Evening star., 1936-02-15
HOUSE D. c. GROUP
/. TO HEAR CITIZENS
ON HEALTH NEEDS
Representatives of Civic and
Medical Units to At
tend Hearing.
T0MORROW'S MEETING
DISCUSSION ON RADIO
Booster Talks to Be Given on
WRC at z PM. Today in
15-Minute Program.

Representatives of civic and medical
groups were scheduled to appear be-
fore the House subcommittee on Dis
trict appropriations this afternoon, on
the eve Of public mass meeting to-
morrow to protest cuts in appropria-
tions for the health needs of the Dis
trict.
Representative Blanton, chairman
of the subcommittee, who has unsuc-
cessfully opposed the calling of the
mass meeting by the District Medical
Society, announced today's hearing
yesterday Requirements Of the Board
Of Public Welfare and the Health De-
partment were to be emphasized before
Blanton's committee by spokesmen for
civic and medical groups.
The House committee also was to
hear spokesmen pleading the cause
of the public schools and other District
activities provided for in the supply
bill.
Civic leaders, physicians and social
welfare executives will discuss tomor-
rows mass meeting in a 15-minute
program beginning at Z O'Clock to-
night over Station WRC.
Scheduled Speakers.
Those scheduled for brief booster
talks are:
DR.. Prentiss Wilson, one OF the
medical society's committeeman in
charge of the mass meeting; John
Saul, president of the Board of Trade;
James E. Collif1ower, president Of the
Merchants and Manufacturers Asso-
citation; Mrs. Ernest r. Grant,
executive secretary of the Tubercu-
losis Association; Mrs. Lloyd Biddle,
president of the District Federation
of Women's Clubs; Mrs. L. B. Cas-
tell, president of the District Parent
Teacher Association; DR.. w. L.
Darby. executive secretary of the
Washington Federation of Churches;
DR.. Stephen Hopkins, president OF
the District Dental Society; John
Locher. L-esident of Central Labor
Union; Thomas E. Lodge. president
of the Federation of Citizens Asso-
Citations, and Right Rev. John
O'Grady, director of Catholic Chari-
ties.
Speakers for the mass meeting. to
be held at 3 pm. tomorrow in Central
High School Auditorium, will be an
nounced tonight Civic, church and
social welfare groups have thrown
their influence behind the meeting.
at which facts relative to the health
and welfare emergency in the Dis
trict will be developed for presenta-
ton to Congress.
Members of the Senate and House
subcommittee on District appropria-
tions have been invited to the meet
ing.
Many Senators and Representatives
already have expressed their sympathy
for the aims of the get-together.
S-Hour Nurse Day Sought.
Representative Norton, chairman of
the House District Committee. yester-
day revealed her interest in obtaining
an 8-hour day for overworked nurses
at Gallinger Hospital An 8-hour day
is impossible, however, because of lack
of funds to hire adequate personnel.
Elwood Street, director of Public
Welfare. wrote to Mrs. Norton in an
swer to letter she sent to DR.. Edgar
A. Bocock, superintendent of the hos
pital. inquiring whether he would sup
port an eight-hour day for nurses.
Streets answer, as made public by
Mrs. Norton, follows in part:
Both the Board of Public Welfare
and the administration of Gallinger
Municipal Hospital are thoroughly In
favor of instituting measures looking
toward the possibility of granting a
shorter work day to its graduate and
student nurses. Toward this end
estimates in recent years have all car
ried requests for sufficient additional
funds to permit the employment of
the added nurses necessary to permit
an eight-hour day, but unfortunately
these sums have not been appropri-
atad !"