Evening star., 1949-02-09
Federation Hits
City5egregation
Report Again
Use of Conditions Here
For Propaganda
Elsewhere Scored

'S OPoSoiio0
Elsewhere Scored
Affirming a willingness to dis
cuss segregation problems with !
District Negroes, the Federation
of Citizens Associations Executive
Board said today that conditions
here should not be made the SUBJ
ject Of propaganda for consump-
ton of persons living outside the
District.
The board made this observa-
ton In the last of three state
ments criticizing a report by the
90-member National Committee
on Segregation in the Nations
Capital.
The federation scored the seq
regation committees remarks on
public health, concluding that
"the inference to be drawn from
the comments is that the white
citizens Intentionally neglects the
Negro's health. preferring him to
live under conditions which en-
danger it,"
That such a charge is ridicu-
lous is obvious to those who live
here and understand the real con-
ditions." the board asserted.
While inviting discussions with
District Negroes, the federation
said it did not wish ito engage
in debate with sociologists re-
siding throughout the country,
who. judging by the report. are
either completely ignorant of the
facts or willfully desire to disre-
gard them"
Deletions Encouraged.
Negro leaders in this city are
fully aware of actual conditions,
which. although not ideal. should
not be made the subject of propa-
ganda for the consumption Of
those into whose hands that docu-
ment will fall and who will rely
on the statements therein" the
federation continued.
1t noted that the chairman of
the Segregation Committee re-
Gently said the committee would
not cling to mistakes if it has
made them" A willingness to
amend the report and delete in
flammatory comments would do
great deal towards solving a very
vexing problem, the board added.
The segregation report, pub
lished December 10. accused COM
munity leaders here of fostering
segregation as matter of good
business. All but 13 of the COM
mittee members bore out-of town
addresses. The chairman is DR..
George N. Shuster. president Of
Hunter College. N. Y. I'd
Defending the District Health
Department as lone of the best fa
be found In the country" the Fed~3
|eration said the Negro population
required and -reeeives the larger
part of the 194ebudget of $8,775.-
1000. The large Requirement is
necessary partly because many
Negroes fail to comply with in
'structions of nurses and inspectors,
the board added.
Problem for Whites, Too.
A shortage in hospitals here is
a problem for both whites and Ne
groes, the statement continued.
1t noted that Of the two public
hospitals. Freedmen's is for for
Negroes and Gallineer is about IS
per cent Negro. All privately op-
Grated hospitals are open to both
races. it was said.
The federation concurred in the
committees finding that ply
siciars who send patients to GAL
linger or st. Elizabeths Hospital
must turn them over to hospital
doctors. but added:
while this is true. the report
neglected to mention that the
rule applies to white as well as
Negro patients.
Census Bureau figures were
cited to show that reduction in
deaths from all causes was "a per
cent per 1000 white persons be-
tween 1886 and 1916. while the
rate of deaths among Negroes
diminished "a per cent over the
same period.
Rejecting charges that hospital
care tor Negroes in Washington
is inferior to that given whites.
the federation showed that the
city is PAYING from $9.16 to $16.12
per day for the keep of dependent
patients.
Budgets Cited.
It pointed out that Gallinger's
budget for fiscal 1948 was $3,483,-
217 and Freedmen's $2,201,171.
Doctors of both races are in
vited to professional conferences
conducted by health authorities
and consulted on all matters af-
fecting the health and welfare Of
residents. the board said.
Instead of more segregation be-
ing practiced in hospitals and
clinics as charged. Howard Uni
versity Medical School graduates
and interns are visiting wards of
public hospitals professionally in
increasing numbers, it was said.
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