Evening star., 1940-02-09
Mrs. Roosevelt
Sees sNoModeI
D. {. Institutions
Presidents Wife
Describes Blue Plains
Home to Committee

Mrs. Franklin D., Roosevelt told
a House investigating committee
this afternoon that she had never
yet found a model institution in
the District.
The institutions vary in degree,
she said, but all need a great deal
of improvement.
Refusing to make recommended
tionS, the Presidents wife launched
on a description of the Home for
the Aged and Infirm at Blue Plains
and proceeded without interruption
from any Of the members of the
Public Health Subcommittee of the
House District Committee, who are
conducting the investigation.
Occasion Is Precedent.
1t was the first time in history
the wife of President of the United
States appeared before a congress
sDnal committee as a witness.
Her appearance followed a reve-
laIlon by President Roosevelt at
his press conference this morning
that he hal felt for many years that
District welfare institutions were not
in good shape, but that he had al
ways hoped the District Committees
IN Congress would learn at first hand
the acute conditions.
Such learning is particularly de-
sirable, he said, in view of the Dis
trict's complete dependence on Con-
gress and its committees.
Indicating some disbursement
about the situation which has
prompted the congressional investi-
CATION, the President recalled that
study had been made of the Ma
tional Training School for Girls
about two years ago but that very
little actual reorganization or i'm
provement had been effected as a re-
suit.
Several Representatives, as well
as the District Commissioners,
have already followed the Presi-
dents recommendation BY visiting
Blue Plains, the Industrial Home
School and the Childrens Receiving
Home. all of which Mrs. Roosevelt
visited and criticized.
Large Audience in Prospect.
Mr.. DAlesandro had arranged to
use the Labor Committee room on
the fourth floor of the Old House
Office Building for the opening hear
ing, but in view of the prospective
large attendance, he requested
Speaker Bankhead this morning to
allow the subcommittee to hold the
hearing in the more commodious
caucus room.
Chairman DAlesandro said the
subcommittee at the initial hearing
would take the testimony of only
one other witness-Dr. Lynne A.
Fullerton of the United States Pub
lie Health Service. DR.. Fullerton
visited the Home for the Aged and
1nfirm yesterday, accompanied by
Mr.. D'Alesandro, and made Ger.
tain observations which he will re-
veal to the committee on the wit
ness stand.
Tenerowicz Reports Observations.
Prior to the first hearing of the
subcommittee, Chairman D'Ales-
andre received from Representative
Tenerowicz, Democrat, of Michigan
a report outlining his observations
during recent visit at the insti-
tuition.
Representative Tenerowicz was
member of the District Committee
until two days ago, when he resigned
to take a more important assign
ment on the Interstate and Foreign
Commerce Committee. A physician
by profession, he surveyed conditions
at the home from the standpoint
OF a medical man.
The Tenerowicz report recon-
mended employment of full time
physician at the home, as we'll as
an increase in the nursing staff.
The report also declared the in
stitution is overcrowded, and that
the sanitary conditions are not
proper. 1t said, too, the sterilizer
in the kitchen is not adequate.
Representative Tenerowicz also
visited the Industrial Home School
and said he found that institution
overcrowded and recommended con-
struction of new building to house
its inmates. The roof of the present
quarters leaks, he pointed out, and
the bathrooms are in need of
repair.