Evening star., 1939-04-28
D. T.. Heads Get
New Agreement
On Ga||inger
PIon Calls for Hire
By Universities of
Supervising Officer

The Commissioners today received
and sent back for some technical
corrections" new agreement be-
tween Health Officer George c.
Rutland and the Medical Schools Of
George Washington and Georgetown
Universities, proposed as a means
OF reaching final solution of the re-
vived controversy over the control
at Gallinger Hospital.
At the same time, it was revealed
in reliable quarters that a part of
the final peace plan calls for the
employment by the universities of
a full-time chief medical officer who
would have supervision over all pro-
fessional activities at the municipal
hospital.
The health officer is said to have
agreed to this new plan which, how
ever, would depend upon Congress
sional approval since the 1910 Dis
trict supply bill as it was passed
by the House provided for the en-
ployment of such a chief medical
on1cer out of District funds.
II the House plan is not changed,
the appointment would be made by
the Commissioners on recommenda.
ton Of DR.. Rutland. If the substi.
tute plan is adopted, the appoint.
ment would be made by the Com
missioners on recommendation by
university medical school authorities.
Reverses on Bates Bill.
Meanwhile, 1t was disclosed today
| that DR.. Rutland has reversed his
stand on the bill presented to the
House by Representative Bates, DEM
ocrat, of Kentucky to give the five
full-tlme chief resident physicians
the title of chief medical officers. the
same as the proposed new top med
ical director.
About two weeks ago, Dr. Rutland.
while denying to reporters that he
had inspired or drafted this bill, said
he favored its adoption. In some
quarters, 1t was said. however, DR..
Rutland had agreed he had in
directly suggested the bill Asked
by the Commissioners to give his
opinion on the bill. DR.. Rutland, it
was announced today, reported: II
am OF the belief that it will be best
II this bill is not passed. I believe
that satisfactory adjustments can be
effected without this bill"
Under the new agreement, offered
to the Commissioners TODAY by the
universities, the five chief resident
physicians would be appointed to
the faculties of the two medical
schools, and would be graded in rank
by them along with the visiting ply
slclans OF the medical school fac
ulties.
The new agreement. it was said
by one District official, would be a
modification of the formal contract
entered into March 9 between the
Commissioners and the university
heads which supposedly had ended
the warfare over the jurisdictional
issue.
DR.. Rutland Is said to have ap-
proved the plan in a series of con-
ferences this week with DR.. Cloyd
Heck Marvin, president of George
Washington. and the Very Rev.
Arthur A. OLeary, S. j., George
| lUWH president.
The plan for the addition Of the
five resident physicians to the med
ical school staffs was envisioned bv
the parties to the contract signed
last month. but recent events are
understood to have hastened con-
summation Of the supplemental
agreement.
Transfer Proposal Reported.
Last Monday it was reported the
Senate District Appropriations Sub
committee would consider proposals
for transfer of the control Of the
municipal hospitals, including Gal
llnger. from the Health Department
to the Board of Public Welfare,
where the control was vested for
many years.
About the same time. Representa-
tive Nichols, Democrat. of Okla
homa, member of the House Dis
trict Committee, called for a new
investigation of conditions at Gal
linger to be made by joint con-
gressional committee.
On top of this, proposal was
offered by Col. H. B. Hayden.
u. S. A., retired. business manager of
the Health Department, that the
control over the hospitals be placed
under new hospitals department
Of the District to be headed by a
business executive" In his pro-
posal, Col. Hayden declared he be-
lieved the hospitals never would
function" under either the Health
Department or the Welfare Board.