Evening star., 1936-02-16
INCREASED HEALTH
FUNDS DEMANDED
Federation of Citizens
Groups Back Mass Meet
-. ina Called Today.

mdQQeQ IhSb ulSAt Wy UAAo
of Citizens Associations as 1t threw
its support behind the mass meeting
called for this afternoon to cite the
needs of a more adequate public
health program. i
Specifically, the federation urged
an increase in the health appropri-
alton proposed for the next fiscal
wear at least to the $4,000 recon-
ndended to the Budget Bureau by the
Commissioners. 1t also declared its
opinion that even this sum would be
inadequate, and urged the bureau
and Congress to consider additional
sums.
The federation asked consideration
OF a health appropriation of not to
exceed $605 250, the sum requested
by Health Officer George o. Rutland,
The bureau recommended to Congress
an appropriation of but s503,0o0.
The group also supported the re-
quest of Police Supt. Ernest w.
Brown for employment of 13s ad-
ditional policemen, declaring all pre-
cincts now are undermined and un-
able to render necessary public pro-
lection. The Commissioners sliced
more than 40 men off Maj. Browns
request and when the police estimates
came from the bureau less than halt
dozen additional policemen were al
lowed.
Hospital Outlines Needs.
A few hours before the federation
meeting six division heads and Dr..
Edgar A. Bocock, superintendent OF
Gallinger Hospital, issued a strongly
worded statement outlining needs Tor
additional nurses and facilities at
the institution. The federation also
urged more adequate sums for hospi-
tails under the Board of Welfare.
Last month, the physicians said.
there was a daily average OF els
patients at the hospital. with only 81
graduate and 121 student nurses to
care for them and that from to IL
of the students were continually sick.
This shows ratio of one graduate
nurse to 80 patients and one student
nurse to each eight patients" the
physician declared. LAS is well known
by any one familiar with reasonably
satisfactory hospital conditions,
ratio of about one graduate nurse to
each 10 patients should prevail, while
there should not be at one time more
than four patients for each student
nurse in training.
obviously, with such a marked
proportion as exists between nursing
staff and patients, it is beyond the
realm of possibility to expect more
than q fair degree of nursing service
in the hospitals greatly overcrowded
wards
"The hospitals overcrowding is dis
tressingly noticeable in the medical
and surgical wards. where in each Of
these divisions a normal capacity OF
144 beds is provided, while during
January there have been treated In
the same divisions an average OF lSS
and 1872 patients, respectively"
The statement was signed by Drs.
Walter A Bloedorn, wallace M. va
ter, Charles S. White, Howard F.
Kane, d. Percy Hickling and Eugene
r, Whitemore as well as DR.. Bocock.
Two Hour DEBATE Heard.
The federation action on health
was taken on report by DR.. Charles
3. Campbell, delegate from the Dis
trict Medical Society which headed
the movement for the mass meeting.
A two-hour debate preceded adoption
of the resolution. James G. Yaden,
William NICK. Clayton and others
declared they favored adequate ap-
preparations, but wanted to know what
the increased sums would be used for.
George E. Sullivan declared the fed
Grafton should not be "stampeded"
into "hysterical action"
After DR.. Campbell and others out
lined the program, the vote carried
by large majority. DR.. Campbell
explained the Health Department lab
oratory has equipment from S to 20
years old, which is handicap to
treatment of even private patient cases.
He also deplored the fact the District
has the highest death rate from
tuberculosis of any city of its size.
Resolutions adopted by the body de-
clared: THE Commissioners are re-
spectfully but urgently petitioned to
declare that the public health situa-
tion in the District, as affected by
curtailment in the budgets of the
Health Department and the Board of
Public Welfare for the fiscal year
1936-1937, constitutes q grave emer-
gency.
THAT they be urged to prepare i'm
mediately and submit to the Budget
Bureau additional estimates to restore
the budget at least to the figures orig
tnally submitted by them.
THAT since we are of the opinion
that even the original estimates of the
Commissioners are inadequate to cor
rect the deplorable situation, we there
fore urge sufficient increase in the
estimates for these services, that the
total appropriation for the Health
Department shall not exceed $605,25
that these increases be made at the
earliest possible moment"
Henry I. Quinn, chairman of the
Zoning Committee, was directed to
appear before the Zoning Commission
at the hearing February a to oppose
change in the zoning code, proposed
by the commission, which would elm
mate all present requirements that
consents Of property owners be OBJ
tanned before certain uses be allowed.
Harry N. Stul declared the consent
requirements served as q vital pro-
lection to the rights of uronertv