Evening star., 1942-05-30

Hospital May
Be Reopened
Senators Weigh
New Items in D. G.
Supply Bill
BY J. A. OTEARY.

Temporary reopenlng OF the old
tuberculosis Hospital at Folrteenth
and Upshur streets NV. and the
need for building the new Children's
Receiving Home despite the war will
be considered by Senate appropria-
tions subcommittee when 1t revises
the s56,l37,000 District supply bill
early next week.
The last session of Congress ap-
propriated s121 900 for a new Re-
ceiving Home to replace the present
rented structure near the Navy
Yard, but priorities for materials
have not been obtainable.
After examining public welfare
officials yesterday afternoon, Chair
man OMahoney said he thought
every effort ought to be made to
obtain the project. Allotting ma
terials for a building of that size
would not seriously hamper war
work, he added. There were indi-
cations the subcommittee may keep
the appropriation alive for another
fiscal year in the hope of erecting
the building.
Need In Tubercular Gases.
Reopening of the old tuberculosis
Hospital has been suggested to the
senators as a temporary effort to
meet the need for more space for
tubercular cases during the emer-
gency. District officials told the
subcommittee the building could be
made ready for use with less than
$4,000.
Senator O'Mahoney said the Com
mlSsloners had hoped to obtain
FUNDS from the Lanham Act for
1000 hospital beds to relieve con-
gestlon here. Six hundred would
go to Gallinger Hospital and 400
to the Glen Dale tuberculosis Sana-
torlum. They found, however, that
an executive order prevents use of
Lanham allotments for tuberculosis
institutions.
Pointing out that temporary
buildings now used for tubercular
cases on the Gallinger grounds are
unSanltary. Senator OMahoney said
the alternatives are: To continue to
use those structures, with more tenn
porary space that would soon deteri-
orate or permit use of the Upshur
street building during the war. That
building is now used partly bv the
w. P. A. If it is reopened to pa
tients, Senator OMahoney said, it
would be limited to convaleScent
cases. The serious, active cases
would go to Glen Dale.
Health Center Delay Seen.
The proposed new Northwest
Health Center, for which funds are
IN the bill, is another project likely
to be delayed by war priorities, the
subcommittee was informed. To
meet that contingency, a suggestion
was taken under advisement to make
the Polk School into a temporary
health center.
Meanwhile, Health Department
officials are understood to have sug-
gested a reduction in the number
OF medical examiners to carry on the
| new physical training program for
high school students, approved by
the House.
The experience of the Army in
selecting physically fit men con-
vinced House members of the need
for more physical training in the
schools. They added 100000 to the
school budget for instructors. and
s45.565 to the health budget for
medical and dental examiners. OF
the latter sum, S16,500 was for the
employment of IL part time medical
examiners. and S29,056 for four
dentists and six dental hygienists
for the junior and senior high
schools The health officials are
reported to have recommended that
they could get along with four in
stead of II medical examiners.
The Senate subcommittee recessed
last night until 1890 am. Monday
when it hopes to finish executive
hearings and pass on the variety
of comparatively minor changes
proposed in the House bill. AL
though the Commissioners have
suggested amendments that would
add more than 100000 to the House
total, they are scattered in small
amounts throughout the municipal
services. The largest new projects
are for fire engine station near
North Capitol and Crittenden streets
NV. and new police station in
Benning.