Evening star., 1946-07-15
Hospita|Center
joint Financing
Bill Is Offered
District Share 3Oob
Under Compromise Of
Tydings Measure
By Harold B Rooers
BY Harold B. Rogers

BY HoroId B. Rogers
Representative Dirksen, Repub-
hcan, Of Illinois today offered in thu
House District Committee sub.
stitute hospital center bill to take
the place of the long-pendine
Tydings measure which already ha!
passed the Senate.
The substitute had been pre-.
sented to the committee by Alar
Johnstone, general counsel Of thu
Federal Works Agency, as a pro.
posed compromise on financial pro
visions of the proposal which hae
blocked the Tydings bill on thu
House side
The Dirksen substitute would pro.
vide for joint financing of the pro.
posed hospital center by the Fed
eral Government. the District gov,
ernment and the hospitals them
selves.
The District Commissioners 81
far have objected to helping t.
pay for the center out of municipa
revenues.
Committee Meets Wednesday.
The District Committee, Acting
Chairman Healy said after the meet
ing. will convene at 1890 am. We'd
nesday to take final action"
District Commissioner ason
who attended the committee meet
ing this morning, said he had told
the group in executive session that
the Commissioners were opposed tc
raising part of the hospital center
funds from taxes. He pointed out
that the city already is spending q
per cent of its general revenues for
disqualification here.
The Dirksen bill would reduce the
amount OF Federal participation in
the cost of the hospital center.
Under the Tydings bill as it passed
the Senate, one-third of the total
estimated cost of the center-about
$4,000 000-would be repaid by the
participating hospitals by an amor
tization plan over SO years. The
hospitals would pay 2 per cent on
this fund.
Three Hospitals Agreed.
In the meantime, an informal
agreement had been reached be-
tween the three hospitals of the
center - Emergency. Garfield and
Episcopal-to provide the value of
all their physical plants as their
part of the cost.
Under the Driksen bill, these
physical plants of the three hospi-
tails. estimated by Mr.. Johnstone at
from 20 to 30 per cent of the cost
of the center, would constitute the
hospitals contribution. Next, the
District of Columbia government
would be expected to pay 30 per
cent of the center cost This would
leave the United States a remainder
of 40 TO so. per cent to be provided
by an outright grant of Federal
funds.
The committee considered the
hospital center in executive session,
but it opened the doors to the pub
lie and the press to hear Mr.. John
stone present the proposal by the
FWA.
Compromise Is Urged.
In his statement of IA pages read
to the committee, Mr.. Johnstone
strongly recommended his proposed
compromise bill as solution to the
almost tragic and certainly emer-
gent hospital situation here
The bill would not only provide
for the hospital center but would au-
thorize the Federal Works Agency
to make grants to other nonproflt
hospitals outside the proposed center
for renovations or rebuilding On
this point, however, the bill provides
that the grant shall in no event eX-
ceed so per cent Of the hospital plant
after it is improved.
Mr.. Johnstone set forth a five
point program in explanation of the
new bill and the Districts hospita
situation. He called upon the COM
mittee to act on the measure anc
said that the facts were sufficient
upon which the committee coulc
base a sound decision"
Five Points Listed.
The five points he read to the
committee as follows:
Il. Leave to orderly provision by
the Commissioners for renovations
and additions to the public hospital
plant which is now in progress
This referred to the Commission
ers' pending program for improve
ment of both Gallinger and Glen
Dale Sanitoria)
40 Authorize action on the hos
pital center proposed by the three
private nonproft hospitals on con-
ditions that they shall make return
to the treasury or contribute to
the cost in the amount of the pres
ent value of their existing plants
in kind or in money. This will
mean a sharing of the cost by them
of 20 to 30 per cent depending on
the actual cost and the demon
strated value of their plant. Both
of these items will remain i'm
ponderables until plans can be
drawn and land and buildings can
be accurately appraised.
''3. Authorize grants to other
non-proflt private hospitals to meet
their needs for additions, replace
ments and renovations in propor-
tions not to exceed so per cent of
the value of their plants when i'm
proved by such grants.
a. Authorize the expenditure of
Federal funds over a fve-year per-
lod to accomplish these steps.
charging 30 per cent of the amount
expended to the District of
Columbia.
IS. Provide that the 30 per cent
charageable to the District shall
be paid at such time and in such
manner as the Congress may here
after determine"
}. W. Coffmun Retires