Evening star., 1946-03-02
Welfare Controversy
Review Scheduled on
S13,171,0OO Budget
By Don S. Warren

A general review Of the contro-
versial relationships between the
Board of Public Welfare and the
Commissioners is expected to de-
velop Monday before the Coffee
Subcommittee of the House Appro-
priations Committee when 1t takes
up the $13,171 900 budget for 1947
for public welfare services.
Because of other congressional
duties. the group will not meet
until 2 pm. Examination Of health
department proposals was con-
cluded yesterday afternoon, along
with some Of the engineer agencies.
A review Of the legal jurisdiction
Of the Welfare Board and the Com
missioners Is anticipated, one source
said. not because of the proposed
custer Of Howard B. Gill as director
OF penal institutions, now before q
special trial board, but due to old
issues between the city heads and
the board.
Chairman Coffee has repeatedly
contended responsibilities over the
city government should be central
lied in the Board of Commissioners
SO long as they head up the city
government.
Calls Food Outlay Too Low.
During discussion of Health De-
partment estimates yesterday Chair
man Coffee agreed with DR.. Alvin
r. Sweeney, superintendent of GAL
linger Municipal Hospital, that too
little was being spent on food for
Gallinger patients.
Data submitted by department
officials showed this outlay now
amounted to but 49h cents per
patient per day, whereas the similar
cost at Walter Reed Hospital was
rs cents per day per patient.
The figure for the District Tuber-
culosis Sanatorium at Glenn Dale
Nd. was reported as 80 cents per
patient per day. Mr.. Coffee said a
higher cost was to be expected in
the care Of tuberculosis patients.
Fatal Gas Blast Reviewed.
The fatal gas explosion demoli-
ton OF the Gerrity home in the 6lO0
block of Nevada avenue NV. was
reviewed during the examination of
Acting Director Of Inspection Rob-
ert H. Davis. Chairman Coffee said
the subcommittee looked into the
case to determine If there were any
gaps in the District regulations or
safety inspection. but that it had
found none, in view Of the findings
OF the District coroner and District
fire and building inspectors.
Concern over "mushrooming" Dis
trict costs arose yesterday during a
scrutiny of Health Department esti-
mates.
There is no question but that
the Health Department is perform
ing fine service" Chairman Coffee
said, but there is limit beyond
which the Government cannot 20
without becoming insolvent."
He cited the following figures as
an illustration OF enormous in
creases" in city government opera
tions: For the Health Department
the budget in 1910 was only s402, 900.
but for the next year it would be
81, TOT 900; for the District Tubercu-
losis Sanatorium, Glenn Dale, Md ;,
a budget of only 500 500 in 1886, but
s437, 900 for 1912 and a proposed out
lay of sl,426,000 for next year; and
for Gallinger Hospital, a budget in
crease from 1896 900 in 1886 to 1851.
600 in 1912, to s2,755, 900 for next
year.
Fund Requests Heard.
The subcommittee gave a SYM
pathetic hearing, but without any
decision as yet, to requests for
S375, 200 to build a health center at
Seventh and o streets NV. to serve
the lower Northwest section and for
$4,000 for drafting plans for
another polyclinic to be erected in
Anacostia. Mr.. Coffee agreed clin-
ical care not only aids in keeping
down the incidence of disease, but
that such service is cheaper than
hospital care.
Two out of every three persons
confined in District penal institu-
tions are alcoholics, Chairman Cof-
fee found. He concluded, on the
basis of data submitted by DR.. Ruh-
land, that alcoholic prisoners are
costing the District about s225, 900
a year for their confinement and
care