Evening star., 1945-05-25
Medical Center
Plan 0pposedby
FWA Engineer
Henry Sullivan Says
Present Facilities
Should Be Replaced

tSSSut IOSIItt1SS
Should Be Replaced
Henry j. Sullivan, a division en-.
gineer of the Federal Works Agency.
testified yesterday before a House
subcommittee that Washington
should meet its needs for hospital
facilities by replacing existing OBJ
solete institutions rather than by the
creation Of a new medical center, as
has been proposed.
Representatives of two private.
nonproflt hospitals, however, ap-
peared to support the medical center
proposal, which is embodied in the
bill sponsored by Senators Tydings
Of Maryland and Bilbo of Mississippi,
both Democrats. The measure would
authorize Federal aid in the erec-
ton of 1,500-bed hospital center,
in which several nonprofit hospitals
would participate 1t already has
been approved by the Senate.
Another Hearing Planned.
The testimony was before the
Fiscal Affairs Subcommittee of the
House District Committee. Repre-
sentative Murphy, Democrat, OF
Pennsylvania, chairman of the sub
committee, said another hearing
would be held within week at which
every one who desired would be
heard.
Mr.. Sullivan told the committee a
survey had shown there are now 4
hospital beds per 900 population in
the District and suburban areas. He
said when the new hospitals for
Georgetown and George washington
Universities are completed next year
there would be beds per 1000 per-
sons, a ratio which authorities gem
orally agree should be the standard.
His figures were at variance with
those given earlier in the day by
Health Officer George c. Ruhland,
who contended the ratio would be
81 on completion of the two new
hospitals. Mr.. Sullivan said the dis
crepancies appeared to result from
a different determination of what
hospital beds now are available.
LOST Set al lS Million.
Mr.. Sullivan said he had consulted
with the Public Health Service on
the question of the distribution Of
facilities and his belief was that
hospitals should be in the COM
munities they serve. Wherever the
proposed medical center might be
placed today, he said, "in 10 or Is
years you might wish you hadn't"
w. E. Reynolds, commissioner Of
public buildings, estimated the over
lall costs of the proposed medical
center at s18,000,000 He estimated
the cost of building and equipping
a hospital center providing $500
beds at sl3.500,000, to which he
added 50 500 900 for nurses quarters.
He said the land required would be
a minimum of % acres, the cost Of
which would run from $500 900 away
from the downtown area, to S3,000,-
600 or $3,500,000 if in the downtown
area.
George A. Garrett, president Of
the board Of directors of Emergency
Hospital, and Henry P. Blair, vice
president of the Episcopal Eye, Ear
and Throat Hospital, appeared for
their institutions in support of the
bill.
80 Turned Away Daily.
Mr.. Garrett said Emergency, with
$40 beds, had been forced to turn
away as many as 80 requests for
beds a day. Almost so per cent
OF the patients are Government
employees and their families, he
said. He added that so per cent are
members Of group disqualification,
and the service of such organiza-
tions ultimately is based on the
hospitals being able to supply the
needed facilities.
Mr.. Blair said Episcopal Hospital
is operating with about 81 beds. and
would want an institution of $50
beds in the proposed center.
Mr.. Garrett and Mr.. Blair spoke
of the private hospitals financial
problems. Mr.. Garrett said WASH
ington's prosperity is overrated.
Great wealth does not exist and
that's where you go for endow-
menus, ne SalQ.
Really Desperate"
Mrs. Warren Barbour called the
hospital problem really desperate"
I'D suggest" she said, that every
hospital in Washington be torn
down and that we start over"
She said hospitals here are COM
pletely antiquated, and the crowd
ing is dangerous both to the pa
tients and the District, although
the hospitals are doing everything
they can. She said she and Mrs,
Millard Tydings, whose reports in
spired the legislative action in the
Senate, are two of $500 nurses
aides in Washington, working in
utility rooms and scrubbing walls
and floors.
Representative Bates, Republican,
OF Massachusetts, declared this aid
to private institutions would be a
"brand-new policy and a very diff
cult thing to sell to Congress. In
the minds of many people, he said,
Uncle Sam represents pretty sub
stantial grab bag, but we're pretty
well down to the bottom
The Rev. Philip Goertz, 1720 Min
nesota avenue Sc, pastor of the
Memorial Presbyterian Church, tes-
titled as a representative of the An
acostia Citizens Association. He
said the need is drastic" for hos
pital facilities in Anacostia.
ErhoI Now Ed;sor