Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-12-16
Chiefs
Reply 10 Survey
In Alexandra
Board President Saws
Shortage of Funds Has
Threatened CLOSING

The Board of Directors of Alexan-
dria Hospital and Robert G.. Whit
ton, retiring administrator, today
called for Stronger financial support
by the city in joint statement deny-
ing charges made against the hos
pltal in recent survey.
A statement by D. C. Book, re-
firing president of the board. who
said he spoke for that body, dis
closed that the directors on several
occasions recently have been on the
verge of recommending closing the
hospital for lack of funds.
More recently, Mr.. Book disclosed,
there were not sufficient funds on
hand to meet the payroll. 1t was
necessary to borrow money for that
purpose, he said.
Say Purpose Was Exceeded.
Mr.. Book and Mr.. Whitton charged
that the recent survey of the hos
pital had gone far beyond its orig
inal purpose. The survey was made
by DR.. j. R. Clemmons of Roosevelt
Hospital, New York, at the request
of the Alexandria Council of Social
Agencies to settle dispute between
the institution and the city over in
digent care rates.
The survey report described Mr..
Whitton, other hospital officials and
the Board of Directors as major fac
tors in the inefficient" operation Of
the hospital.
In a 25-page analysis of the sur
vey Mr.. Whitton explained his po-
sition on almost every criticism
made in DR.. Clemmons' report.
Mr. Whitton called it Significant"
that the three physicians who
brought DR.. Clemmons to Alexandria
Hospital, proceeded to show them
the plant and equipment before in
Producing him to the administrator.
Says None Called on Him.
Also significant, he contended, was
the fact that the medical staff of the
Community Clinic furnished $4,000
for the survey. He said that neither
Dr.. Harrison Picot, Dr. H. S. Will
liams nor DR.. Thistle Mckee (presi-
dent of the Council of Social Agen-
cies) have had the courtesy or cour-
age to come by my office to discuss
the matter since its publication
These three doctors were on the
Survey Committee of five members
who arranged for the hospital re-
port. The other two members, not
by Mr.. Whitton, were City
Councilman Paul Delaney and the
Rev. o. v. T. Chamberlain of Christ
Episcopal Church.
Both Mr.. Whitton and Mr. Book
denied that endowment funds were
improperly expended.
Mr.. Whitton said 90 the policy
Of the Board of Directors has
been extremely conservative and
within the terms of the gift"
Defends Financial Statement.
Mr.. Whitton said the inference Of
DR.. Clemmons' report that the hos
pitfalls financial statement was all
wrong was not true. The retiring
administrator contended that vari-
ance in financial statements repre-
sented an honest difference Of opin-
ion between accountants.
Mr.. Whitton challenged state
ments in the survey report that nom
collected accounts were written off"
without an honest attempt at COL
lection.
"All accounts are properly aged
and evalued before being charged
off. After that they are processed
through an outside collection agency
and an attorney" he declared.
Mr.. Whitton said control over re-
ceipts and disbursements was
ample" and that for the period from
January l to November 30, 1947, only
$197.76 was unaccounted for after
handling cash to the extent OF
$671, 73605.
S96,307 Loss Disclosed.
The statement of the president Of
the Board of Directors disclosed that
the hospital has lost 500, 307.3S dur
ing the last 10 months.
I'm conclusion" Mr.. Book wrote,
II would like to say emphatically
that unless a satisfactory formula
can be agreed upon between the
City Council and the hospital where
by the city will assume its RESPONSE
bility to the hospital, that unless
the Board of Directors are provided
with adequate funds, eliminating the
constant worry on how to meet the
next payroll, then it would be
justifiable recommendation of the
Board of Directors that the hospital
be operated solely for private cases"
Both statements were read at a
meeting of the Hospital Corp. last
NIGHT of which Mr. Whittnn WAS