Evening star., 1944-08-27

Says Modernizution
Program Would
Cost $4,000, 900
BY DON s. WARREN.
Any attempt to modernize, expand
or rebuild all of Washington's old
private hospitals would entail q cost
OF probably $4,000, 900, Senator
Iydings, Democrat, of Maryland
said. yesterday. He expressed doubt
that Congress would appropriate
that sum.
One Of the chief sponsors of the
bill providing Federal aid to build a
CO : operative hospital center, he
voiced the conviction that Congress
would approve the plan for the
center which then would be put
definitely on a self-sustaining as
we'll as a nonproflt basis.
The pending plan calls for con-
struction OF q 1.5O0-bed hospital
center which any Of Washington's
private hospitals could join as par
ticipating or associate members.
1t has been estimated by officials at
the Federal Works Agency that a
center Of this size probably could
be built for between $4,000, 900 and
S,5O0.000, exclusive of land costs.
Hospitals Would Pool Funds.
The Maryland Senator yesterday
emphasized that under the plan the
participating hospitals would pool
their resources to carry the full load
OF the maintenance costs. He
stressed that Congress would not be
expected to contribute anything to-
wards the annual expenses.
Senator Tydings said the bill wa
q result Of many months OF study
and negotiations and that 1t was
considered by It's sponsor as the
only practicable way in which
Washington's needs for improved
hospital facilities could be met.
mo alternate plan showing how
the medical center could be oper-
ated without additional government
tai appropriations to maintain it has
been offered" he said. So far, the
only practical suggestion, and the
only one having a reasonable chance
OF passage, is embraced in the phi
losophy of the bill now before Con-
gress"
To. Utilize Property Assets.
He said he had been asked il it
would be possible to have the Gov
ernment build an entirely new hos
pital plant without utilizing the en-
dowments and property assets of the
existing private Washington hospi-
tails. He said the answer to this was
No"
Generally, the members Of Con-
gress are sympathetic to providing
the funds for building the medical
center" he said. However, once it
is built, Congress is reluctant to
make annual appropriations for its
maintenance. This must be done by
the present private hospital author
ities. from fees from patients, chari-
table contributions and from in
come from their properties and en-
downents."
He pointed out that the plan
would not be putting the Govern
ment In the hospital business. The
bill Is authored by himself, Chair
man BIbo of the Senate District
c o mmittee, and Representative
D D'Alessandro. Democrat of Mary
land, who is chairman Of the health
subcommittee Of the House District
Committee.
Operation to be Independent.
The plan simply provides the
hospital center and then requires
that those who maintain 1t shall
find the revenues elsewhere than
from the Government, and its oper-
alton thereafter will be divorced
from Federal control" Senator Tyd-
ings said.
Expressing the belief that crea-
ton of the center would benefit
all hospitals in Washington, he said
it not only would lessen the load
and remove portion of the ex-
pense from those hospitals not di.
rectly affiliated with the center but
would also afford other benefits to
all institutions. For instance he
said the center would have facili-
ties for the teaching and training
of physicians, dentists, nurses and
other hospital employees.
While the bill does not 20 into
definite terms as to these details of
operation, Senator Tydings said it is
proposed that the center would be
utilized as a training center for the
furtherance of increased medical
knowledge.
Commenting on the fact that to
date only Garfield and Emergency
Hospitals have decided to join the
center as full participating mem
bers, Senator Tydings said these
two institutions have property as
sets and endowments now of "con-
siderable value" From these, an
nual revenues can be derived which,
in addition to fees from patients,
promise to provide SUFFICIENT money
to operate the hospital after it IS
built.
He emphasizes, however, that 9TH
er private hospitals can join in the
plan and that they would be given
equal representation on the hospital
board. He added that what the
additional hospitals could contrib
ute toward annual maintenance
costs would necessarily have to be
taken into consideration.
Disabled Ex-Ser