Evening star., 1949-05-19
County Council
Fails 10 Act on
New Hospital
Montgomery Group
Debates Bond Plan;
Opposition Voiced

Y
Efforts to obtain a $500, ,00(
bond issue for construction of G
Silver Spring Hospital appeared
today to be no nearer success thar
they were before a hearing con-
Quoted last night by the Mont.
gomery County Council.
Merits of the proposal were de-
bated at Rockville by citizens from
the suburban area, but when the
hearing closed council members
gave no indication they would
consider legislation at the current
law-making session.
Most of the councilmen re-
fused comment, but none has
shown willingness to sponsor a bill
advocated by the Silver Spring
Hospital Association. Inc. One OF
the seven members said fatty that
he would not introduce the legis-
lation, adding:
This is not hospital year"
Tax Plan Protested.
Ralph D. Boyd, president. ano
Fred v. Lutes, treasurer of the
association, led the argument for
bonds. They were supported by
DR.. Claude Mitchell. Silver Spring
physician and a member of the
association board.
Representatives of several citi-
zens' associations objected to the
proposed tax on Colesville and
Wheaton election districts to carry
the bonds. The bill would permit
a levy up to 10 cents per 500 val
uation on those districts.
The association proposes to
build a 200-bed hospital on a 27-
acre site at Georgia avenue and
Forest Glen road. Mr.. Boyd said
1t has 100000 in assets, including
cash, unpaid pledges. property and
architects plans. The organiza-
ton thinks it can get access to
100000 IN Federal money under
the Hill-Burton Act within two
years.
Expansion Urged.
John A. Selby, former president
and now a member of the board
at Suburban Hospital, Bethesda,
said that institution is. operating
at about rs per cent of it's 101 bed
capacity. He said 80 per cent oc-
cupancy is needed for economical
operation.
While he did not directly op-
pose the Silver Spring plan, Mr..
Selby implied that Suburban
could be enlarged to care for gen.
eral county disqualification. If the
need exists. He said his board
is trying to negotiate the purchase
of the Suburban property from
the Government for $4,000.
Mrs. G. w. Hanson, speaking for
the Meadowood Citizens Associa-
ton, declared that existing hospi-
tails are not filled because of the
shortage of stats and nurses. She
said she saw no reason to tax the
citizens of the two districts to put
up another hospital.
Howard Kline of Silver Spring,
who was staff director for the
Hoover Commissions Committee
on Federal Medical Research, as
serted thai no hospital should be
constructed in Montgomery with
out a referendum and none if the
tax was to be applied only to the
Colesville- Wheaton area. He ap-
peared as representative of the
Sligo-Branview Citizens ASso-
citation.
Report Awaited.
Another opponent was Mrs. C.
M. Derryberry. speaking for the
Woodmore Citizens Association.
Mrs. John G. Scharf of the League
of Women Voters recommended
that the council defer all hospital
legislation until it's special COM
mission on hospital survey submits
a report.
Three members of that COM
mission attended the hearing.
They were DR.. Mark v. Ziegler.
medical director of the Public
Health Service: DR.. Janvies w.
Lindsay. pathology consultant at
Garfield Hospital, and DR.. George
w. Bachman. senior staff men,
ber, medical economics, Brookings
Institution.
DR.. Zieglar said after the meet
ing that he did not know when
the commission could complete its
work. The council has only until
May 81 to enact bond issue leg
islation this year.
The council will conduct pub
lie hearing at 7:30 o'clock tonight
in the Circuit Court room in
Rockville on proposed library leg
islation. This includes bills for
taxing areas in Kensington and
Rockville, a change in the bound
aries of the Silver Spring area
and the proposed establishment
of a countrywide library system.
An amendment has been offered
to the latter measure to postpone
adoption of such a system in
definitely.
Eunifive Hearinns Sej