Evening star., 1944-09-03
Use Of D. {. Taxes
For Hospital Opposed
|by Commissioners
BY DON S. WARREN.

BY DON S. WARREN.
All of Washington's older pri-
vate hospitals are so obsolete it
is difficult for them to comply
with sanitation and fire protec-
tion regulations, the Commits
sioners held yesterday, asserting
there is definite need" for in
creasing the number Of available
beds.
However, in a letter to Chairman
D'Alesandro of the health subcom-
mittee of the House District Com
mittee, commenting on the proposed
postwar project for 1,500-bed hos
pital center, the Commissioners
took the stand any such center or
private hospital should not be
financed out Of District tax revenue.
Accompanying their statement,
released last night by Mr. Dale
sandro, was a preliminary hospital
survey report by Health Officer
George c. Rutland. who agreed the
city's private hospital problem was
acute" DR.. Rutland estimated
there is shortage of 1893 general
hospital beds ID the Metropolitan
Area.
Rutland Warns OF Cost.
DR.. Rutland warned, on the other
hand, that building hospitals is IAN
expensive undertaking" and involves
many complicated problems. He
concluded with a recommendation
committee be named to make an
intensive study. This was in line
with recent report by DR.. Thomas
Parran, surgeon general of the
United States Public Health Service.
Senator Tydings, Democrat, OF
Maryland: Chairman Bilbo of the
Senate District Committee, and Mr.
D'AleSandro are co-authors of bills
authorizing a Federal grant for the
construction of hospital center to
replace at least some OF Washing
tons obsolete voluntary hospital
buildings. The center then would
be opearted on nonprofit. self
sustaining basis
Senator Tydings has contended
the necessity Of assuring adequate
and modern hospital facilities for
the army of Government workers
here justifles the proposed Federal
grant.
ID. E. Contribution Debated.
Though the pending bills call for
no contribution by the District Gov
ernment, some members of Congress
have suggested that District con-
tributions might be appropriate.
Earlier, Mr. DAleSandro had pro-
posed development of a new medi-
cal center to be built. owned and
operated by the municipal govern
ment.
Replying TO queries from Mr.
DAlesandro, Commissioner Guy
Mason wrote:
The view of the District Commits
sioners is that there is definite need
for, first, increasing the number Of
beds in private hospitals: and, Sec
ond, to rehabilitate or rebuild all of
the private hospitals in the District,
with the exception of Doctors Hos-
pital, as their physical conditions
are so obsolete that it Is difficult
for them to comply with local laws
and regulations with respect to
sanitation and fire protection, and
because in their present condition
too much patient charge must go to
repairs and upkeep.
The Commissioners are opposed
to any suggestion that any hos
pital center or private hospital be
financed out of District tax reve-
nueS'
Suggests Broad Study.
Suggesting that the study should
not be confined to general hospital
beds, DR.. Rutland pointed to the
lack in nearby Maryland and Vir-
glnia Of capitalization for COM
diseases, mental and
acute tuberculosis cases. He oues-
toned whether new facilities should
be concentrated in one center or be
made 'regionally available"
The health officer also said he
could see no reason why one or
more of the medical schools might
not be included in the proposed
hospital project, holding that this
would give emphasis to medical re-
search work.
His compilation of available data.
DR., Rutland said, showed the ratio
of general hospital beds in the Dis
trict per 1000 of population had de-
clined from 457 in 1910 to 4.25 as
of last November. Though 374 gen.
eral beds were added in that period,
to bring the total to 3,477, he found,