Evening star., 1934-04-13
DISTRICTS FIGHT
0NTUBERCUL0S|S
TO GO TO HOUSE
Chairman Norton Lays
Plans to See That Funds
Are Provided.
SEARCH FOR SPACE
AND BEDS UNDER WAY
Investigating Committee in Three
Units, Seeking Means to
Overcome "Chaos."

While the Special tuberculosis
Investigating Committee appointed
by the District Commissioners began
. search for more beds and hospital
space, Chairman Mary T. Norton of
the House District Committee laid
plans today to air the whole tuber-
culosis situation on the floor of the
House.
Mrs. Norton said she intended to
ask the House to provide the Health
Department with suflcient funds to
combat the disease.
IT am sure the citizens of the Dis
trict do not want their tax rate re-
duced at the expense of human
misery" she said.
The Investigating Committee,
headed by District Health Ohlcer
William C. Fowler, divided itself into
three subcommittee yesterday to can
vass the tuberculosis situation and
find means Of alleviating conditions
described as chaotic.
Temporary Hospital Plan.
One group, including DR.. Fowler,
DR.. Prentiss Wilson, president of the
Medical Society of the District of
Columbia, and DR.. j. w. Peabody,
superintendent of the tuberculosis
Hospital, was named to investigate
the possibility of obtaining q Govern
ment building to be used as q tenn
porary hospital. DR.. Fowler said the
committee had a building in mind,
but would not reveal its location for
fear Of stirring up q controversy. He
said the committee would visit the
building today.
DR.. F. C. Smith, United States
Public Health Service tuberculosis
expert, was directed to determine the
need for additional dispensary facil-
tiles. The dispensary, or clinic, at
301 G street is the outpost against
the ravages of tuberculosis, and to
be effective must be adequately stated
and equipped
DR.. H. j. Crosson, member Of the
Medical Committee of the Board OF
Public Welfare, will make a survey
of all Washington hospitals and de-
termine whether facilities. are avail
able to treat tuberculosis sufferers
who cannot gain admittance to the
tuberculosis Hospital because Of the
crowded condition there.
DR.. William Charles White, presi-
dent of the tuberculosis Association
OF the District, will study the posi-
bility Of obtaining closer cooperation
between private and public nursing
organizations.
Mrs. Norton was joined in her
campaign for tuberculosis relief by
Representative Keller, Democrat, of
Illinois, who called conditions at the
tuberculosis Hospital "disgraceful."
Thinks Facts Overlooked.
The District Committee chairman
said she felt certain that the House
Appropriations Subcommittee, which
considered the District supply bill,
had not been acquainted with true
conditions here when it slashed the
budget for the Districts tuberculosis
institutions.
IAN aroused citizenry should have
told the committee Of the shameful
conditions here with respect to tu-
berculosis control and treatment" she
said
1T seems to me that the officials
who testified before the committee
were not altogether free men and
were more conservative in their testi-
mony than they would have been If
they were expressing their own per-
sonal opinions"
Keller, once a tuberculosis victim
himself, promised to lead vigorous
fight for increased appropriations.
Both he and Mrs. Norton expressed
the belief that Congress would adopt
a more liberal attitude after it real
ICES what hardship it would work
on the sick If such a small appro-
priation is carried in the supply bill.
Senator Copeland Of New York, a
member Of the Senate Subcommittee
on District Appropriations, indicated
today that the needs of the District
for improved facilities for combating
tuberculosis probably will be consid-
cred when the District appropriation
bill is taken up in the Senate. The
Senator believes the District needs
q new hospital for adult tuberculosis
cases.