Evening star., 1937-12-01
13D. c. HOSPITALS
ON SURVEY LIST
Nearly All Beneficiaries Of
Federal or Local Aid In
cIuded in Plan.

Nearly all the hospitals in WASH
ington that are beneficiaries Of either
the Federal or District governments,
1t was said today. may expect to
undergo survey OF administration
and service ut the hands Of the Budget
Bureau.
There are 13 hospitals which benefit
from direct appropriations authorized
by Congress Such Institutions as
Gallinger, Glenn Dale, Freedmen's, st.
Elizaheths, Walter Reed, Mount Alto
and the Naval Hospital receive their
entire support from public funds. The
others obtain partial support, chiefly
special funds for the care OF indigents.
This new policy Of the Budget
Bureau. which is extending to all
Federal-controlled hospitals through
out the country. is expected to en-
brace all such hospitals in the District
Of Columbia. Budget of1cials, how
ever, refuse to comment in view of
the unfavorable publicity that befell
Gallinger Hospital.
Conduct Of Surveys.
Whether these surveys will be con-
Quoted by Richard Mackenzie or some
other hospital consultant engaged by
the Budget Bureau was not made
known It was learned, however,
that Mr.. Mackenzie. who has already
made such survey at Gallinger,
"sat in" at the budget hearings pre-
viously held in connection with
Freedmen's and st. Elizabeth's Hos
pitfalls.
DR.. Winfred Overholser, recently
appointed superintendent Of st. Eliza
beth's. strongly Endorsed the new
budget policy as "a splendid idea"
He said the hospital, which cares for
nearly 5000 mental cases annually,
was standing by" iL the expectation
that Mr.. Mackenzie or some other
budget consultant would visit it soon.
Mount Alto Hospital, which Is under
the management Of the Veterans Ad-
ministration, also expects to be sur
veyed.
Some Of the veterans' hospitals In
various sections Of the country already
have been surveyed by Mr.. Mackenzie
DR.. Overholser, who took charge Of
st. Elizabeth's Hospital early this
fall. said the new policy should be
helpful to all hospitals In getting their
needs fully presented to the Budget
Bureau.
1t has been the policy heretofore,
except in occasional instances, for
budget officials to receive the esti-
mates from the heads of the various
hospitals Those in Washington are
able to make personal appearance
before the Budget Bureau.
Gallinger's Case Cited.
Often. however. the estimates and
defending statements were often dis
counted. Hospitals have not always
benefited in the end. as In, the case
Of Gallinger Hospital, which Dr..
George c. Rutland said has suffered
from "the accumulated effect Of years
Of insufficient planning"
1t was pointed out furthermore that
the position Of the hospitals would
be greatly strengthened by having an
expert hospital sconsultant in attend
anee at all budget hearings. The
budget oficials themselves are not
medical men. It was said. and cannot
be expected to have expert knowledge
OF hospital needs.
Aside from the strictly Federal hos
pitals in Washington which receive
100 per cent support from the Gov
ernment. the local hospitals and the
sums given them by Congress last fis-
cal year were as follows: Childrens
Hospital, $4,000: Emergency, $65, 900;
Casualty, $4,000; Washington Home
for the Incurables, $4,000; Colum-
bian, $1,000. The municipal hospitals,
naturally. were in the same class Is
the Federal institutions, receiving
their funds under the District ap-
preparation bill.