Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-05-17
Hospital Center
Hearing Slated
Within 7 Weeks

House Subcommittee
Calls for Munger
Report for Study
Backers of the Tydings bill toda,
were counting on early issuance O
the so-called Munger report urginl
new hospital construction here t,
bolster support of the Tydings bill
for a hospital center now pending
IN a House District subcommittee.
The report prepared by DR.. Claud,
w. Munger of New York for tn,
Council Of Social Agencies was re-
garded by members of the McGehe.
subcommittee at a hearing yester.
day to provide more factual basi.
for consideration of the bill. Only
a preliminary analysis of the Nun.
ger report so far has been disclosed
The full text is to come soon.
Chairman McGehee of the sub.
committee plans to call a meeting
some time in the week of May 2t
to consider the Tydings bill. He ex.
pressed belief that the committee
would sponsor measure favorine
Federal aid for a hospital center
but did not indicate what amend
ments might be made to the Senate
approved Tydings bill.
Other Bid Undecided.
What r5;,,oe;4;o,, ,,,;I1 \. ,,,l. -
pleas for Federal aid by six local
hospitals not included in the pro-
posed three-unit hospital center re-
mains to be decided by the commit
tee. Representative Bates, Republi-
can. of Massachusetts favored aid
to the hospital center, but opposed
extending aid to others scattered
all over the CITY,"
Meantime the Halliburton bill for
nationwide program of hospital
construction over a five-year period
was favorably reported to the House
Interstate Commerce Committee
yesterday by the public health sub
committee headed by Representative
Priest, Democrat, of Tennessee. 1t
already has passed the Senate
and provides SIS, 100000 a year for
Federal aid in hospital construction
The funds would be apportioned
under formula including popula-
ton and per capita income.
The measure, amended in several
relatively minor matters would pro-
vide Federal grants under its
formula ranging from 331s per cent
for the weather. States up to rs
per cent for the poorer States
The Federal Government percentage
for the District would be SO per cent
since this city ranks eighth in
per capita income.
s1,370.0O0 for d. c.
Under this plan the Federal
Government, if projects are ap-
proved, would provide $274,000 a
year to the District, or a total OF
$1,370,000 for the five years. Under
the matching money plan as ap-
piled to the District, this community
would carry an annual cost Of
SAT-, 900 or $2,235 900 over five years
The Federal and local payments
together would amount to a hos
pital program of $3,6O5 900 in five
years for the District.
After the Tydings bill hearing, Mr.
Bates explained that he was not op-
posed to Federal aid for a hospita.
center here. Something ought tt
be done by the Federal Govern.
ment," he said. "It should par.
ticipate to very substantial de.
gree. But the District of Columbis
should take part, too" he seriously
questioned whether the House woulc
approve appropriations for hospi.
tails Scattered all over the city"
Mr.. Bates told the committee dur.
ing the hearing: I'm not going Il
open up the Golfers of Uncle San
to every institution in the CITY,
He asked not only for the Nun.
ger report, but also for a repor
on hospital conditions here by tn.
Federal Works Agency. He alst
asked DR.. George c. Rutland, Dis.
trict health officer, who attended
the hearing, to get all the hospita
reports, ito analyze and dissect
them" and present to the commit.
tee his own conclusions.
Denies Opposition to Center.
DR.. Rutland, who had told tn,
committee he favored "decentrali.
zation of disqualification here, 81
facilities could be regionally avail.
able to the people," was asked by
The Star afterward if he was op.
posed to the hospital center pro.
posed = the Tydings bill. Tit
center, as explained to the commit.
tee yesterday by spokesman for tn,
three participating hospitals, woule
include Emergency, Garfield ane
Episcopal Hospitals.
DR.. Rutland replied that he hao
no objection to these three hospitals
getting together in q center, if il
could be accomplished. But, by
and large" he emphasized, ut is my
opinion that hospital service should
be regionally available throughout
the city"
Spokesman for the six hospitals
outside the proposed center pre-
sented their claims for Federal aio
and plans already under considera-
ton. They were Sister Lucille, as
sistant superintendent of Providence
Hospital; Paul B. Cromelin of Sib.
ley Hospital; r. B. Swope, chairman
Of the Children's Hospital financial
campaign to raise $1,300000 from
the public for a new building
Capt. Chester Wells and Col. N. L
Diarmid of Columbia. S. H. Rogers
and Miss Elizabeth M. Rogers OF
Casualty and Mrs. Francis x. Cal.
lahan of the Christ Child Fresh
Air Farm for Convalescent Chill.
dren. ~
The case for the three hospitals
planning to join in the new hospita
center was presented by j. G. Ca.
possela, superintendent of Elmer.
gency Hospital; william r. Castle
president Of Garfield Hospital, ant
Henry P. Blair of Episcopal Hos.
pital.