Evening star., 1937-05-04
Country Doctor Who Began
Drive and Specialists
Will Be Present.
So, 100000 REQUESTED
TO INITIATE PROGRAM
Research Base and 1OO-Bed Hos.
pital Expected to Be Estab-
lished in D. C.
BY WILL p. KENNEDY,

The leading cancer specialists of the
United States and country doctor
from Texas are to appear as witnesses
here within two weeks to persuade
Congress to establish national cancer
center, at a cost of ST ,OOO, 900 a year,
to wipe out the menace Of this disease,
which ranks second as cause OF death
in the United States. 1t was the
country doctor, DR.. Dudley Jackson
OF Bexar County Hospital, who really
started the drive for Nation wide CO.
operation and intensive study for the
cure OF cancer. 1t was he who per-
suaded Representative Maverick,
Democrat, of Texas, to introduce bill
for the cancer research center and
a 10O-bed hospital which is expected
to be established in Washington with
an initial appropriation Of $2,4O0,OOO
Senator Homer T. Bone, Democrat,
OF Washington, is sponsoring the bill
In the Senate, where it is supported
by 95 Senator's. Chairman Copeland
of the Senate Committee on Inter-
state and Foreign Commerce has an
nounced that he is arranging for
hearings and has invited Representa-
tive Maverick to assist. Maverick says
he finds no opposition to this meas
ure and has enlisted the support of
the greatest cancer authorities, whom
he Will Introduce as witnesses at the
hearing. The only Senator who did
not sign in support of the Bone bill is
Senator Gerry, Democrat, of Rhode
Island, who feels there is sufficient
private research on this problem.
Partial List Of Witnesses.
Those who will appear as wit
nesses include DR.. w. H. Lewis. Johns
Hopkins University; Dr. John w. Cob
ling, Columbia University; DR.. Louis
w, Dublin, Metropolitan Life Insur-
ance Co.; DR.. S. P Reimann, Lam
kenau Hospital, Philadelphia; DR.. c.
G. Little, Jackson Memorial Hospi-
tai, Bar Harbor, Me-; Karl Compton,
president of the Massachusetts, Insti-
tute Of Technology; Merle A. Tuve,
Carnegie Institution, Washington; DR..
James Ewing, Memorial Hospital,
New York; DR.. John J. Morton,
Strong Memorial Hospital, Rochester,
N. Y; Prof. Carl Voeglin, National
Institute OF Health; DR.. Olin West,
and other specialists of the American
Medical Association, Chicago, and Dr.
Jackson.
Surg. Gen. Thomas Parran of the
Public Health Service, to whom Repre-
sentative Maverick took DR.. jackson
some time ago to discuss the proposal
for cancer study center here, while
not Initiating the legislative drive has
been giving Maverick earnest and sym
pathetic cooperation.
Both Senator Bone and Maverick
have insisted that the question must
be divorced from politics and put on a
humanitarian basis
Maverick explained that he hoped to
have radium made available for free
use in every hospital, clinic and re-
search bureau in this country. He
pointed out that from the gold reserve
could be taken to buy what
ever radium is necessary, that radium
now has very stable value with very
slight depreciation, so that it might
really become basis for currency,
with all danger of imitation removed |
The Government could set up radium
insurance corporation, which would |
insure against loss. All the hospitals
and clinics and research bureaus would |
take out an insurance policy and check |
their radium supply once a year. then |
making payment for any loss. Tn.
cost to the Government would be prac-
tlcally nothing and the Government
would collect the insurance.
Would Spread Facts.
Representative Maverick emphasizes
that through the proposed Govern
ment cancer center it would be possible
to concentrate and coordinate the
best study of the entire country at a
minimum cost and make the results of
this intensive study most promptly and
generally available. He argues that
Tor the establishment of a private
foundation at least $4,000, 900 would
be required on basis of income, while
the Government can do it for million
dollars year, and two to three mil
lions to start it. Thus, he argues, the
cost would be small compared to what
is now being spent Reports and
analyses would be coming in from all
over the country; there would be a
certain amount Of Standardization on
A-ray work and pathological studies.
For the dissemination of the result
ing information he suggests a monthly
journal to be printed by the Govern
ment and sold at cost.
Representative Maverick is also de-
sirous that the Government give
medals and prizes every year for scien-
tific achievements in peace time
something like the Nobel Peace Prize.
He believes there should be three
awards, with congressional award
after a proper commission or board has
made the nominations. His thought u
to have congressional medal for saw
ing lives instead Of for destroying lives.
He hopes to see all this gradually &C.
complished as result Of the cancer
center hill Y,nu, y,y,Jor