Evening star., 1939-02-19
Dr.. Rutland Opposes
Physicians Custer
At Ga||inger
Hits RondoIph's Plan;
ExpIoins Efforts Made
To Remove Friction.

ASooIC OFCI SOllulliOIlS, SCINlCcS
and policies at Gallinger Hospital
continued yesterday as further steps
were planned to settle the contro-
versy over control of its major de-
partments. Among new develop
ments were the following:
l. Health Officer George C. Ruh-
land formally disapproved the pro-
posal of Chairman Randolph of
the House District Committee that
the five newly appointed chief resi-
dent physicians" at the hospital be
ousted, but explained efforts were
being made to remove points of
friction" with visiting physicians
from the STATS of medical schools.
2. The Health Department issued
a lengthy statement to show that
savings in both life and money
have been accomplished at CALM
ger. due to- new policies adopted
since 1t was given jurisdiction over
municipal hospitals 10 months ago.
3. Chairman Randolph protested
some Gallinger employees were over
burdened with work, declared he
would continue to focus public at
tention on bad" conditions at the
hospital. and indicated hospital
conditions again may be discussed
at tomorrow's meeting of the House
District Committee.
New Conference Planned.
4. DR.. Rutland planned to confer
again this week with DR.. Cloyd
Heck Marvin, president OF George
Washington University. and the
Very Rev. Arthur OLeary, S. j.,
president of Georgetown University.
in the hope of achieving an AMIGA
BILE arrangement as to the relations
OF the hospital and the stats of the
medical schools of the two univer-
sites, members of which formerly
had. control of Gallinger depart
ments.
In the Health Department state
ment, described as the first of a
series on Improvements in the Dis,
trlct health program, DR.. Daniel l..
Seckinger, assistant health officer
in charge of hospitals, estimated
that savings of more than $4,000
have been accomplished in new
practices in two of Gallinger's wards.
He also reported the infant NOR
tality rate of the District has been
reduced from 724 to 48.1 in the
number of deaths per 1000 live
births. between 1886 and 1898,
following adoption of policies CO.
ordinating preventive and curative
measures and facilities.
The department credited Chair
man Collins Of the House District
Subcommittee on Appropriations
with having visualized, two years
ago, plan for an integrated system
through transfers of municipal hos
pitals from the Board of Public
Welfare to the Health Department.
Indirectly, the Health Department
statement, while praising improve
ments at Gallinger, contained argu-
ments for retention of the new
system, under which five depart
ments are under control of resident
physicians. The position of one is
mentioned in the statement.
DR.. Rutland Replies.
DR.. Rutland, making a formal
reply to the recent proposals re-
ceived from Representative Ran
dolph, said:
This is in reply to your letter
Of recent date concerning Gallinger
Hospital I am impressed that you
mean to be helpful in developing the
public health service in the District
that will more fully meet the need.
I note also what you say concerning
working relationships between the
visiting stats from Georgetown and
George Washington University Med
ical Schools and the official stan at
Gallinger Hospital.
LET me assure you on this point
that this department has at all
times been most sympathetic to the
interests of the medical schools, and
is. in fact. at the present time in
conference with the authorities of
the universities to remove points
Of friction.
II cannot, however, follow you in
your suggestions concerning the
full-time chief resident physician at
Gallinger. While, as stated, the
matter of working relationships with
the medical schools Is being nego-
tiated at the present time with the
(See GALLINGER, Page A-8.)