Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-12-17
Survey by WPb
Delays Hospital.
Expansion Plan
Move Is Surprise
To FWA, Which Made
Long Investigation


program which the Federal Works
Agency has approved for the Met
ropolitan Area Of Washington is
being delayed two weeks by a new
survey which the War Production
Board Is making to determine, for
Itself, the necessity for these facili-
ties.
FWA approved the program only
after an extensive survey was car
NED out by committee represent
ing that agency, the United States
Public Health Administration, the
American Medical Association and
the Army and Navy Munitions
Board. Other canvasses of the Dis
trict hospital situation had been
made in the last two years.
Announcement of the WPB sur
vey came as a surprise to officials
OF the FWA, who said they were
under the impression the WPB sur
vey would be one solely to deter
mine availability of critical mate
rails.
Maverick Explains Move.
Asked Why the program was being
delayed by still another survey,
Maury Maverick, director of the
governmental branch of the WPB
Construction Bureau, said WPB
always made its own surveys to de-
termine the necessity for all appli-
cations involving critical building
materials.
Mr.. Maverick, who will pass on the
program before building priorities
are granted, would not commit him.
self on whether all or most of the
improvements are likely to. be al
lowed. He said he would not know
until report Of the survey was
made, which he expected some time
next week.
"WPB makes its own survey in
every instance to determine whether
the need is sufficient" he says.
Suppose a copper company says it
needs new facilities. 1t may submit
the results of survey by experts.
But we don't take their word. We
make our own survey"
1--WE are taking two weeks for our
survey" Mr.. Maverick said, where
they required the better part of a
year.
Attitude Called Friendly.
eft should be emphasized that we
are approaching the problem in a
sympathetic, friendly spirit. But
we must be satisfied that the hospi-
tails need and will actually use the
facilities they ask. Reports have
indicated that some wards now are
vacant, owing to lack of personnel or
for other reasons. We don't want to
build any vacant hospitals"
Hospital authoritis have pointed
out that in several instances where
wards had been closed temporarily
that did not mean the facilities
were not needed, but had been due
to more pressing needs, especially
in the maternity wards, which were
badly overcrowded and inadequate
for the present population.
Asked who was making the WPB
survey, Mr.. Maverick said medical
and hospital experts" He did not
identify them further, nor would
he say whether the Public Health
Administration, which was in on the
last survey, was concerned in this
one.
Mr.. Maverick added: Let's just
wait few days and see. 1t may be
that every one will be satisfied with
what we do"
1912 Beds Provided.
The Metropolitan Area program
as approved by FWA, calls for 1,o72
additional beds The only project
which WPB has authorized is at
Gallinger Hospital, which was grant,
ed priorities some time ago. Mr..
Maverick pointed out that Gallinger
submitted its request long before the
others.
Chairman McCarran of the Senate
District Committee has denounced
the WPB delay as superb asininity.'
He plans to call within a short time
meeting of hospital executives and
the District Commissioners to discuss
the situation.
The FWA authorization includes
these additional hospital beds: Ar
lington County, 100; Prince Georges
County, 100: Bethesda, 100; Alex
andria, 100; Georgetown Hospital,
ISL; Sibley, So; Emergency, 70; Gar
field, A; Columbia, "a, and Sandy
Spring, g. Gallinger Hospital is
allowed 285 beds, but priorities have
not been granted for proposed l.
story addition at Gallinger, or for the
planned $4,000 venereal disease
hospital to be situated near the mu-
nicipal hospital group.