Evening star., 1942-01-01
House District Unit
ToGive Ear|yAttention
To Hospital Expansion
Recommendations by
Maverick Call for
1000 More Beds

The House District Committee
will give serious consideration next
week to recommendations for an
emergency increase of 25 per cent
in Washirgton's hospital facilities,
Chairman Randolph announced to-
day.
The recommendations were made
by Maury Maverick, chief OF the
Governmental requirement branch,
Office of Production Management.
He suggested immediate provision
for 1000 new beds and the possible
addition of 1000 later.
Mr.. Maverick, a former House
member from Texas and more re-
Gently mayor of San Antonio, made
his recommendation in a memoran-
dunn to Representative Randolph,
whose committee has for several
months been studying the hospital
ization problem.
He stressed that the greatly in
creased population in the District
and the coincidental possibility of a
serious epidemic. coupled with the
chances of bombing of the city,
made imperative additional hospital
facilities.
Suggests Two Expansions.
As a start on an extensive pro-
gram of emergency disqualification
construction, Mr.. Maverick sug-
gested that 400 Of the new beds be
located at Gallinger Hospital, and
600 at the Municipal tuberculosis
Sanatoria at Glenn Dale, Md. These
additional facilities, he said, could
be placed in temporary buildings
near the two institutions.
Mr.. Maverick further proposed
that consideration be given to the
advisability of having the Federal
Government aid the District In
financing the additional facilities.
Information furnished Mr.. Nav
erick in a report prepared by the
District Health Department showed
that LOCO new beds could be pro-
vided ct Glenn Dale and Gallinger
for s1.68A,635 and that the operat-
ing costs for these added facilities
would amount to $1,186, 900 a year.
1000 Is Minimum.
An excerpt of FIR. Mavericks let
ter to Mr. Randolph transmitting
the memorandum said: Il have had
personal knowledge for some years
of the poor conditions Of health IA
cilities in the District of Columbia.
War conditions multiply the seri-
business of the situation
AT least 1000 new hospital beds
should be provided in Washington
at once" Mr.. Maverick declared in
the memorandum This was mini
mum necessity before the declara-
ton of war. 1t is now more neces-
sary than ever.
washington is generally below the
level of good health standards OF
Americen cities as to social services.
Venereel diseases, tuberculosis and
other disease rates erd sanitary con-
ditions are had. Slurl conditions in
many spots ere as bad as any in the
Urited States.
with present conditions this
makes the possibility of epide.nics a
dangerous factor. The possibility Of
bombing of Washington increases
the Importance of this problem.
Possible at Minimum Cost.
"Wholly aside from the military
aspect, this problem is serious from
the civilian defense viewpoint. Tens
of thousands of low-Salaried en-
ployes are here, many without fam
lilies or friends and lacking medical,
social and religious connections.
II am informed by the office OF
DR.. George C. Rutland. health off,
Ger of the District. that additional
expansion in existing hc5ritals con
be made in eovercl places at mini
mum cc-t v:'hout creation OF sa7-
srate administrative ST fs or t!'c
rcc.cc { CT building edd tcc-,al utili-
t.c5 c. irrda:rc--'ol fac; ies.
"For example, TIE heo.ing Flint
I'D 1"''-[-:os rt C"E.r~c-' I'd
Glenn Dale Hospitals are such that
1000 beds could be serviced in those
two hospitals-40O at Gallinger and
600 at Glenn Dale-without necessity
for construction of new heating and
laundry plants.