Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-12-31
Week 5 Recess
Called in D. +.
Hospital Quiz
McCurrun Calls on
FWA and WPB
To Get Together

The Senate District Committee
hearing on the present delay in the
District hospital expansion program
was recessed for one week by Chair
man McCarran late yesterday to
give WPB and FWA officials an
opportunity to get together"
The recess came shortly after
Maury Maverick, director of the
Governmental Division of WPB,
had made a report before the COM
mittee and had been told by Sena-
tor McCarran that he was beating
the devil around the bush" by
showing utter disregard of things
before you"
In answer to questioning, Mr..
Maverick admitted that he had not
conferred with the Commissioners,
but added that he would be willing
to talk with them and with the
FWA ANY time they say"
Asks for Quick Action.
Senator McCarran interrupted to
ask the director if he thought he
could act quickly.
1--WE could do part of it right
away" Mr.. Maverick replied, turning
for confirmation to Everett w.
Jones, chief hospital consultant for
WPB.
I'VE could do it in three or four
days if we get men together who
want to work" agreed Mr.. Jones.
Mr.. Maverick added that he would
see Commissioner John Russell
Young, neighbor, who had been
at the hearing during the morning,
and would try to make arrange
ments for a meeting.
"All right. then" said Senator
MeCarran, well recess with the
understanding that you will report
back in a week. That should give
you time"
We'll have right much of it done
by them assured Mr.. Maverick.
Surprised by Testimony.
The WPB director opened his
formal statement before the COM
mittee by complimenting it for
bringing the hospital matter to a
head, commenting: 1T must be
brought to a head He added fur
Their that the testimony made be-
fore the committee during the
morning had surprised him, not so
much because it was honest and I'M
prejudiced, but because it showed
so many beds vacant"
He said further that when he
originally had prepared the report
he had been of the opinion that We
nereal disease cases could be taken
care of outside the District At the
hearing, he explained he had
learned that Glenn Dale Sanatorium
was, outside the city and COM
mented that that's the logical place
to care for venereal cases"
Informing the chairman that he
was not speaking for the War Pro-
duction Board, but for himself, he
declared that the situation in Wash
ington is different than elsewhere
lin that what's everybody's business
is robody's business" Asked by
Senator McCarran for Qualification
of this statement, he explained that
he meant that, if one man had au-
thority to decide the hospital prof.
ects, the hearing never would have
been necessary.
"Not the Man" He Says.
81 thought you we're that man."
observed Senator McCarran.
NO, I'm not" replied Mr. MAYER
lex. What mean is that we need
some one man or small group to get
out and settle it. I don't say the
War Production Board is going to
turn anything down, but 1 do say
it can be adjusted"
The chairman next criticized the
director for not needing testimony
given before the committee, both at
yesterdays hearing and others,
which he said reflected" the neces-
sity for more beds in the District.
II think you don't need any COM
mittee," said the Senator Il be-
lieve you yourself can go ahead. If
you say this hospital work can be
done, it will be done"
Commenting that hospitals have
got to use the facilities at their dis
posal, Mr. Maverick contended that
the testimony during the morning
had abundantly borne out that even
more beds than those cited by the
WPB report were available without
construction.
Most of the hospital heads who
spoke showed that the facilities they
need are BEDS" observed Senator
McCarran.
Then why don't they get them?"
asked Mr.. Maverick.
They can't get priorities from
you,' replied the Senator.
Promises Priorities.
Eyes, they can quickly answered
Mr.. Maverick They'll get them as
quickly as I get to my office if they
show some disposition to cooperate
in this matter"
Earlier in the afternoon, Paul B.
Cromelin, chairman of the Siblev
Hospital Board, told of a financial
loss to the institution of approx
mately $3.50 month because of the
delay in the expansion program. He
explained that the hospital, in an
swer to instructions from FWA in
forming it that $4,000 application
for improvements had been ap-
proved, had removed the tenants
from six dwellings which were to be
converted into nurses quarters and
that the buildings still are vacant.
Answering QUESTIONABLE sent
him by the committee, DR.. John M.
Orem, superintendent of Sibley, re-
ported that six different surveys had
been made of the hospitals facili-
ties, but added it was possible some
Of these were part of others.
conditions were the same when
all of them were made" he an
nounced
Remark Brings Laughter.
TIC this Senator McCarran re-
marked, drawing a roar of laughter
from those in the room: Conditions
after they were made were the same,
too
DR.. Edgar A. Bocock, superin-
tendent of Gallinger Hospital, said
the new maternity building financed
by FWA should be ready for occu-