Evening star., 1946-05-06
Backs
Health Center,
Awaits Report
| FWA Will Submit
Proposed Tydines Bill
Changes Soon
By Harold B. Rooers

Chairman McGehee of the Judi
ciary Subcommittee of the House
District Committee said today he
hopes to receive soon from the
Federal Works Agency a report on
proposed amendments to the Tyd-
lngs bill for a new hospital center,
SO that action on the measure can
be speeded.
Recently returned from his home
State of Mississippi, Mr.. McGehee
said he had learned that the metro
politan health and hospital survey
submitted during his absence had
stirred much support for the Tyd-
ings bill
Amendments suggested for the
Senate-approved measure would not
alter the fundamental principle Of
the bill, he said. But they are ex-
pected to meet several suggestions
made before the Judiciary Subcom-
mittee when this committee made a
careful study of the Tydings bill
some time ago.
The Federal Works Agency report
Is being put into shape by Alan
Johnstone, general counsel of the
agency. 1t will be ready soon, ac-
cording to indications at FWA.
McGehee to Back Measure.
Declaring his intention to support
the bill and help get it through the
House, Mr.. McGehee emphasized
the need for the capitalization pro-
yjdeS fo, Wo ochipotop
This is our Capital, the Capital
Of the greatest country in the
world" he emphasized. THE hos
pitals are needed for the entire pub
lie here, and this public includes
thousands of employees of the Fed
eral Government, who should be
better served with hospital facilities
than they are at present"
The three hospitals participating
in the proposed new 1,500-bed hos
pital center, he explained, have
pledged their entire physical re-
sources toward the cost of the new
institution.
How the proposed amendments to
the Tydings bill will revise the pend
ing measure on finances has not
been finally worked out But out
OF negotiations grew one arrange
ment, which may be advanced as
one of the amendments. This would
offer the Garfield tract as a possible
site for the center, Emergency Hos
pltal as Government Office build
jng, with the understanding that
Episcopal Hospital would be put on
the market for sale, the proceeds to
go to the United States as part pay
ment toward the new center. No
specific site for the new center has
been officially chosen, however.
Another Suggestion Made.
An even later suggestion was that
the physical plants of all three in
stitutions be turned over to the
United States as their contribution
to the cost of the center. Some
estimates have placed this contri-
button as about one-third of the
cost. This would be about the same
participation as now provided by
the Tydings BILL providing for long
time financing over a period of so
years by the participating insti-
; tutions
! Chairman Mcmillan of the House
District Committee already has
pledged his support of the Tydings
bill, as it passed the Senate, or with
proposed amendments which have
been under negotiation. The Tyd-
ings bill now is officially before the
McGehee subcommittee.
The metropolitan health and hos
pital survey, disclosed last week.
sharply criticized hospital condi-
r tions generally here as "a disgrace
to the Nation" and called for ap-
proval of some such legislation as
the Tydings bill to improve the sit
uation.