Evening star., 1944-08-13
Drayton First
Senate Witness
On Health Unit
Hearings to Open
Tomorrow on Plan
For Hospital Center

Charles d. Drayton, chairman of
the Hospital Presidents Association,
will be the first witness before the
Tydings subcommittee of the Senate
District Committee when hearings
open at 1890 am. tomorrow on the
proposal for new hospital center
for the Capital.
Mr.. Drayton, an attorney, who
also Is president Of the board of
directors Of Children's Hospital, will
open testimony in favor of the big
project, 1t was announced by SEN
ator Iydings, Democrat, of Mary
land, one Of the principal sponsors
OF the bill to establish the new
washington Hospital Corporation. ="
Chairman Tydings said he had
invited other members of the Senate
District Committee and House Dis
trict Committee to sit in with his
recently appointed new subcom-
mittee. The hearing will be in the
Senate District Committee room in
the Capitol.
Bilbo Backs Tydings Bill.
The Tydings bill is to be sponsored
also BY Chairman Bilbo of the SEN
ate District Committee, and a COM
pan1on bill will be introduced in the
House, probably tomorrow, by Chair
man Randolph of the House District
Committee, and Representative
D'Alesandro, Democrat of MARYLAND
Mr.. D'Alesandro already has opened
hearings before his subcommittee on
the general subject of hospitaliza-
ton for Washington, especially a
proposed municipal hospital center.
There is considerable speculation
as to the next institutions to follow
the lead of Emergency and Garfield
which have become participants" :"
and Childrens Hospital, which is to
be an "af1iliate," in the new center.
Many members of Congress al
ready have expressed keen interest
in the proposal and its need.
The District Medical Society,
which was among many interested
agencies to be provided with copies
OF the new bill. began an immedi-
ate study of the measure. Repre-
sentatlves OF the society plan to
attend the hearings, and some may
testify, either tomorrow or later.
New Facilities Long Needed.
The need for replacement of
hospital facilities in the District of
Columbia is no news to the medical
profession" said Theodore Wiprud.
society secretary. In fact. 1t has
long feel that this was an urgent
matter. The Medical Society so
stated when previous hospital
building program was under con-
sideration. The society will give
immediate consideration to the pro-
posal now before the Congress.
For this purpose joint session of
the executive board of the society,
headed by DR.. Henry r. Schneider
and the Committee on Public Pol
icy, headed by DR.. Henry C. Maca-
tee. will meet Tuesday noon at the
society headquarters.
Among interested members of the
medical profession planning to at
tend the hearing will be DR.. Herbert
P. Ramsey, chairman of the health
division Of the Washington Council
Of Social Agencies.
Much speculation as to a site for
the new hospital center of about 20
acres went the rounds yesterday,
but officials who knew about the II
sites suggested for study by the
staff of the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission would
identify none OF them.
Many Rumors About Site.
There were many rumors, chief
OF which appeared to center on the
Garfield Hospital hill tract itself.
Another location mentioned a por-
ton Of Fort Dupont, in Southeast
Washington. However, it was
learned this was not one of the l2
tracts suggested for study by the
Planning Commission staff. One
expert remarked that while Fort
Dupont has great area, and high
elevation, much of it's terrain is ir-
regular and that the few level
areas are regarded as needed for
community recreation.
Members Of the Tydings subcom-
mittee include Senator Bilbo, who
is i'll in Rochester, Mimi: Senator
Reynolds, Democrat, of North Caro-
lima, and Republican Senators Cap
per of Kansas and Burton of Ohio.
A. n