Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1944-08-11
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1900 Bed Structure
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Medical Facilities
BY DON S. WARREN.

A great hospital center for
Washington, privately operated
but built with Government
funds, is provided for in a bill
introduced in the Senate today
by Senator Tydings, Democrat,
Of Maryland.
The bill, introduced jointly with
Chairman Bilbo of the Senate Dis
trict Committee, climaxes months
of planning and provides for in
corporation of hospital group COM
posed largely of representatives of
existing private hospitals and civic
leaders to manage the center.
AS contemplated by Senator
Tydings and his eonsultants, the
hospital center would provide up to
l 500 beds. The center would afford
complete facilities for diagnosis and
treatment in all the specialties.
Companion bills will be offered
in the House early next week by
Representatives Randolph, Demo-
crat, of West Virginia and D'Alesan-
dro, Democrat, of Maryland, chair
men of the House District Com
mittee and its health subcommittee,
respectively.
Amount Not Yet Determined.
The amount of the Federal grant
to be included in the bill was left
for future determination, as were
other details, but Senator Tydings
disclosed the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission has sug-
gested list of II sites in the District,
where necessary acreage is available,
for further study. He said the ideal
site would require about 20 acres,
and should be near transportation
facilities.
The trustees of Emergency and
Garfield Hospitals, two OF Washing
tons largest hospitals, already have
agreed to the proposed program.
Others may join in the movement
before final arrangements are con-
Guided, it was indicated.
The plan is the result of more
than six months of discussion and
negotiation between Senator Tyd-
ings and officials of the private hos
pital field and civic leaders, and the
plan was conceived as the most
feasible means of providing WASH
ington with private hospital facili-
ties
Sees Health Security Needs.
Senator Tydings remarked today
that experience of recent years had
demonstrated that private hospitals.
acting alone, have been unable to
find means to meet the situation.
He emphasized that the plan would
not put the Government in the
private hospital field, because
majority of the trustees of the
corporations to be created to oper-
ate the center would represent pri-
vate interests.
The Senator commended that Gov
eminent grants to buy the site and
build the centers structures was
justified by the necessity of pro-
viding health security for the Gov.
eminent workers in Washington.
Speedy action is planned on the
plOpOocu JILL. SlldAl uldil Oilbo Va
the Senate District Committee all
ready has appointed subcommittee
to consider it. The chairman Is
Senator Tydings and other members
are Senators Bilbo and Reynolds,
Democrat, of North Carolina and
Republican Senators Capper OF
Kansas and Burton of Ohio.
Maintenance From Income.
The Federal Government would
provide the funds to build the GEN.
ter. which, however, would be main
tanned and operated thereafter
from hospital revenues, income
from endowments and contributions
by individuals and civic organlza-
tons without further charge OF,
the Federal Government for operat-
ing funds" Senator Tydings said.
He added that the identity of the
participating private hospitals would
continue even after they Joined the
center. They would maintain their
corporate identities. so as to safe
guard their resources, tradition and
good will.
The bill creates The Washington
Hospital Corp" to manage the CEN
ter. It would be controlled by
board of trustees of seven members,
unless increased later One would
be appointed by the surgeon general
of the United States Public Health
Service and one by the board OF
District Commissioners, but the re-
mainder would represent private or
civic interests. One would be named
by the Washington Community
Chest, two by the directors of Gar
field Memorial Hospital and two by
the directors of Emergency Hospital.
Cites Need for Plan.
Senator Tydings said the two APP
pointments by the Health Service
and the District government out of
the seven seemed logical and proper.
since it was proposed that the cost
of the site and. the center's struc-
lures be covered by a Government
grant.
In formal discussion of the need
for the plan, Senator Tydings said.
the existing voluntary hospitals Of
Washington are. in many respects,
obsolete; the buildings are anti
quated, nonfireproof and badly
planned. One-half of the present
patients are in buildings with very
serious fire hazards.
mo considerable additions have
(See HOSPITALS, Page A-l0)
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