Evening star., 1950-05-19

OF S745, 900. Spokesman for the
volunteer hospitals asked for a
considerable increase over this,
but the Appropriations Committee
reduced the amount to $500, 900
/ In doing so, the committee said
! it was not at all pleased with
THE present program of the Health
Department for the care of the
INDECENT sick of the District
I It maintained that an appropri-
alton of s500.000 was adequate to
meet the city's responsibility
Any appropriation above this
amount. it said. would be lin the
nature Of subsidy to the
/ tprivate) hospitals. which is not
within the realm Of the response
bility or duty Of the District
Government"
Better Selection Urged.
1t added that the committee
thought the Health Department
should exercise more control and
supervision over the selection of
patients receiving benefits under
the medical charities program.
And in summing up, it called for
a thorough study" of the situa-
ton in move to develop more
closely integrated and more eff
cient and. economical program
for the needy of the District.
The committee also announced
its disapproval of plans of a num-
Der Of the District Government
departments to install automatic
punch-card systems for account
ing, until the Commissioners have
brought about a clarification of
the powers of the District Auditor
to control the payrolls and other
accounts of some of the semi
independent boards. Until this
is done, the committee told, the
House, the cost of the punch-card
system would be excessive. and it
directed the city heads to make
study and report on what would
be the possible savings.
The punch-card system was ad-
vocated at Congressional hear
ings on the 1851 budget by spokes-
men for the Commissioners and
by Budget Officer Fowler and
Auditor Arthur r. Pifkerton. The
plan, however, encountered sharp
opposition from representatives of
the school. library and some other
divisions.
Car Assignment Criticized.
The assignment of District Gov
eminent cars for, private trans
portation to and from work of
some city officials also drew a
blast from the House committee.
In its report, the committee ci-
rected the Commissioners to make
a thorough study Of this subject
and said particular emphasis
should be placed on the advisability
OF substituting travel allowances
for official trips rather than to
allow a car to be assigned to a
particular person on a 24-hour
basis" 1t directed that this re-
port be submitted to the House
committee before next January l..
Market Rentals Attacked.
The question of District fish
wharf and market rentals brought
sharp comment from the COM
mittee. City officials had pleaded
the cause of funds for immediate
improvements as to sewer and
water connections at the Maine
avenue installation. But in the
windup, the House committee not
only rejected the improvement
fund request in entirety, but also
denounced the nresent. rentals
charge by the District as too low.
In its report, the committee said
it had discussed the present
rentals at markets owned by the
District. with particular emphasis
on the fish wharf and it's markets,
with the Commissioners and
responsible officials.
"It is the belief Of the commit
tee that these rates are extremely
low, especially at the latter
location '4the fish wharf and re-
lated markets.. It is felt that steps
should be. taken Immediately by
the Commissioners to write new
rental leases for the stalls in the