Evening star., 1932-02-08
MRS. GRANT HITS
HOSPITAL DELAY
BY CITY OFFICIALS
Failure to Start Work on
ChiIdrens' tuberculosis
Sanitarium Decried.
BUILDING AUTHORIZED
NEARLY 3 YEARS AGO
Statement by President of Associa-
tion Says S01 Young Sufferers
Are Recorded Here.

Delay in the commencement OF work
on the tuberculosis Sanitarium for
Children. authorized by Congress in
March. 1929. was characterized today
by Mrs. Ernest r. Grant president of
the Washington tuberculosis Associa-
ton, as "a sad commentary on effici-
ency of any one interested in the well
fare of children"
In a statement issued following a
meeting of the tuberculosis Sanitarium
Committee, held in the Office of Dr.
William c. Fowler, District health Off
Ger. this morning, Mrs. Grant vigor-
ously criticised the delay by District
officials in connection with the erection
OF the hospital.
Reviewing the history of the measure
which would establish the sanitarium,
Mrs. Grant pointed out that President
Coolidge signed the bill authorizing an
appropriation of S500000 for the work
on March ]. 1929. The same Congress
which passed the bill, she recalled, ap-
propriated $500 to make a survey to
perfect suitable preliminary plans for
the building.
$4,000 Made Available.
In April. 1880. Mrs Grant brought
out. President Hoover signed an au-
thOrization bill which had been passed
DN jEe HOUSE ana llle Selldte 10 p4O-
vide for a children's sanitarium, in
Cre3sing the appropriation to S625, 900.
Just before the adjournment OF Con-
greSs, an initial sum of $4,000 for the
purchase OF a suitable site and for the
preparation of plans was made avail
able.
In August of the same year. Mrs.
Grant said, the District Commissioners
purchased the site for the hospital
but it was not until April. 1881, that
a consulting architect was employed.
ana Maj. H. L. Robb. Assistant Engi-
necr Commissioner assigned 5:5 to super
pans T,re unanimously approved Oc-
t. 81, last.
Inc meeting, Municipal Architect
a l. Harris said that plans WOULD
h 80 dy for the advertising of con-
iCr all the buildings of the in
I by april Is Already, he said
!. ve bsen submitted for the con-
n CT the nurses home. A rec
{ -oc5 icn that all bids be rejected
The low bidder was not re-
ac financially pable of taking
is now before the Commits
S1l Sufferers Here.
- building work of any kind has
E \ undertaken In connection With the
S-'it1.ium, Mrs. Grant said. She
Ec.ntcd out also that the Health De-
partmcnt records show that there are
8ol tuberculous children in the District,
of whom 233 are pulmonary cases
Among those present at the meeting
were Health Officer Fowler, Mrs. Grant,
DR.. F. c. Smith, assistant surgeon gen.
eral of the United States Public Health
Service; Dr. Joseph A. Murphy, chief
medical inspector of the public schools;
DR. j. Winthrop Peabody, superintend-
ent of the tuberculosis Hospital: George
S. Wilson, director of Public Welfare;
George S. Hastings, administrative as
sistant to President Hoover DR.. James
Cumming. chief of the Bureau OF Com
munlcable Diseases of the Health De-
partment; Dr. D. Percy Hickling, Dis
trict alenist; DR.. Harry Benton, pro-
fessor of preventive medicine at George
town University, and DR.. w. D. TeWks-
bury, former superintendent OF the
tuberculosis Hospital.