Evening star., 1937-11-27
RUTLAND ASSA|LS
UNDERTAKING.
Gal|lnger Nurses Denounce
Charges in Alleged
Survey Report.

alleged conditions at Gallinger Munich
pal Hospital was deplored today by DR..
George c. Rutland, District health ON
Ger, who claimed the sole objective" Of
the present inquiry being conducted
by a special committee of physicians
Is to bring about such improvements
in service as may be indicated.
Similar though stronger condemna-
ton OF an alleged report" to the
Budget Bureau, parts of which ap-
peared in the Washington Herald,
rejecting discreditably on the per-
sonnel of Gallinger as we'll as its
general administration. also came
from the internes and nurses and
heads of various departments. The
55 graduate nurses, especially, de-
nounced as IAN outrage" certain
charges made in the alleged report
that the personnel had engaged in
''petting" and other lax practices.
DR.. Rutland. to whom jurisdiction
over Gallinger Hospital was trans
ferred from the Board of Public We'll
fare last July, indicated that unfavor-
able publicity incident to the situa-
ton served to obstruct and divert at
tention from the constructive purpose
OF the inquiry.
Decries Publicity.
He issued the following statement:
The purpose of special commit
tee of physicians and others to as
sist the department in dealing with
the Gallinger Hospital situation is
not to engage in undertaking, but to
bring about such Improvements in
the service OF that institution as may
be indicated.
Il should have preferred that this
work, just recently begun. might have
proceeded without the publicity the
situation now has had.
"The Department of Health has had
the responsibility for Gallinger for too
short a time to permit any conclusive
statement concerning the full needs
Of that institution. With the assist
ance of the various committees we
hope to effect improvements that may
prove of help to the needy sick.
That Is the sole objective Of the
studies now in progress
Representative Ross Collins. chair
man of the Appropriations Subcom-
mittee on the District Of Columbia in
the House, showed no inclination to
become involved further than he al
ready has in the controversy. He de-
clined to comment.
Commissioner George E. Allen,
meanwhile, said he would ask the
review the needs at Gallinger with a
view toward possibly reinserting in the
1889 budget estimates a $150,000 ap-
preparation to begin construction of
a projected $45o,0o0 medical building
and provide funds for 81 additional
graduate nurses at the hospital.
Commissioner Allen said he con-
sistently had urged larger appropri-
ations for Gallinger and would like
to see construction of the new build
ing started Immediately to relieve
seriously overcrowded conditions in
the present medical-surgical building
Although the Commissioners found
1t necessary to postpone these i'm
provements in submitting the Dis
trict's 1889 budget estimates to the
bureau, Commissioner Allen said he
felt they should consider the situation
again in view of the current studies
being made by the Medical Society
and an agent of the Budget Bureau
Meanwhile, DR.. T. Edward Jones,
surgeon in chief Of Freedmen's Hos
pital, expressed complete approval and
eagerness to cooperate in an admin
istrative survey of the colored institu-
tion which has been ordered by Secre-
tary Of the Interior Ickes.
This survey is to be conducted by
Richard Mackenzie, hospital consult
ant of New York, who has been con-
Quoting recent inquiries into Govern
ment-operated hospitals for the Budget
Bureau.
Requested by DR.. Jones.
The assignment of Mr.. Mackenzie
to the task at Freedmen's Hospital,
where he made preliminary survey
six weeks ago. was requested by DR..
Jones and readily acquiesced in by Mr..
Ickes.
Out Of the survey, which is to begin
December l, DR.. Jones expressed the
hope that constructive" measures
would be able to bring about more
efficiency under policy Of dual super
vision which now exists at the hos
pital. Mr.. Mackenzie and DR.. Jones
co-operated 100 per cent in the re-
cent inquiry.
The Freedmen's official, who is di-
rectly responsible to Secretary Ickes
and who has been 80 years in the Gov
ernment service, most Of which was at
the hospital, recently appeared before
the Budget Bureau, where he was
given very favorable hearing.
Il am quite sure that when the
Budget Bureau understands the situ-
alton here, its decision with respect
to the hospitals needs will be In
hearty accord with the best interests
OF the public from medical view
point" DR.. Jones said.
The survey Of hospitals being con-
Quoted by the Budget Bureau wa.
said to be solely to inquire into CO.
operative methods to improve servic.
and to bring about the best approved
methods of handling public funds ane
making expenditures effective.
Survey Nation Wide.
Freedmen's and Gallinger Hospital,
are only cog in the program of in
vestigation which is being conducted
into Government-operated hospital
throughout the country. Intereste.
officials pointed out that the inquire
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