Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-02-13
EPEs MERGER PROPOSAL
COMMENDED BY DOWNING
Senator Believes Last Barrier
Against Medical Consoli-
dation Beaten Down.
IS ECONOMY MOVE. HE ASSERTS
To Reject Debt-Free Richmond In
stitution. Lancaster LeKislator Says,
Would lie to Turn Down a Gift of
St,O00,0OO.

Colonel Thomas J Downins. OF
Lancaster, Senator from The. Northern
Neck counties, yesterday added his
name to the list of legislators who
see added strength coming in favor
OF the passage OF the bill providing
Cor thcs consolidation OF che Uni
versity OF Virginia medical depart
ment and the Medical College OF Vir-
Sinia as result OF the Epcs amend
mont. The Epes amendment, which
will be, il is expected, offered to-
day, provides that the entire prop
erty of the Medical College OF Vir-
Einia be turned over to the State
without liabilities.
ITO my mind" declared Senator
Downing, the Epcs amendment beats
down the last serious obstacle con-
fronting the passage OF the bill. II
means that the State OF Virginia has
been offered an outright gift OF prop
erty valued at 100000, without
any strings or cncumbranccs.
il Question or Economy.
''Of course. those who advance
sentimental reasons against the pro-
posed consolidation: OF the two med
ical schools cannot be answered. But
these days the legislators arc giving
close heed to the question OF econ
omy, and II the state OF Virginia can
acquire property worth million
dollars without mourning additional
liabilities, II would certainly follow
tina; such an offer should be accepted
Medical education, including dem
tai aud pharmacal. is an expensive
matter even under tho most favor
able conditions. and the chief item
OF expense. inevitable for medicine
and dentistry. and most desirable FOR
pharmacy. too. Is provision for adc-
quaie clinical material at its source
rather than be compelled To trans
port i, for 4 considerable distance
III the medical schools remain
apart cannot see anything hut
added expense TO the State and tax
payers. We have To consider what
we can do with our availab bile money;
and. while 4 great hospital At the
University OF Virginia would um-
doubtodly add an imposing feature 70
the building schem. there. am unahl.
10 see any justification FOR such an
-XtravaEancc. If the two schools re-
main apart. the State must help main
ta!n each. /! they are merged and
brought 10 Richmond. burden upon
The State viii be accordingly re.
dUc.d as clinical and hospital ia.
CITIES are ~ hand IN Richmond. an:
l-eT.s would be 10 need ios c great
hospital a, the University o. Wiz
s.n'a.
Not to Disturb Ho~pitn..
lf n. medical department. % The
L=-rSysi,y %. virginia = moved 70
E.hIga5 The ua.se:s!ty Hospital 1T
ca i. ,Isv.Ee- v.l1 .OL be disturbed.
al i becoming more and NOR. 1
E1el r5l!ey O.: safe governments
-i<ct- = MAINTAIN cr - I'D hos
.-t--s ~ various sections. ~; hos
49, ctr : 1ns University OF Viz
gas "a C.! department; Requires
s,>-- Il avis. waste o.: Eno;ley
Z -o=s-eG :: zr-o,iesy-ii. IN my
s;l.-al.
=, q, 70. ;4s. MEDICAL er-
E%:i % --i e hat s-ch hpsrl,z
q Cl.-.ltt =y.lio =C2td have com
ts-GtiTe.g A;t!= - u ,G the demon
s':at.ca 90! rt0eTEv.cy cases shovl-
49, lhz- t.. NUMBER o.. 0ss;etrical
cas-. -o- instance. wScid IL greatly
limited D=Gi;s;rs presents an eva!
PIX t!.'n. The lertzi clinic ID Rich
nd draws upon 60 Immediate popu-
taucn %! $4,000 ptop!-
= am ready 10 - cSuy.ac@9 S.n-
a;oT Downing aaGsd'..sut.. :rrh The
Epes a:Hendmeu; pr5l-v'sag the STATE
aEatnst rb% assumption Dt addl,iona!
Liabilities, caRupr 81 anything bu,
appTovai o: the bill Economy mus,
be our guide, and. believe. 10 re.
sect This gtt, % sio00Qoo, would o.
extravaganza. ASIDE from this i'm.
poTiant 'ea'urr az This outrigh, offer.
there IS every sound reason FOR the
consolidation Of the two schools
y believe the chance FOR tina pas.
sage o' iac Gill i greater TO-DAY than
ever hefore: ,he Epes amendment ha.
Drought added strength to it,"