Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-01-31
d. {. Committee
Po||ed on Fund
For Hospital
| Subcommittee Asks
Thot U. S. Pay Whole
| Construction Cost

Members of the House District
Committee were being polled today
on their stand on subcommittee
proposal that the United States bear
the entire cost of the construction of
the proposed 1,500-bed hospital
center here.
Because the District already Is
faced with overwhelming budget
demands for the next fiscal year.
members Of the Fiscal Affairs SUBJ
committee said they did not see how
the municipal government could
repay one-third of the estimated
$40 900, 900 through present revenues.
Some decision was expected before
the end of the day. Representative
McGehee, Democrat, of Mississippi,
acting chairman of the subcommit-
tee, asked that members be polled
because a quorum was lacking at
the morning session.
Chairman Mcmillan of the Dis
trict Committee has urged final
committee action before the end of
the week so that the bill, passed last
May by the Senate, may be sent to
the House floor for action.
Terms of Senate Plan,
AS the bill came from the Senate,
it provided that the United States
advance the whole sum needed for
| acquisition of the site and construc-
ton of the center, but that the nom
profit hospitals which participate
in the center repay one-third of
such costs over period of so years
with interest at per cent.
| The Federal Works Administers
ton recently recommended revision
under which one-third of the costs
be repaid by the District government
over period rs years, at normal
Treasury Department interest. In
addition, the FWA proposed that
partial grants be made to other
nonproflt hospitals that do not par
ttcipate in the center, but which
need funds to expand or modernize
their plants. Under this plan the
District would be required to repay
one-third of such grants within 10
years.
A sharp protest against the FWA
financial proposals was filed with
the committee last Saturday by the
District Commissioners, who cited
the Districts financial plight and
reported the District already is
spending about $9,0O0,0 900 a year for
the care of the sick.
The Commissioners also protested
it would be unjust to place the
burden on the District taxpayers,
since the hospital center would
serve not only District residents
but many patients coming from
Maryland and Virginia.
FWA Provides for Lease.
The participating hopitals would
pay all operating expenses under
the Senate and FWA plans. Under
the FWA plan they also would lease
the center from the United States
at some price yet to be determined.
Members of the Fiscal Affairs
Subcommittee indicated agreement
today that the participating hos
pitfalls hardly could be expected to
carry more than the operating costs
without boosting charges to pay
patients.
Representative Abernethy, Demo-
crat, of Mississippi. was not salts
fed with the suggestion that the
United States pay the whole cost
of the center's construction, but
agreed to the poll of the full COM
mittee. He said he felt that If the
, Nation has an obligation to the
District on the hospital center prof.
ect. he thought it would be better
to aid the District Government
/ through an increase in the Federal
payment toward District upkeep
than to make direct appropriation
, for the specific project.