Evening star., 1946-12-21
Seeks
$4,000 Grant
In Alexandra
Just Breoking Even
With $50. 900 Due,
Administrator Says

Administrator Says
Alexandra Hospital representa-
tives, defending their 1947 city
budget request for a lump sum
grant of $4,000 and per diem pay
ment Of $8.81 for INDECENT patients,
last night told the City Council the
hospital has an unpaid balance OF
$4,000 incurred by patients whose
care was not the responsibility OF
the institution.
Robert Whitton, hospital adninis-
TRAITOR, said the institution will
break just about even" this year.
Stating total net operating cost is
$542, ,326.26 for the year ending Oc-
tober 81, Mr.. Whitton said increased
cost Of food, nursing service and
other operational expenses have
raised the average daily cost per pa
tient to $1025.
He told City Manager Carl Bud
wesky, who asked what would be
considered flair" lump sum appro-
priation II the city did not approve
per diem cost, that it should be a
minimum of $4,000.
The city granted the hospital $20,-
600 in the current budget, supple-
mented by other appropriations
amounting to $4,000.
Many Cases Are Rejected.
David G. Book, president of the
hospital Board Of Directors, said,
you have no idea of the number
OF cases we turn away all the time. !"
Stating he does not believe all of
the cases placed at our doorstep are
directly our responsibility" Mr..
Book cited large numbers of traf-
f1c injury cases which are handled
without compensation.
Councilman John w. Tolloch
countered that the Penn-Daw res
cue squad monthly reports reveal
from go to IS traffic injury cases
brought to the hospital, involving
persons who are hurt in Fairfax
County and who are not city resi-
dents. Mr.. Tolloch said he did not
think it proper for the city to be
responsible for financing these
cases.
Mayor William T. wilkins asked
why the city government is request
ed to give financial aid when it has
no part in the direction or policies
of the hospital.
Mr.. Whitton replied that the
Mayor and city manager are men,
bers Of the hospital Board Of trus-
tees.
To Act on Food Ordinance.
The council agreed to take action
at its first regular January meet
ing on a proposed new food-han-
ding ordinance.
Action was urged by Mr.. Tulloch,
who pointed to necessity for having
law with teeth" to help health
department inspectors enforce sani-
tary food regulations.
& City Health Ofiicer Lewis Schafer,
jr. proposed a budget OF 3108, 600, an
increase Of approximately $25, 600, to
provide for the employment OF an
assistant health officer, assistant
'bacteriologist. three Public Health
nurses and an X-ray technician.
Appointment Of the assistant
health officer and three nurses is
necessary, DR.. Schafer said, to estab-
lish an expanded school health pro-
gram. Representatives of the Alex
Andria Council Of Parent Teacher
Associations also supported this pro-
gram at last nights hearing.
Teacher raises were defended by
School Supt. T. c. Williams, who
said, we must maintain our favor
able position in the competitive
teacher market"
The cityis average teacher salary
of $2,488, Mr.. Williams said, is the
highest of any city in the State. He
added, however, that local costs also
are the highest.
Library Budget Offered.
The city library budget of $29,915
was presented to the council by
Stanley King, Library Board MEM
Der. 1t calls for salary increases
for present personnel and the en-
ployment Of another full time staff
member.
The council concluded the session
by adopting a resolution authorizing
the local housing authority to apply
to the Federal Public Housing Au-
thority for transfer of Cameron
Valley. Chinquapin Village and
Ramsay Homes to the local housing
group.
The resolution provides that terms
and conditions Of the transfer are
subject to council APPROVAL before
submission to the Federal agency.
| It also provides, in the event Con-
gress or FPHA disapproves the ap-
plication, that the Alexandria War
Housing Disposition Committee shall
submit recommendation to the
council for alternate means of dis
position.
Members of this committee are
Councilmen r. Samuel Luckett,
Everett A. Hellmuth, Paul L. De-
laney and E. w. Downey.
The councils next public hearing
on the 1947 budget, originally sched-
uled Christmas eve, will be held
Monday at 7:30 pm. in the council
chambers.
Brig. Gen. Robert H. Young
W. e,:..