Evening star., 1943-10-08
Holman Report
On Gd||inger
Hits Everyone
Divided Authority,
Lack Of Discipline
Found by Senator
BY JAMES E. CHINN.

Responsibility for the shortage of
facilities at Gallinger Hospital rests
on everyone" in any way con-
nected with the institution, the Sen
ate District Committee was told to-
day by the man who led the recent
investigation at the hospital-Sena-
tor Holman, Republican, of Oregon.
In a formal report to Chair
man McCarran of the District Com
mittee, Senator Holman declared IA
cilities not only are inadequate,
but there is a noticeable absence
OF discipline" among both attend
ants and patients and IAN atmos-
phere of futility which cannot be
justified by the shortage of facili-
quate equipment.
Confused Authority.
THE responsibility for shortage
of facilities the report said, rests
on about every one in executive.
legislative and administrative au-
thority of government, who is con-
nected in any way with Gallinger
Hospital. as we'll as upon priority
rulings imposed on account of the
war. Yet, the specific and definite
responsibility for anything con-
nected with the hospital is difficult
to place due to the confused and
divided authority directing the oper-
ations of the hospital"
Senator Holman, who previously
announced he planned to sponsor
resolution providing for creation
OF a charter commission" through
which disfranchised residents of the
District could decide. by popular
vote, whether they want a change
IN the present commission form of
government, declared in the report
he did not believe there would be
any real and lasting reform" in
the conduct of Gallinger until the
government is revamped, and be
comes responsive to the needs of
the people of the District by being
responsible to them as we'll as to
the Federal Government"
Two Recommendations.
Senator Holman made two spe-
clfic recommendations:
Am exchange or transfer of
major" Gallinger officials with
other hospitals "of similar activities"
at least every five years.
2-Suspension during the war and
SIX months thereafter of civil service
rules governing appointment of
personnel, and giving to the super
lntendent of Gallinger authority to
regulate all employment problems
under his authority
Without reviewing in detail the
charges of mismanagement and the
countercharges, the many conflict
ing statements and contrary testi-
mony, which it was the unpleasant
task of the members of the subcom-
mlttee to endure" said the report
Il shall present my own observa-
tons, conclusions and recommended
tions.
Careless Indifference.
although some housekeeping op-
erations had been begun recently at
Ganinger Hospital prior to the first
appearance of the Senate committee
at the hospital, they had not vet
been completed at the time the COM
mlttee visited the institution.
1t was my observation that those
parts at Gallinger Hospital which
were inspected by me were untidy.
generally unclean and in some re-
spects lnsanitary. There appeared
to be spirit of careless indifference
to the condition of the facilities and
equipment of the hospital and mex
cusable unconcern about the welfare
OF the patients.
The food was carelessly prepared
and indifferently served and the
condition of the kitchen and its IA
cllltles left much to be desired. 1t
was obvious that too large a pro-
portion OF the food prepared for the
sustenance of the patients was con-
verted into garbage because it was
returned to the wards untasted, or
only partially consumed by the pa
tients."
The two other members of the in
vestigating subcommittee-Senators
Bushf1eld of South Dakota and Buck
of Delaware, both Republicans-are
preparing separate reports contain
ing their findings and recommended
tions. Chairman Holman said it is
his hope that the three members
will turn out composite report.