Evening star., 1947-02-05
Commissioners Study
.S1,20o,000 Expansion
Plan for Hospital

A $1,000, 900 expansion program
for the Prince Georges General Hos
pital, Cheverly, today waas under
study by the county commissioners.
The program was disclosed yes
terday at Upper Marlboro, when the
County Medical Society recon-
mended a bond issue by the county
up to 100000 to cover its share Of
the cost.
The remainder of the estimated
cost would come through Federal as
sistance under provisions of the
Hill Burton Act, according to DR..
Thomas A. Christensen, president
of the group. This bill, he pointed
out, provides for Government aid
amounting to one-third the cost of
construction of hospitals and health
centers.
The entire project could be "ade-
quately financed" by an estimated
Scent tax increase, DR.. Christen-
sen told the commissioners.
Largely Self-Supporting.
The expansion request is differ
ent from most proposals before the
commissioners in that it "does not
anticipate additional permanent op-
Grating costs beyond that of con-
struction," DR.. Christensen said. The
hospital is lone of the few county
enterprises which has substan-
tial income" he added, explaining
that it operates on an 88 per cent
self-supporting basis.
DR.. Christensen said plans call fol
an additional 10 beds for the hos
pital and establishment of a well
co-ordinated" health center, to in
clude facilities for contagious dis
eases, veterans, nurses training
school and the county health de-
partment.
The plans were drawn up by Paul
H. Kea, Hyattsville architect, who
was authorized last March by the
county commissioners to start such
a project. Mr.. Kea and DR.. A. K.
Besley, hospital superintendent,
yesterday accompanied DR.. Chris
tensen to the meeting.
The medical society president said
there are sufficient physicians now
in the county to provide adequate
medical service for all residents
including from 1900 to 1,400 INDECENT
families needing free medical care.
In other business, the commits
sioners went on record as opposing
any sales tax for Maryland unless
one were imposed in the District.
The latter action was taken follow
ing a letter from the Washington
County commissioners seeking the
views of the Prince Georges group
on the subject.
Refuses $1,471 Payment.
The board instructed Linden Bris-
coe, its clerk, to write the WASH
ington Suburban Sanitary Commits
sion informing it of the county s
refusal to pay bill for $1,471 for
expenses occurred during street paw
ing and storm drainage construction
last summer in Coral Hills and
Capitol Heights.
The Sanitary Commission con-
tends the work should be financed
by the county, since the projects
required relocation of water and
sewer connections. The commits
sioners disagreed, declaring that
other public utilities companies
move their own equipment without
charge when located within con-
struction lines.
A tax exemption was granted the
Seat Pleasant Methodist Church for
property on which new church will
be erected.
H. A. Duke, chief of the newly
organized Silver Hill Volunteer Fire
Department, was named a forest
warden.
Mr.. Briscoe reported the collection
of $168 during January by Brice
Bowie, clerk of the Circuit Court,
from the sale of beer, wines and
liquor licenses and vendors per-
mits. Sheriff T. Ward Martin re-
ported the collection of $82 in jan
uary in sheriff's fees, while County
Taxicab Inspector Harry B. Mercer
reported $163 for January from the