Evening star., 1943-09-23
GuIIinqer
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would in any way be connected with
the Federal or District Govern.
ments.
Not Responsible to People.
Certainly the municipal Gov.
ernment, as it is now set up, is mo-
responsible to the people who art
being taxed without representation
would like to know how responsive
the Government is to the need.
OF the people," he said.
The subcommittee, at its hurriedly
called conference, Chairman Holman
announced, made cursory exam
ination of voluminous file of
Health Department records relating
to Gallinger turned over to it late
yesterday by DR.. Rutland.
Senator Holman also disclosed
that Senator Bushf1eld plans to
confer this afternoon with Edward
M. Curran, United States attorney
for the District, regarding charges
Of irregularities in the administra-
tion of the hospital contained in a
report by the Controller Generals
ONCE, which was sent to the Com
missioners in July.
Reply to Many Questions.
District officials meanwhile replied
to many of the questions about
Gallinger directed at them by the
Senate subcommittee and outlined
the steps they have taken for i'm
provement of facilities and the
obstacles" they have encountered
since 1871. - Z
War priorities labor shortages, in
ability to provide expansion of the
hospitals kitchen facilities, food ra-
tioning and inability to employ
enough persons were listed among
difficulties in the hospitals opera
tion.
Commissioner Mason, who has su-
pervision over health and hospitals,
declared in a letter to Senator
Holman:
my observations concerning the
hospital are, that in the light of
all the obstacles encountered, at
least since Pearl Harbor, the hos
pital has rendered excellent service. /"
Brief Answer to McCarran.
Only brief reply was made di-
rectly to the letter from Chairman
McCarran of the Senate District
Committee, who had asked the
Commissioners for answers within
So hours" to his request for details
concerning any inspections or in
vestigations made at the instance
OF the Commissioners since January
], 1912.
Commissioner Mason wrote Sena-
tor McCarran, asking that he spec
ify just what information he
sought, but he attached to this his
lengthy reply to the list of specific
questions he received from Senator
Holman.
Meanwhile, new demands for in
formation came to the Commission
ers this morning from Senator
Bushfleld. He asked why there had
been no investigation by the Com
missioners since July IL; why no
report had been submitted by the
Commissioners to Congress outlin-
ing conditions as recited in the
July IS report of Controller Gen.
eral Lindsay Warren, and why
have not charges been preferred
against the individuals mentioned
In this report. in order that they be
cleared or condemned as the facts
may warrant?" and why complete
audit had not been made of the
hospital and submitted to Congress
Awaiting U. S. Attorneys Report.
Replying to Senator Bushfield
Commissioner Mason recited tha'
since serious charges had been con.
tanned in the affidavits and othel
data listed in the controller general.
report, this had been referred to tn,
United States attorney He addee
that when a report was received
from the Federal prosecutor a COD,
would be sent to investigating Sen.
ators. Until this report is received
he added, the Commissioners are il
no position to make either observa.
tions or recommendations"
Senator Bushfield also was advised
that the District government main
tains a current" audit of all Dis
trict institutions and that the Gen.
eral Accounting once conducts al
overall audit of the entire municipa
government at certain intervals. Mr.
Mason added there is no law re
quiring the Commissioners to fur
nish Congress with reports concern
ing the audits of District depart
ments.
The long reply made by Commits
sioner Mason to Chairman Holma,
said In part:
In the matter of complaints from
patients or relatives or friends O
patients. always referred sam
to the health officer, whom tn
Commissioners hold responsible TO
the proper operations Of the hos
pltals. Answers were prepared an,
corrections made by the health ON
eer or some one Of his subordinates.
Gallinxer improvements Cited.
The Mason statement recited ais
that considerable Improvement
have been made at Gallingcr in re
cent times, including some $704 90
Of construction In the past yeal
However, many plans have been re
viseC downward because OF war con
Gtionss which caused an upset q