Evening star., 1935-04-23
MEDICAL CENTER
PROJECT SHELVED
Objections Stress Doubt of
FeasibiIity-Revival of
Plan ConjecturaI.

Commissioner Aliens plan for crea-
ton of q large medical center to re-
place existing facilities of Washing
tons private hospitals was laid on
the shelf today when medical and
hospital interests doubted its feasi-
bihty.
Most of the numerous hospital and
medical leaders and civic workers who
answered questionnaires on the plan
registered objections, it was an
nounced by Karl Corby, head of the
Board of Trustees of Emergency Hos
pital and chairman Of the Cittsens
Committee on the Medical Center, II
. meeting today In Aliens ONCE.
Whether the plan would or could
be revived appeared conjectural, since
doubt Of its success, financially. was
raised by IN overwhelming number Of
those who answered questionnaires
sent out March 80, when the proposal
was made public.
The Citizens Committee decided,
however, not to disband and will form
q subcommittee to make a study OF
the present hospital situation as to
its present and future status, 1t was
announced by Commissioner Allen at
the close Of long private meeting.
There was no quarrel with Allen
over hts objectives, committee mem
bers said, but there were serious ques-
ttons about the outcome OF the pro-
gram, especially of its financial sue
cess.
Fear for Endowments.
Corby revealed that medical ana
hospital interests were in doubt about
amalgamation Of the separate staff OF
the separate private institutions. Also
there was fear that the private insti-
tutions would lose their identity, even
tually, and that for this reason pr1-
vate hospital endowment might be
jeopardized.
Also there was q question OF whether
q single medical center could give the
service to various sections of the city
such as now given by the scattered
private hospitals.
Commissioner Allen was informed
the original building cost would
amount to some 100000, but the
District Medical Society in q formal
statement, estimated an endowment OF
between $50, ,000, 900 and 500, 0,000, 900
would be needed to assure success.
Allen Accepts Findings.
Forewarned his plan would not be
approved, Allen thanked members OF
his committee for their work and
said: IT thought 1t was an ideal
pian and timely proposal, and I
still do. If the existing hospitals
are not condensed and do not care
to proceed with the plan, that Is
that. I shall not try to persuade
them against their will"
He had suggested that. the pro-
posed new corporation would seek
funds from the Public Works Admin
istration for the new center. In the
future, he said today, there may not
be p. w. A. funds available for such
q plan. One reason why he proposed
the project was that he had been
informed present plants of the private
hospitals were depreciating and that
their physical condition, within an
other 10 years, would require pro-
grams Of rebuilding.
Allen called to mind the fact that
the Children's Hospital has persuaded
the House to include authority for
q loan of 100000 in the District
P. w. A. amendment, approved yes
terday, for replacement Of the hos
pitfalls heating plant and for other
repairs. While not opposing that, de-
velopment, he saw in it Q need for
funds for Improvement Of existing
hospital facilities.