Evening star., 1949-01-10
Budget Calls For
Glenn Dale and
Ga||inger Funds
Sonitorium Quarters,
Hospital Building
Sought for District

Funds to continue construction of
the new crippled children's build
ing at Gallinger Hospital, complete
the hospitals laboratory and build
another residence hall for Glenn
Dale Sanatorium medical officers
were requested by the President
today.
The budget increase for the
Health Department for the next fis-
cal year was the highest in the Dis
trict government budget.
Congress was asked to appropri-
ate $l0,702, 900 for health and hospi-
tai needs, an increase Of $1,926,500
over the current appropriation but
cut of ST 1876, ,730 in the departments
request.
Health Officer George C. Ruh-
lands sweeping reorganization pro-
posal to merge the departments II
bureaus and two hospitals into eight
divisions was ignored.
Fund Asked for Quarters.
In an effort to cope with the criti-
cal physician shortage at Glenn
Dale Sanitorium, s65,O0O was re-
quested to build apartments for doc
tors on the grounds and another
$4,000 was proposed to equip liv-
ing quarters already being built
there.
Lack of sufficient medical help
at the tuberculosis sanatorium was
blamed partially for the recent sur
gical mistake when a visiting sur
geon operated on the wrong side
of patients chest in preparation
for the collapse of one lung.
Although the Health Department
did not get as much construction
as it wanted it Jared better on
building projects than on person.
mel.
Reduction in operating expenses
for the vast health program will
eliminate several planned and pre-
sent projects. Dr. Ruhland's re-
quest for So, ,659,7 in administrative
funds was cut by nearly $650,00O
Elimination of five nurses Jobs
will mean closing the Cancer Detec-
ton Clinic at Gallinger, which was
operated entirely for INDECENT pa
tients, officials predicted. Unless
the jobs are reinstated, most of the
departments cancer activities will
have to be limited to a proposed
cancer regiStry-to develop COM
plete statistical data on all victims
of the disease here
One of the most serious admins
trative cuts was two thirds of a
$63, 900 increase to bolster dWindling
medical supplies at Gallinger. The
present stock, officials pointed out,
is SO small the hospital may need a
deficiency request to finish out the
current fiscal year. In addition,
a $l35,000 increase in the request
for food was cut to $4,000, with a
request of $452,e47.
Also knocked out were requests
for: ~
/. Two new medical inspectors
for colored schools, at $4,902 a year
each
2. An increase of l3 new nurses
and clerk for the Nursing Bureau
to give more adequate service to
school children.
3. Fifty hospital attendants, is
practical nurses and Is head nurses
at Gallinger. No graduate nurses
were recommended by DR.. Rutland
because of the drastic nurse Short
age.
Pathologist Sought.
A $10,500 item was included to
hire a pathologist, clerk and two
aides for the hospital laboratory.
While these were the only new per-
sonnel recommended to Congress,
spokesman said, an authorization
was included to transfer from other
activities four clerks for the can
Ger registry project and five ad-
mission clerks for the new Hospital
Permit Bureau.
A request for a new dental clinic
in the Southeast area was elimi-
mated, but a $4,000 item to repair
and paint the interior of the Polk
Health Center, Seventh and P
streets NV. was sought
DR.. Ruhland's request for Gal
! lln2eT were CUT SoLl,UUU,
Ownership Is Factor.
The other reduction was a $685.
914 cut from the 81, ,431 ,565 requested
by DR.. Rhuland to finish the pedi-
atrics and crippled children's build
ing at Gallinger. The District has
allocated to itself the needed $685.
914 from Federal funds available
under the Hill-Burton Act to spur
hospital construction.
Use of the Hill-Burton money is
in jeopardy because of a provision
in the act which states the con-
struction site must be owned by the
user of the funds, and the United
States Government holds title to
the Gallinger land. The District
plans to ask Congress, however, for
purposes of the act. to transfer
title of the property to the city
The President asked for 1882 909
to equip the 128-bed pediatrics-
crippled children's building, and
1923, 400 to build and equip the
proposed new Gallinger laboratory.
Congress also was asked to match
s69O,0O0 grant provided this year
this year for the city to pay nine
private hospitals for treating in
digent residents of the District who
are emergency victims and $45000
for the Home for Incurables. Other
recommendations included an an
nual $4,000 grant to Columbia Hos
pital and 100000 to pay for the care
of indigents treated at Federally
owned Freedmen's Hospital