Evening star., 1946-07-09
Lower Status
Seen in Plan for
ST. E|izabeth's
Approval Expected
On Proposal for
Non-MiIitory Use

The expected enactment of PreSi-
dent Truman's reorganization plans
is likely to change the character o.
st. Elizabeth's Hospital from one Of
the Nations outstanding mental in
stitutions to "just another ordinary
county insane asylum" in the opir-
ion of hospital officials.
The reorganization proposal af-
fecting st. Elizabeth's would remove
from the institutions care in thu
future all mentally ill persons from
the armed forces. AS the plan IS
interpreted by hospital officials,
armed forces patients now at St.
Elizabeth's would remain there, bu5
no new Army or Navy patients
would be brought there in the fu-
ture.
About 1,400 of the hospitals $500
patients are military personnel or
veterans. The hospital was estab-
lished in 1855 to care for military
mental patients, but at present most
of the patients are District civilian
residents.
Increased Rate Possible.
District financial officials foresaw
little change in the relationship be-
tween the municipality and the in
stitution, under the proposed reor-
ganization, beyond the possibility OF
an Increased rate.
The city now pays an annual bill
Nf "a mn axl
care Of District patients committed
to the hospital.
District Budget Officer Walter L.
Fowler predicted that if the admis-
Sions are restricted to District cases
either an increased rate might be
expected or the hospital would have
to curtail its personnel and plant to
bring it in line with intake ex-
pectancy.
He pointed out that the plant now
is operated on the expectancies from
both military and District civilian
sources.
Fear Blow to Research.
ST. Elizabeth's officials are fear
full the pSychiatric research and de-
Ivelopment contributed by the Army
and Navy, which led officers of the
American Psychiatric Association to
call the institution "a unique teach
ing hospital will be withdrawn to
the hospitals detriment 1t was for
this reason that the House Commit
tee on Expenditures rejected the
proposal The House followed its
recommendations.
However, the Senate Judiciary
Committee yesterday approved all
three of President Truman's propo-
sails and the plans are expected to
become law by next Tuesday Under
the Reorganization Act of 1945, a
presidential plan can be killed only
by rejection of the proposal by both
the House and Senate.
One bright spot in the picture was
contributed today by Watson Miller,
Federal Security administrator. who
| pledged that his agency will do
! everything it can TO maintain St.
/ Elizabeth's high standards" The
agency has asked Congress for
$751; 900 to conduct a study of i'm
provements for the institution, and
officials are optimistic that the ap-
preparation will be granted.
Abolishes Visitor Board.
St. Elizabeth's officials are also
concerned lest the Red Cross. which
at present conducts recreational
activities at the institution, will halt
its activities there when the armed
forces patients are no longer sent
to the hospital.
Another feature of President Tru-
mans plan abolishes the hospitals
board of visitors. Hospital officials
say this will completely divorce the
institution from the community it
serves DR.. Winfred Overholser,
superintendent of the hospital, has
praised the board as having been
extremely helpful in aiding the hos
pital in some of its policies.
One of the reasons given by Pres
ident Truman for refraining from
sending military personnel to the
hospital in the future was that st.
Elizabeth's is overcrowded Hospital
officials say this is not necessarily
the case, and that if 100 more at
tendants were hired, 300 empty beds
at the hospital could be used and
an additional 700 beds could be in
stalled.