Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-05-11

Senate Reiterates
Approval Of Bill
For Hospital Center
BY roll-call vote of a to 26. the
Senate yesterday reiterated It's earlier
approval of the Tydings-Bilbo bill
to authorize Federal aid in the con-
struction of modern 1,50O-bed hos
pital center in the National Capital
and sent the measure to the House
for action.
In an hour of sharp debate, the
voteless plight of District residents
was stressed by Senator Tydings,
Democrat, of Maryland.
The measure calls on the Federal
Works Agency to advance funds for
the project, one-third of which
would be repaid by participating
non-profit hospitals over a period
of so years at 2 per cent interest on
unpaid balances.
Ellenger Motion Debated.
Heated debate over the bill de-
veloped on a motion by Senator Ell
lender, Democrat, of Louisiana, who
said he favored Federal aid for city
hospitals, but objected to prefer
entail treatment" for Washington.
The Ellender motion for recon-
sideration of earlier Senate approval
of the bill, which had held up the
bill in the Senate, was defeated by
the 44-to-26 count, but only after
Senator Taft, Republican, of Ohio
and Senator Ellender had outlined
their opposition.
In the contest, Senator Tydings,
Democrat, of Maryland and Chair
man Bilbo of the Senate District
Committee, sponsors of the bill,
were supported by Senator Overton,
Democrat, of Louisiana, who in re-
cent years waged major battle for
a high Federal payment toward the
National Capital.
Ellender Motion Debated.
Senator Taft said that the Fed
eral Government should be more
generous toward the District peo-
pie, that the Federal payment
should be greater than $4,000, 900.
He asked for further explanations
however, as to why a special bill
should be passed for Federal aid in
a hospital center here, prior to con-
gressional action on a bill granting
Federal aid generally to all sections
of the country.
Senator Tydings then recalled
that long and careful study of hos
pital conditions here had revealed
they were among the worst in the
country" The nonprofit private
hospitals, he added, had been finan-
cially unable to rebuild or replace,
without assistance, their "unsuit-
able, ramshackle, out-of date and
dilapidated structures"
Senator Ellender commended that
the fact that District residents pay
more Federal income taxes than
residents of each of 81 States is
proof that the District must be
able to finance its own hospital
center.
New Orleans Case Cited.
Senator Bilbo said the Federal
Government had made heavy con-
tribution toward provision of char
ity hospital erected in New Orleans.
Senator Ellender agreed that was
true, reporting that New Orleans
had received some 100000 out of
Public Works Administration funds,
but that his State had met 60 per
cent of the projects costs.
1.-The District could have done the
same thing under the PWA," he de-
clared, "but it didn't do it."
Chairman Bilbo replied: "Your
constituents already have gotten
more money from the Federal Gov
eminent for their hospital than we
expect the Federal Government to
put into this project for the Ma
tional Capital"
Senator Tydings reminded Sena-
tor Ellender that his State and all
of the other States each have two
Senators and numbers of Represent
atives in Congress, fbut there is no
one here on this floor to represent
the District people" He added:
When you are comparing what
people of the District receive or may
receive, it would be in order to COM
pare some other things Here we
have very large population that is
absolutely voiceless and voteless.
ut is very convenient to follow a
philosophy as long as it supports a
view and then to throw it over when
it doesn't.
Speaks for "Voiceless."
ut is my very happy privilege to
stand here today to speak for these
voiceless and voteless people of the
National Capital and to fight for
what I regard is a fair deal for
them"
The Maryland Senator said the
very fact that the people of 81 States
pay less Federal income taxes than
the people of the District is IAN
added reason" for the bill to au-
thorize a Federal contribution to-
ward the hospital center.
Bringing up the question of the
100000 lump sum Federal pay
ment toward the expenses of the
National Capital, Senator Tydings
emphasized that 81 per cent of the
property of the District contributes
nothing toward District revenues
because it Is Federally owned and
tax-exempt.