser. (I end. [NiacinThis marine hospital is high ground. containing located on about 13 acres. about one mile anutbwost of the citations There are accommodations for about 30 patients. but there were no patients at all at that port is solimtihted time ofefwmay pvpilsicita. ti oTnhsefotrra hospital relief are made. Months elapsewithout an admission being sought. I. respectfullysuggestthe discontinuanceof this hospital and sale of the property. Burlington. ImamThis mnrinc hospital is located about a mile south of the city on high ground containin aboutclcven acres. The accommodationsiujo not sufficient for more than ton patron“. Itsapplication for relief has been made during fiscal year of 18645 and it does not socm probable that it. would ever be required forta ll0 8pl lflTl. he lot 6 to the watersof the Mississnp l and might public sale 85.000. The at bin dlngneeds repair. re spectfully summitthat this and this plumbsold. StLouu, illiuouri. this marine hospital ISlocaied near the city on a lot containing about 60 acres. There are accommodationsfor about 50 patients. but no sick sailors have been admitted duringQhe fiscal year 186465as it was transferredeurly in the rebellion to the Win Dept and is a military hospital. There nowusedas private areampleprovisionsin the hospitals at StLouis for the care of sick sea men and the marine hospital could be advantage OllllBlyspld. I therefore respectfully suggest the sale t creo. on Cincinnati. OkayThinmarine hospital located the corner of 6th and Lock street. in he city of Cincinnatic building can aocomm to about 80 patients. No sick sailor has bouu admitted dniin the past fiscal year nsitis nowme of the War dept to which it wastra during the robelion for a military hospital is surroundedbyfactories and isunflt forahos Ample firOVlSIOXl could be made for sick seamen private ospitals and I respectfullysuggestthat jmarine hospital property o so]. Louisville. emackw. Thilmarine hospital is catodabout 2 miles loing from the ciuvon a lot contain about 9 acres. It needsan expenditure of at least. 009to render it a salnbrions habitation. No patient has beenadmittedduring the past fiscalyear. The private hospitals in the city are amplf sufficient for the care of srckseamen atthat port. therefore respectfully suggest that this marine hospital hesold. Lcaiumlle. 1mWKI. TIJLS inurinc hospital is located nmeiagrht the city on a lot about 3 acresin extenL It accommodate 50 patients. It is regular not under occupy organization. but a contractor is permittedto the building and receive sick seamen therein at ii. wcekly cost of $690. There Were 18 nail ors undpr treatment there at the time of my visit. The building is in bad condition and the river is gradually but surely oneroachingou the foundations. t has been estimated by comictent engineer: that an expenditureof $50M!)wonl be necessary to res cue the site. I respectfully suggest that this marine hospital besold. odacali. Kentucky. This mmno hospital was demolished during the rebellion and I trace its was unable to foundations. The lot. about 4 acres in extent. might, however. besold, for it is not probable that another marine hospital will over be created thereon. mFarine imng Ppaodrntesarihg. Isotoinutmy for Napoleon and the reinstructions. but when I reachedMemp c mea. telegram surveyor of the customs handed rid a letter lrom the SecyTreasury, recalling me to my desk at Washington. Had I continued my tour of inspection, I have returned to could not the dischargeof my current duties under 3 monthstoolong a period ofubsence. have for severalyearsadministered. underthe orders of the SecyTreasury. the nffuirs of the marine hospitals of the U.S and my exp rlence. togetherwith myobservationsomny late visit. ihsaistsleeldfdmcfectcotitvhee. caonndeiltussmrenstohuartcethsealstoygsteetmheorf relief inad c auto to meet the demandsupon the fund. The sailors of the mercantile marine have, in the 1st place, no claim on the general Treasury. The workinen in any other branch ofbnsinca are usmucb entitled to such relief i is ma. rines. . but custom has solong concededthisprivilege tothis class of citizens. that any attemptto inquire into its expediency would be at least in the presentinstance. uncalled for. It is. however, Within the power of Congres toen large the resourcesof the marine hospital fund. Tenot of July 16. 1798. provided that this fund should be formedout of general donations and from a tax of 20 cents a month out of the wages of seamen. At that time. the rate of monthlywages scl dom exceeded ten dollars. Since then the expansion of our commercialrelationshas increased the demand for labor and the ratio of wages has been so advanced that 25 or 30 dollars amonth has becomr the minimum conpensation. The customs otfieprs have unanimously prmed this point on my attention and nqnc of them suggested cssthan a monthly contribution of 50 cents from ever scaman. The incomefrom such a tax would be aulipaly sufficient to defray allthe expenses of hospital rei. The discontinuanceand sale of unnecessary build inns and property would relieve this trust fluid from serious embarrassment. hliiiiyof theso buildin have beenfor yearsunused and the employment o etc!" nrds and watchmento take care of them has served ustsiellcmrtaoirnectdotdheaptlreetleiethf ecafnunbde. The Dept has administered more [HP gully and eflicicntly by contract with private or municipal institutions. At the seaports of NewYork. Philadelphia. Baltimore and Now Orleans, sick and disabledseamenare provided for byPriv contract at a organization tutnhdaenrtwhoeu Government. rea: hospital continue in forceonly for a regular scab contractS an fiscal year: so that annual renewal to the lowestbidder secures each party from injustice or extortion. There is noreasonwhy the contract system should not be generally adopted for the administration of hospital relief. At almost everyport them we uml: facilities for obtaining proper accommodations i r Sltk and disabled seamen at private cleemosynni? institutions. All which is respectfully submittedby our obedient scivent. S. YOR AT LEE Han. Huen loCvLmen. Secular]! qilio “minty 1866. 533