Evening star., 1948-06-21
Plans 10 Expand
FiveHospitaIs
AreSet Back
Failure Of Congress
To Authorize Grunts
Holds Up Programs
BY George Beveridee

Million-dollar expansion pro-
grams of five Washington hospitals
faced serious setbacks today because
of the failure of Congress to au-
thorize nearly $13,000,000 in Federal
grants.
The sl3,000,0 900 provisional basis
on which most hospital heads hoped
to start expanding-was contained
in an amendment by Chairman
Dirksen of the House District Com
mittee to legislation providing for
the new Washington Hospital Gen.
ter to be built on the Naval OBJ
sevatory site.
1t would have made the grants
available to Casualty, Columbia,
Children's, Homeopathic and Sibley
Hospitals for renovating and re-
building the institutions.
The closely watched measure was
ready for House action in the log
jam of adjournment, but opposition
from Representative Abernethy,
Democrat, of Mississippi prevented
1T from reaching the floor, its spon-
sors said
Still on House Calendar.
The amendment is still on the
House calendar, which means it
could be considered If the Eightieth
Congress returns to Capitol Hill this
year. Even then, however, it is
doubtful that the measure could
override opposition. If Congress
fails to return and the measures
dies. committee spokesmen said
they intend to introduce it imme-
diately again next year.
The hospital officials, meanwhile,
indicated they intend to look to new
sources of funds to launch the care
fully planned expansion projects.
The worst thing now is that we
don't know where we stand,' said
DR.. John Orem, administrator of
Sibley. He said hospital board
meeting this week probably will
consider future plans in light of fail
ure of the Dirksen amendment
Sibley, DR.. Orem said, already has
submitted plans to the Federal
Works Administration for an eight
year expansion program that would
raise Sibley beds from 259 to more
than 400 and include new nursing
home. The board hoped to get
start with the proposed grants, DR..
Orem said.
Homeopathic Sought New Wing.
Homeopathic Hospital had count
ed on" the funds for construc-
ton of a new wing that would raise
bed capacity from 81 to nearly 100,
according to Miss Gladys Phipps,
superintendent.
The hospital has raised $22 900 for
new equipment in a fund drive, Miss
Phipps said If the Federal funds
definitely fall through. she added,
the hospital may junk the new wing
proposal and "recondition' the pres
ent building at Second and N streets
NV, with addition of 20 bed. This
would cost an estimated $50,000.
Col M. L. McDiarmid, superin-
tended of Columbia, said his hospital
hoped to use the funds to begin
125-bed expansion and construction
of a new nurses home and training
school for aides. While present con-
str,lction costs are not known, the
s,,nerjntendent. said FWA has estl-
mated cost of the project at 81
10000.
Casualty Perplexed.
The development places Casualty
Hosnital in the position that we
don't know what we're going to
do now according to Miss Z. M
Rogers. superintendent. Casualty,
she said. had hoped to replace It's
old building at Seventh and Massa-
chusetts avenue NE, with new
one that would raise bed capacity
from so to 100 beds. The cost has
been estimated at $500 per bed,
she said.
The proposed Federal grants fit
into the future of the $4,000, 600
expansion program at Children's
Hospital.
DR.. Montgomery Blair, admins
traitor, said the hospital already has
requested s656,000 under provisions
of the Hill-Burton Act to supple
ment $1,3O7 900 raised from public
campaign held two years ago. These
funds would be enough to start
the program, but we hoped to get
a couple of million dollars later"
through the hospital center amend