Evening star., 1940-03-07
DC. Institutions
Inspected by
House Group \
Subcommittee Sees
Conditions and
Hears of Needs

PROMPT ACTION seen on recon-
mendations to improve conditions
at Blue Plains. Page Az
PICTURE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Shown on visit today to Home for
Aged and Infirm. Page Az
Members of the District subcom-
mittee of the House Appropriations
Committee paid visits this morning
to the Blue Plains Home for the
Aged and Infirm, the Receiving
Home for Children and other much
criticized District Welfare Institu-
tions.
Chairman Caldwell headed the
group, which moved rapidly through
the institutions under the guidance
of Maj. Daniel J. Donovan, District
auditor and budget officer.
The visits were unannounced and
Chairman Caldwell told reporter
who caught up with the group at
Blue Plains:
1--WE don't want publicity. We just
want to do good job and see what
money these institutions really
need"
Superintendent Tells Needs.
He admitted that the group had
visited the Receiving Home before
coming to Blue Plains and stated
that they were going to see other
institutions, but would not state
which ones.
At Blue Plains the Representa-
tives questioned Supt. Frank Haskell
about the requirements of the place.
Representative John Houston, Dem
ocrat, Of Kansas stated that he had
read newspaper accounts of condi-
tions in the home and asked:
What's the squawk? What do
you need? What are you asking
for?"
Mr.. Haskell said they needed
$287 900 for remodeling the rickety
buildings and for construction of
new wards.
The committee then started out
to visit the places criticized by Mrs.
Franklin D. Roosevelt and others
the dark dining room, the kitchen,
the crowded wards, restrooms, in
flrmary, ETC.
Some Chat With Inmates.
Some stopped to chat with in
mates and others piled Mr.. Haskell
with questions. A number of the
legislators seemed to be moved by
what they saw, while others indi-
Gated that conditions did not i'm
press them as too bad.
Bside Mr.. Caldwell and Mr. Hous-
ton, the following Representatives
made the tour: George Mahon,
Democrat, of Texas; Emmet O'Neal,
Democrat, of Kentucky; William
Lambertson, Republican, of Kansas,
and Karl Stefan, Republican, of
Nebraska.
The unadvertised investigation
was arranged as prelude to hear
ings on the 1941 District appropria-
ton bill, scheduled to start Monday
Decision to carry out the inspec-
ton trip without newspapermen and
photographers was made late yes
terday at an executive meeting of
the subcommittee.
1--WE will try the Districts case
In the committee rooms and not in
public" said Mr. Caldwell. eve
want to do good, fair job"
Publicity Reported Questioned.
There have been reports around
the Capitol for some time that GER
tain members of the District SUBJ
committee on Appropriations did not
approve of the "blare" of publicity
in connection with the investiga-
tion of various public welfare in
stitions conducted by the Public
Health Subcommittee of the Dis
trict Committee, of which Repre-
sentative D'Alesandro is temporary
chairman.
Mr. DAlesandro, however, has
taken the position that only through
publicity has his subcommittee been
able to bring about immediate i'm
provements at the home for the
aged and inf1rm.
Mr.. D'Alesandro also said he real
lied his subcommittee has no au-
thoriay to originate appropriations
but expressed the hope that the
investigation his subcommittee is
conducting will influence" the Ap-
preparation Subcommittee in ap-
proving increased funds for those
institutions where improvements are
vitality necessary for the health well
fare and comfort of the inmates.