Evening star., 1932-04-14
LAX|TY IS DENIED
IN HOSPITAL DELAY
Legislators Criticize "Error''
in ChHdren's tuberculosis
Sanitarium Estimates.

| A vigorous denial that there has been
any undue delay or laxity over failure
| of District authorities to complete the
! children's tuberculosis sanitarium was
made by Commissioner ReichelderieI
during recent hearings before the
House Subcommittee on Appropriations
on the 1893 District budget.
Chairman Cannon pointed out at the
outset of the committees consideration
of an item of S240000 for the sani-
tarium that complaints had been made
over failure to complete the building
DO you think the delay is warranted
or has there been undue laxity in pro-
viding these facilities?" Mr.. Cannon
asked
II do not think So" Commissioner
Relchelderfer replied. In the first
| place, it must be recognized that con-
Struction of this character has not been
| standardized anywhere in the country, as
has other hospital construction. There
are not so many of these institutions
There is some difference of opinion
among architects and medical men as to
the best type of institution to be used
and when this money was made available
in the District of Columbia it was said
there was considerable difference OF
opinion among architects and medical
men as to the best type to be used, con-
sequently it was soon recognized the
| amount of money which was made
available would have to be handled
Kept within the amount appropriated.
Error" Criticized.
Chairman Cannon and several mem.
bers of the committee subsequently,
criticized the excessive error" made BY
the municipal architects Office in eSti-
mating the original cost of the sani-
tarium. 1t was developed during the
questioning of DIR. Reichelderfer that
| had not building costs been reduced ir
| the last few years the amount appro.
priated for construction of the buildine
would have been wholly inadequate.
Who made those estimates, doctor?'
Chairman Cannon inquired. 1T is sur.
prising that. they should have made
such a miscalculation. These costs
were estimated four years ago ano
should have been greatly in excess OF
present costs Nearly S1,O00.OOO was
saved in this way on the new Holse
Once Building when the period be-
tween the estimates and the contract.
think, was something less than a wear >
DR.. Reichelderter said the Original
estimate presented to Congress was
based upon mere guess-upon a set OF
architects sketches.
Why could they not have made an
accurate estimator" Chairman Cannon
asked.
Dawson Explains.
Maj. Donald A. Dawson. assistant
engineer commissioner, explained that
the commissioners did not have time
after the legislative authorization for
the sanitarium had been granted tc
consult with experts in preparing the
estimates.
Well" Mr.. Cannon said. Certainly
under the present circumstances it re-
meets little credit on the Office which
produced the estimates"
Asked by Chairman Cannon whether
the sanitarium can be erected for the
amount provided, DR.. Reiohelderfer
said:
We are going to erect something for
the amount that is provided; it will not
be as complete as many of those who
originally proposed it hoped for, but the
commissioners some time ago. in the
beginning Of consideration of plans
made 1t quite clear to those concerned
that we not ask for a supplemental ap-
preparation, but would adopt the policy
OF producing the best institution we
could for the amount of money avail
able. and would not come back to Con-
gress Tor additional appropriations"