Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-26
GALL|NGER INQUIRY
CLOSED BY BOARD
Navy Departments With
draWaI Results in Suspen-
sion of Hospital Quiz.

Still firm in the belief that there Is
nothing seriously wrong with Gallinger
Municipal Hospital, officials of the
Board of Public Welfare today were de-
termined to cease taking the initiative
in any further investigation OF the in
stitution.
This decision was reached yesterday
after Admiral Charles E. Riggs, surgeon
general of the Navy, informed the board
it would be inadvisable to permit q rep
reSentative OF the Naval Medical Corps
to participate i'll proposed survey OF
the institution.
Admiral Riggs, N letter to George
s. Wilson, director of the board, eX-
planned that since War Department Of
ficials had decided they did not are to
participate in the investigation, he also
considered it best to withdraw. He pre-
viously had appointed DR.. Charles M,
Oman of the Naval Medical Corps to
take part in the inquiry.
Future Action Seen.
DR.. George M. Kober, chairman of
the medical service committee of the
board, announced his committee was
content to "let the matter drop" as a
result of the failure of its efforts to
obtain a committee of experts to delve
into conditions at Gallinger. However,
DR.. Kober expressed confidence that the
public would be glad to see further
investigation of the hospital, and said
the District Commissioners or the Dis
trict committees Of the House and Sem
ate might see flt to sponsor such an
inquiry at some future date.
In announcing his decision. DR.. Kober
explained 1t was held inadvisible for
his committee to continue to take the
initiative because Of the failure of the
Navy and War departments to CO.
operate.
DR.. Kober pointed out that conditions
at the institution had been found to be
satisfactory on whole during an in
vestigation of several weeks duration
completed recently by a special COM
mittee of the Board of Public Welfare,
OF which he was q member.
After making a comprehensive report
In which 1t eXonerated officials of
Gallinger of various charges, the COM
mittee recommended appointment of
another committee of four impartial
medical experts to review evidence and
TO make survey Of the physical aspects
Of the institution.
In line with the recommendations OF
the boards committee, the appointment
of one expert each was asked of the
geon General Of the Army. the super
intendent of ST. Elizabeth's Hospital
and the head of the Public Health
Service.
Appointees Named.
DR.. F. G. Smith, assistant surgeon,
general. subsequently was appointed to
represent the Public Health Service, and
DR.. Herbert c. Woolley. first assistant
physician at st. Elizabeths, was select
ed to serve for that institution.
After War Department officials de-
cided more than a week ago to take no
part in the suggested investigation, The
Board of Public Welfare again commu-
nicated with authorities of the Public
Health Service, st. EliZabeth's Hospital
and the Navy Department to learn
whether they still would participate
All except the Navy replied in the af-
firmative.
While none of the District Commits
sioners cared to be quoted today, 1t was
made plain they would be satisfied with
the report of the Board of Public We'll
fare investigating committee and cons
template no further action in the mat
ter.