Evening star., 1944-05-09
Mason Outlines Plan
For Nurses Home at
Budget Hearing
$4,000 Appropriation
Urged for Repairs
To Present Building


Commissioner Guy Mason today
advised the House District Appro-
priations Subcommittee OF plans for
construction of 100-bed addition
to the nurses home at Gallinger
Hospital to care for a contemplated
expansion of its staff.
There is reason to believe, he said.
that financing for the project would
come from Lanham Act funds. Dis
cussion with Federal Works Agency
officials, he said, indicate there are
good possibilities" as to approval
of the additional wing, but not for
needed renovation of the present
nurses building. For the latter he
submitted proposal that $4,000
be appropriated to cover repairs
and painting.
DR., Daniel L. Seckinger, deputy
health officer and acting superin-
tendent of Gallinger, had advised
the Commissioners it would be nec-
essary for Gallinger to join in the
program to recruit and train cadet
nurses IN order to supply its own
needs in this period of shortage
when military demands for nurses
are SO great. This program, he said
created the need for a new 10O-bed
wing for the nurses home. Nurses
in the cadet training program are
being quartered in nurses homes in
various hospitals.
Villa Rosa Purchase Urged.
Purchase by the District of the
100000 Villa Rosa mansion on
Massachusetts, avenue NV so as
to preserve the Childrens MUSEUM
it houses was urged yesterday as the
subcommittee devoted a full day to
hearing wide variety of civic pro-
posals.
The museum delegation was headed
by Miss Matilda Young, its direc-
tor, and included Laurence Vail
Coleman, director Of the American
Association of Museums: DR.. John
Aldrich, ornithologist at the Smith
sonian Institution, and DIR. Donald
McHenry, president Of the Audubon
Society and a number of the teach
erS and youthful members of the
museum classes.
Plans Consultation.
Chairman Coffee said he would
consult with Chairman Randolph
of the House District Committee
since legislation would be needed if
the property were to be acquired
by the Distriot.
When Mr.. Coffee asked why the
museum should not be made a part
OF the school system, instead of
being privately operated, Mr.. Cole
man declared the museum plan is
different from the school program
In answer to question implyin3 the
museum was isolated" in one
section Of the District, he replied
that similar museums later might
be established in other areas.
Mrs. Slocum Kingsbury sought
approval OF an appropriation of
SOL ,779 for the employment of so
housepeeping aides by the District
next year to assist INDECENT persons
whose families might otherwise
need more expensive public care.
This project also was supported by
Mrs. Thomas Norton of the staff
of the Council of Social Agencies
Cites Kepec Report.
Mrs. Louis Gutenberg, speaking for
the League of Women Voters, pro-
tested that but few of the many
recommendations for expansion and
improvement of the District child
care program, as outlined in the
report by Jacob Kepec. Chicago
consultant, five years ago had been
adopted. Asserting that consider
able increases in the number of case
workers were needed. among other
changes. she suggested that one
reason the report was showed
UNDER was the many changes in
recent years in Commissioners, We'll
fare Board members and welfare
director post.
She said she favored changing
the Welfare Board into an advisory
agency because she felt the board
cannot very we'll represent the
citizens when it is responsible for
management of the welfare pro-
gram.
Mrs. Paul Appleby for the League
OF Women Voters urged that the
psychiatric clinic Of the Juvenile
Court be continued as a separate
unit.