Evening star., 1940-02-08
City for Aged
Seen as Plan Of
Mrs. Roosevelt


Set Precedent With
Testimony Tomorrow
A cottage city" to replace the
Home for the Aged and Infirm at
Blue Plains may be suggested by
Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt tomor.
row when she testifies before the
Public Health Subcommittee of the
House District Committee, 1t was
disclosed today.
The cottage system, according to
welfare authorities, would mean
separate small homes for the aged
instead Of the present dormitory
arrangement. Mrs. Roosevelt has
long been an advocate of the cot
tage system as more modern
method of housing inmates of in
stitutions.
The decision of the Presidents
wife to appear at the opening hear
ing of the subcommittee tomorrow
at 2 pm. was announced following
a White House tea party" at which
the entire welfare setup of the Dis
trict was reviewed
Appearance to Set Precedent.
First witness to testify at the in.
vestlgation into public welfare con-
ditions in the District, Mrs. Roose-
velt will be the first Presidents wife
ever to appear before a congress
sional committee. She shattered
precedent earlier by attending ses-
sions of the Dies Committee as a
spectator.
Mrs. Roosevelt described her idea
for a cottage city at the tea party"
attended by the three District Com.
missioners, Budget Director Smith,
Judge Fay Bentley of the Juvenile
Court, Robert E. Bondy, District di-
rector OF public welfare; Frederick
McReynolds, chairman of the Well
fare Board and Representative
Thomas D'Alesandro, jr., chairman
OF the Public Health Subcommittee.
Besides favoring abandoning the
present institution for place where
the aged could live out their days
IN comfort, Mrs. Roosevelt agreed
that something should be done i'm
mediately to remedy the conditions
which she described as shocking"
after her visit to Blue Plains.
She also conflded to the officials
that she believed Washington should
have suffrage as a possible remedy
Tor the conditions now prevalent at
District institutions. As the dis
cussion progressed, it was said that
she returned repeatedly to the suf-
frage question
Accompanied by member of
the staff of the United States
Public Health Service, Representa-
tive DAleSandro went to Blue Plains
this afternoon to make another
check on conditions at the institu-
ton. Mr.. DAlesandro first visited
the home last Friday.
Mr.. D'Alesandro said he would
request the Public Health Service
expert to submit report to his
subcommittee relative to his views
GO w "AloO ollOold DC
conditions at the home.
Mr.. D'Alesandro, particularly anx-
lous to insure better care for the
sick inmates at the institution. sug-
gested that they be cared for at
Gallinger Hospital. When it was
pointed out, however, that Gallinger
was already overcrowded, the tea
party guests agreed that the home
for the aged should have q full-time
physician, instead of the part-time
doctor now employed, and should
have more nurses on duty.
Commissioner George Allen, on
leaving the White House meeting,
particularly commented on the
tremendous sincerity" of all pres
ent, their realization that the prob
leb was a serious one and their de-
termination that something must
be done"
Welfare Survey in Prospect.
While Blue Plains was the most
prominent subject under discussion,
it was disclosed that all phases of
the welfare setup of the District
were discussed, with the result that
the officials agreed to institute
survey Of all welfare institutions
here with an eye to making long
range plans.
The Children's Receiving Home.
which Mrs. Roosevelt visited after
Blue Plains, also came up for dis
cusslon during the session, which
lasted an hour and half. It was
decided that children should sub
NIT to medical examinations as soon
as they enter the receiving home.
Mr.. D'Alesandro today invited
several members of Congress, the
commissioners and a number of
other District officials to attend the
meeting tomorrow to hear Mrs.
Roosevelt's testimony.
Invited to Session.
Those invited include Chairman
King of the Senate District Com
mittee, Senator Overton, Democrat,
OF Louisiana; Chairman Randolph
OF the House District Committee;
Representative Caldwell, Democrat,
OF Florida, new chairman of the
Appropriations Subcommittee in
charge of the District supply bill;
Mr.. Bondy, Judge Bentley, Frank B.
Haskell, superintendent of the
Home for the Aged and Infirm; Mr..
McReynolds, Grady H. Leonard,
superintendent of the Receiving
Home for Children, and Health Of
ficer George c. Ruhland.
The meeting will be held in the
Labor Committee room, on the
fourth floor of the old House Once
R,,i1dipo