Evening star., 1939-01-05
S4O,68 Reduction
Surprises Advocates
Of Wider Program
Sum $751;, ,4SS Below
Original PIeo of
Dr.. RuhIond
By DON s. WARREN.


Constituting the most surprising
element in the 1910 District esti-
mates, laid before Congress today,
the Health Department budget calls
for $3.50 ,544, a decrease of $40,668
from current appropriations and
representing slash of $783, ,488 from
the original requests of Health
Oflcer George C. Ruhland.
In view of recent agitation for in
creased appropriations for an ex-
panded program, it had been as
sumed by some officials at the
District Building that the Budget
Bureau would recommend larger
instead of smaller appropriations.
Increased personnel and facilities
were made possible, however, for the
reason that the decrease represents,
for the most part, the fact that there
was appropriated for this year a
homecoming item of 5000 900 for
construction of the first of a series
OF health centers or poly clinics.
Balanced against this method of
figuring, however, is the fact that the
department sought funds for a Sec
ond health center, which were de-
MED.
Presidents Concern Recalled.
Department officials had been
cheered after reading accounts of a
conference at the White House be-
tween the President and Chairman
Collins of the House District Appro-
priations Subcommittee. 1t was
stated that the President had ex-
pressed concern over bad health con-
ditions in the District and sought
means of improvement. This was
interpreted by most observers as in
dlcations for larger appropriations.
Extensive Improvements in phys
ical facilities are being made under
the Districts P w. A. program.
Among health items are construc-
tion of new general medical ward
building and q 200-bed tuberculosis
ward building at Gallinger Hospital,
plus other improvements to the plant
there. Also, under the aegis of the
Interior Department, 150-bed
tuberculosis ward is to be developed
at Freedmen's Hospital.
A few months ago DR.. Rutland
sought 1910 appropriations amount
ing to $3,143,032, which would have
constituted an increase of about 80
per cent over the current appro-
priations of $2,40O212. The Com
missioners reduced the original esti-
mates to $2,511 ,032 and the Budget
Bureau cut this total to s2,359,544.
44-Hour Week a Possibility.
In some respects the Department.
program will be expanded. Employ
ment of additional personnel is in
tended to make possible q stand
ard 44-hour work week at the hos
pitfalls. The requests for this pur-
pose, filed by the Commissioners,
were reduced, however.
For Health Department personnel
the bureau allowed 1929, ,33O, a re-
duction of 1850 from this year. The
number of headquarters personnel
is reduced from 1O4 to 101, includ-
ing the loss of three inspectors.
For preventation of contagious dis
eases the bureau approved SAT 1890,
as against $43,830 this year, and
most of the modest increase here
would be for additional pneumonia
serum and other therapeutic
agencies. A slight increase was al
lowed for maintenance of dis.
pensaries.
Glenn Dale Personnel Increased.
| For the nursing service the bureau
approved s154,34o. as against $751;
$40 for this year A minor increase
was allowed for the school hygiene
and sanitation service and a small
increase for the maternal and child
health services. Fifty-four addi-
tlonal workers would be EMPLOYED
at the tuberculosis Sanatoria at
Glenn Dale, Md, at cost of about
$4,000 a year. Among the new list
would be 6 nurses and 35 domestic
attendants. The hospitals total
funds would be raised from $577,.
900 to s625,32
Total appropriations approved for
Gallinger Hospital, $899 $40, would
represent an increase of s98, $50 over
this year. The bureau approved an
increase of s75,48O in the salary
items to provide for the employment
OF 81 additional workers, including
18 nurses, 80 pupil nurses, 30
domeStics, social worker and
medical technician-