Evening star., 1946-05-29
Appropriations
Continued From First Page.

included s4l6.656 900 for expenses of
that agency other than the hospital
building program. The largest item
in this expense was 1855 100000 for
national service life insurance. The
rest will go for general expenses
of maintaining the agency including
printing and mailing costs.
In justifying the heavy new ap-
preparation for the hospital expan-
sion program. the committee told
the House: To keep abreast of the
advances in medical science, it has
been necessary to develop new cri-
terra for hospitals. Because of the
rapid expansion of the construction
program and the Importance of ex-
pedlting its completion, it has be-
come necessary to employ the Army
Corps of Engineers and private firms
OF architects for a considerable por-
ton of the work"
For that reason, the committee ex-
planned, the existing ceiling of
per cent for administration of ap-
preparations has been increased to
81 per cent except when other Fed
eral agencies may be utilized. The
3 per cent limitation no longer is
adequate. it was emphasized.
Will Provide 3S,70s Beds.
The rs hospitals will provide 3S.-
709 beds. The Veterans Admins
tration had told the committee that
since the original estimates were
submitted the construction costs
had been greatly increased.
The new District hospital is to be
built on site not yet announced
but not on the location of the pres
ent veterans institution, Mount
Alto. Plans call for Mount Alto to
be retained as diagnostic center
and for the new hospital to be sit
uated elsewhere. probably in the
vicinity of Bethesda, Md.
Gen. Omar N. Bradley. veterans
administrator. told an appropria
tlons subcommittee. it was disclosed
, today, that on April 80 there were
more than $4,000 veterans awaiting
hospital beds. Asked what was be-
ing done with these patients. he re-
, piled:
They are on a list, and they
come in as beds become available
Somebody else may come in ane
take their place on the waiting list.
Those with emergency service
connected dlsa abilities. Gen. BRADLEY
said. are receiving care in outside
hospitals.
Soldiers Home Funds Deleted.
The Appropriations Committee
withheld approval of S325.0OO fol
improvements at the United States
Soldiers Home here.
Congress had been asked fol
$4,000 to remove fire hazards anc
S275,00 to carry out advanced plan
ming for $4,000 construction pro-
gram.
Regarding the two appropria tions
the committee reported that it "is
not impressed with the immediate
necessity of either" The report
added that the so-called fire hazard.
have existed time out of mind"
Maj. Gen. H. K. Loughry, COVER
nor of the Soldiers Home, told the
subcommittee the projects for which
s275 900 was asked for preliminary
architectural and engineering work
included additional quarters for
l ,260 inmates. A new hospital with
more than double the capacity of
the present infirmary is part of the
building program. New utilities and
Improvement of existing facilities
also were included in the plans.
Gen. Loughry said the home
would have a capacity of 1885 vet
erans when the new buildings were
completed and hospital capacity
of 500 beds.
Enrolment in the institution, he
reported. increased from 1893 on
July l. 1914, to 1869 on May /
lo46.