Evening star., 1945-11-27
Hospital Center Bill
Set for Hearing by
House Group Dec. 6

The movement for a new hospital
center in Washington, to replace
outmoded, inadequate institutions,
gained momentum today with the
disclosure that support will be
thrown behind a Senate-approved
bill authorizing the center when 1t
comes before the House District
Committee for a hearing Decem-
Der 6.
Announcement of the hearing
came last night from a new cham
pion of the cause, Representative
Bloom, Democrat, Of New York,
chairman Of the House Foreign Re-
lations Committee, as he addressed
a civic meeting at the Hotel Statler.
Expressing strong support of the
measure, of which the author is
Senator Tydings, Democrat, of
Maryland, Mr.. Bloom said he had
taken the matter up with Chairman
Randolph of the District Commit
tee, who had set the hearing date.
Mr.. Randolph said he called the
hearing before the House District
Committee.
Higher Standards Stressed.
Need for the new center to bring
the city's facilities up to standards
recommended by hospital and medi-
cal authorities was stressed by sew
eral speakers, including Senator
Tydings, who said the National Cap
ital now was substandard In this
regard. The meeting was sponsored
by the Committee for the Hospital
Center. of which the chairman Is
Mrs. Reginald S. Huidekoper.
Three institutions already are
committed to the proposal-Emer-
gency, Garfield and Episcopal Eve,
Ear and Throat Hospitals, but 9TH
ers are offered opportunity to join,
it was explained.
Public opinion should be rallied
behind the bill, the gathering was
told bys Mr.. Bloom and Senator
Tydings, who led the fight in the
Senate for the proposal.
They urged those behind the
movement to make their wishes
known to members of the House.
particularly members of the Dis
trict Committee who will consider
the measure.
Large Attendance Urged.
Mr.. Bloom told the group that
you Of the City of Washington
have no one officially in Congress
to plead your cause. You have q
right to be heard. This is not lust
the District of Columbia. This is
the main street of the Nation. Your
population is growing. 1t is a shame
to put up with some of the things
you have to put up with" He urged
large attendance at the hearing
where he promised to appear.
George A. Garrett, president of
the Board OF Directors of Emergency
Hospital. presided. He pointed out
that there was great need for the
new center, because of the physical
condition of the plants of the nom
government institutions here, and
the lack Of 1000 beds, which the
city needs to bring it up to stand
ards recommended by authorities.
Citing that the principal in
dustry in Washington was the Gov
ernment, he said Government en-
ployes constituted big part of the
patient load. In one institution. he
said, the percentage runs as high
as 40 per cent.
Would Assist in Financing.
Congress owes Washington a hos
pital center, he claimed, especially
IN view of the fact the proposal
provides that the institutions them
selves, out of their endowments AND
property, would provide one-third
OF the cost of the new center. Aft
erwards it would be supported with
out appropriations by Government
he explained.
Senator Tydings explained that he
had to lay before that body an un-
favorable picture of the physical
status OF most Washington hos
pltals. He referred to "insanitary
conditions" in many and to made
quate facilities, but praised doctors
and nurses for keeping UP the sery-
Ice as well as they have.
Even after the new George Wash.
mgton University and Georgetown
University Hospitals are completed
ne said, the Capital still will be
about l,600 beds short. The Senate,
told of sick people being refused
admission to hospitals here because
no beds were available, and de.
clared the pending bill was the best
solution to the problem vet devel-
oped. He would not object tc
amendments, however, he said.
Pamphlet Cites Need.
William R. Castle, president oil
the board of Garfield Hospital, de.
scribed the physical condition Of
some hospitals as "lamentable, ;
under which handicap, he said, the
work Of doctors and nurses was
heroic and self-sacrificing." He in
troduced Mr.. Bloom.
Mr.. Garrett especially praised
Mrs. Huidekoper, Mrs. Millard E
Tydings, wife Of the Senator; Mrs
Carrere Barbour and DR.. William
A. Morgan for their work on behalf
OF the center. The invocation was
offered by the Rev. Edward Gabler
q member of the Board of Directors
OF Episcopal Hospital.
-
Geruld Smith Suit Dismissed