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

Responsibility for the shortage oi
facilities at Gallinger Hospital rests
on everyone" in any way con-
nected with the institution, the Sem
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 formal report to Chair
man McCarran of the District Com
mittee, Senator Holman declared IA
cllities 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-
ties. or from the obsolete or made
quate equipment
Confused Authority.
The responsibility for shortage
of facilities the report said, rests
on about every one in executive,
legislative and administrative au-
thorlty of government, who is con-
nected in any way with Gallnger
Hospital, as well 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-
atlOnS of the hospital'
Senator Holman. who previously
announced he planned to sponsor
q resolution providing for creation
of charter commission" through
which disfranchiSed residents of the
District could decide, by popular
vote, whether they want a chance
IN the present commission form of
government, declared in the report
he Gid not believe there would be
any real and lasting reform" in
the conduct Of GalliYger until the
government is revamped, and be
comes responsive to the needs of
the people of the District by being
responsible to them as well as to
the Federal Government"
Two Recommendations.
Senator Holman made two spe-
cltic recommendations:
Am exchange or transfer OF
major Galljneer 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-
mittee to endure" said the report,
Il shall present my own observa-
tionS, conclusions and recommended
tons.
Careless Indifference.
although some housekeeping op-
eratlOnS had been begun recently at
Gallinger Hospital prior to the first
appearance of the Senate committee
at the hospital, they had not yet
been completed at the time the COM
mittee 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 insanitary. 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
cilities 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
TENTS"
The two other members Of the in
vestigating subcommittee-Senators
Bushfield of South Dakota and Buck
Of Delaware, both RepublicanS-are
preparing separate reports contaih-
ing their findings and recommended
tionS. Chairman Holman said it is
his hope" that the three members
will turn out a composite" report.