Evening star., 1950-04-06
Hospital Center
Site Proposal
Wins Support
Incorporating Group
Asks Quick Action
By Governing Boords

"aSIiAllA lOlI IluSpltdI SSIlbSI ON
the Soldiers Home grounds was
a likely prospect today. with lead
ers Of the three hospitals which
will merge to form the center in
strong support of the move.
The center's Incorporating COM
mittee favored the new location
late yesterday without dissent
ing vote and urged fast action by
the governing boards Of the three
hospitals.
Early board meetings. 1t was
learned, are being planned.
In anticipation of approval,
Public Buildings Commissioner w.
E. Reynolds said he would order
today a typographical survey OF
the Soldiers Home property.
needed before further planning
can get under way.
At the same time, the Veterans
Administration has suddenly de-
clared the 25-acre Nevius tract in
Arlington to be in excess Of
needs in line with new plans to
build 500-bed hospital Of Its
own on the Soldiers Home prop
erty.
The VA move was the latest In
series of fast-breaking develop
mentS. touched off Tuesday. when
the Army declared surplus l4s
acres of the Soldiers Home land.
The Army said the land would be
available as sites for the two pro-
posed hospitals.
Protest Meeting Planned.
At the same time:
l. A group of veterans living at
the home announced they will
hold mass meeting Saturday to
draw up protest resolution on
the land cutoff and proposals to
limit their trust fund.
2. President Truman will soon
send to Congress request for
appropriation of s12 million from
the $42 million trust fund for an
immediate construction program
at the home.
The new construction project
has been approved by the Budget
Bureau. The Star disclosed yester-
day. 1t was noted in an Army
letter to Capitol Hill. asking
legislation to cut the trust fund
by $l1,5 million by July. 1851, to
end Federal payment Of interest
on the fund and thereafter to
limit the fund to operating needs
Of the home.
VA. which paid SIT million for
the Nevius tract after bitter
court wrangle, dropped the land.
like a hot potato. into the lap Of
the General Services Administra-
ton, only "a hours after the SOL
diers' Home site was made avail
able.
May Expand Cemetery.
In his letter to GSA, Veterans
Administrator Gray said he un-
derstood both the Army and the
National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission are interested"
in the land.
Indications are that Army in
terest revolves around proposals
to make the tract an addition to
Arlington Cemetery. The land ad-
joins the cemetery and is located
at the intersection of Lee boule-
ward and Arlington Ridge road.
An official of the planning
group said the commission can
hold no property itself "and
so certainly would not be in
terested in acquiring It," Sew
eral years ago, however. he said,
the commission actively sponsored
two bills to make the land part
of the cemetery. Both times, he
added. the measures passed the
Senate but got no further.
Several months ago. the group
urged in resolution the land re-
main under Federal ownership, but
specified no use.
Action on the 1,000-bed WASH
ington Hospital Center, mean
while. was taken at meeting
called by Maj. Gen. Phillip B.
Fleming, president of the center
corporation.
The recommendation that the
boards of Emergency, Episcopal
and Garfield Hospitals approve
the Soldiers Home site has the
effect of overriding a decision
made last fall to approve con-
struction Of the center on the
present Naval Observatory
grounds.
Emergency's Meeting Set.
Samuel H. Kaufman, presi-
dent Of Emergency Hospital, said
the board of that hospital will
consider the recommendation at
a meeting April 20.
President William Castle said
he will call a special meeting
some day next week" for the
Garfield board. He added that he
has mo doubt of the result of the
consideration because this is so
important"
Bishop Angus Dun said no def
mite plans have been made for an
Episcopal board session, but other
officials said they feel certain"
one will be called before the next
scheduled meeting on the third
Monday in May.
At yesterdays closed meeting.
1t was reported. officials estimated
use of the 47-acre plot in the
southwest corner of the Soldiers
Home grounds would save two
to three years in completion of
| the cenfer"