Evening star., 1937-12-18
SENATORS FAVOR
FUNDS TO SUPPLY
GALL|NGER NEEDS
Death of Baby in Fire
Strengthens Sentiment
] for improvements.
MRS. NORTON PLEADS
ON FLOOR FOR MONEY
Thomas to Be More Sympathetic
Toward Such Requests Than
for Other City Facilities.

Sentiment in Congress for improved
facilities at Gallinger Hospital was
strengthened today as a result of the
fire Thursday night in which baby
died and 81 other children were pro-
tected from danger by the prompt and
heroic work of DR.. Kenneth F. Laugh
lin in preventing the flames from
spreading from one room. The struc-
lure in which the fire occurred is SO
years old.
Senator Thomas, Democrat, of Okla
homa, chairman of the subcommittee
that handles local appropriation bills
In the Senate, said he would be more
sympathetic toward req .ests for funds
for the care of the sick and helpless,
such. as at Gallinger, than he would
be for other types of municipal i'm
provements that could wait year or
two longer without serious results.
AS to detailed items that might be
considered for the municipal hospital
Senator Thomas pointed out the orig
tnal drafting of the appropriation bill
is a House function and that he will
follow the usual course of waiting
until the bill reaches the Senate and
then giving officials and civic organ
izations an opportunity to indicate
changes they want considered.
King Gives Views.
Chairman King of the District Leg
tSlative Committee, who serves as an
sx-oficio member of the appropria-
tons group, declared:
L stated some time ago that un-
doubtedly some new construction will
be necessary at Gallinger, but I am
not prepared at this time to say what
should be the minimum or maximum
amount expended for improvements.
! feel sure the committee will consider
Che problem and do whatever is re-
auired to make it an up-to-date hos
rital."
Senator Copeland, Democrat, of
New York, also a member of the Ap-
preparations Subcommittee, said the
flre constitutes an added reason for
more adequate appropriations for
aalntenance If Gallinger He re-
peated the statement he made a few
weeks ago that Gallinger does not
have sufficient personnel for the num-
Der of patients it is called upon to
care for.
Terms Accident Horrible"
Meanwhile, Representative Norton
who when chairman of the House
District Committee made strong
fight on the floor of the House at the
last session for adequate funds for
hospitalization of children in the Dis
tr1ct, yesterday referred to the acci-
dent at Gallinger as horrible"
Although working under tension on
the wage-hour BILL Mrs. Norton paused
long enough to express her sad
ness over the death of the colored girl
patient. She declared that "a very
careful investigation of the cause of
this accident must be made by Dis
trlct authorities. If it is found that
the accident was possible because of
faulty equipment, every effort should
be made to remedy such a situation.
The Capital City of this great Ma
ton surely must see its children
safely taken care of in the hospitals"
In completing his investigation of
the fire yesterday, however, Coroner
A. Magruder Macdonald said he found
no signs of faulty equipment or negli
gence. He issued a certificate of
accidental death, adding that the
child victim, Thelma Jones, 2, died
from burns. The coroner said there
was no indication the Group kettle
apparatus had been short -circuited
but that it appeared a blanket from
the child's bed had been pushed off
and caught fire when it came into
contact with the kettle.
Health Officer George C. Rutland
who inspected the scene of the tragedy.
lntimated he may urge use of nom
1nf1ammable blankets at Gallinger as
result of the fire DR.. Rutland re-
iterated his criticism of overcrowded
conditions at the hospital and re-
newed his stand in favor of convert
Ing the old Upshur street tuberculosis
hospital into convalescent home to
relieve congestion at Gallinger.