Evening star., 1942-02-11
Hospital Heads
SET Extra Bed
Need al 867
Agree to Stoff and
Mointuin Facilities
Erected by U. S.

AL odoAeAoiAoA oOt 1lOpPlIdl UCQ8
costing $3,468 900 are needed in
Washington, and II Congress will
provide the necessary funds the
private hospitals here will assume
responsibility for staining and main
tanning them, District hospital lead.
ers agreed yesterday at a meeting in
the Health Security Administration
of1ces. Decisions Of the conference
will be communicated offlcially to-
day to District Commissioner Guy
Mason.
Meanwhile, the House today Is ex-
pected to act on the Lanham bill
calling for $50 1000 900 for District
wartime housing and expansion of
water, sewer, street, hospital and
other needed facilities as emergency
measures. The bill has been favor
ably reported by the House Grounds
and Buildings Committee.
The accord was acclaimed by hos
pital executives themselves as a
striking example of civic unity. 1t
Is proposed to construct double
pavilion units not over two stories
high, using minimum Of materials
to avoid priorities difficulties, and
equipped with ramps rather than
elevators. They could be completed
with 80 days, 1t was said.
Determined Needs.
Action by the District hospital
leaders yesterday was In response
to Commissioner Mason's state
ment that he would not assume the
responsibility Of allocating the ad-
ditional beds. as he desired the hos
pitals to certify their individual
needs.
The overall total Of s67 beds was
made up Of the following individual
hospital requests:
Columbia, Al beds and basement:
Providence, IS beds plus nursery
and delivery unit; George Washing
ton University, 200 beds; Garfield,
$50 beds; Episcopal. so beds; Sibley,
100 beds; Georgetown University,
IS beds; Homeopathic, 80 beds; Cas-
ualty, 40 beds; Children's, no extra
beds, but dispensary service needed,
and Emergency, 100 beds.
Charles D. Drayton, president of
the District Hospital Presidents
Association and president of Chill
dren's Hospital, who presided, said
the plan would entail added operat-
ing expense to hospitals. adding,
however, that the hospitals would
cede lands for building proposes and
show their willingness to bear added
responsibilities in discharging
community need.
Above Mason's Figure.
A formal statement Of policy to
be drawn up by Mr.. Drayton and
Secretary Willard C. Smith and to
be signed by the head of each Dis
tritc hospital, was scheduled to be
presented late today to Commits
sioner Mason, indicating the speedy
accord reached by the hospitals
once the matter was placed square,
ly up to them for recommendations
Although Commissioner Mason in
dicated to hospital heads that he
thought $50 beds was the maximum
Congress would provide for, the con-
ferees yesterday decided to submit
the 867 bed total and. in the words
of Capt. Chester Wells, u S. NJ, re-
tired. president Of Columbia Hospi-
tai, ''see what happens" A sugges-
ton that committee be named to
draw up the policy statement, thus
neceSsitating another meeting of the
entire group. was opposed by Capt.
Wells, who urged immediate action.
1t was pointed out that the Fed
eral Works Administration probably
would make its own survey of hospi-
tai records to determine actual
needs, once funds are available. This
factor did not deter the hospital
heads. I'VE have been asked by
Commissioner Mason to certify our
needs" remarked Clarence Aspin-
wall. president of Garfield Hospital.
I'VE show by this action today we
are willing to be drafted and do
what we can to help meet an emerg-
ency."
Lease Plan Proposed.
Under the plan proposed the Gov.
ernment, on obtaining clear title to
the land needed for hospital expan-
sion, would lease the new or ex-
panded units to the privte hospitals
for 81 year each.
Representing the various hospitals
yesterday were: Columbia, Capt.
Wells, president; Providence, Sister
Rosa, superintendent; George WASH
ington. Dean Walter A. Bloedorn;
Garfield. Mr. Aspinwall; Episcopal,
Henry P. Blair. vice president;
Sibley, Paul Cronelin, counsel;
Georgetown, the Rev. David v. Nc
Cauley, dean: Homeopathic, Fred
Mckee, president; Casualty, Samuel
H. Rogers. president: Children's. Mr..
Drayton. president, and Emergency,
Stanley D. Willis. president.
Conferring with the group was
Charles Neergaard. New York. hos
pital consultant, who conducted q
hospital survey here.