Evening star., 1951-10-21
3HospitaIs Face
Fund Drives 10
Match u. ). Aid
President Expected
To Sign Bill Helping
Privote Institutions

-
Privote Institutions
General fund drives by three
Washington hospitals will be nee
essary if they are to qualify for
proposed Federal grants for major
construction projects.
A bill authorizing Federal grants
to match funds put up by private.
non-profit hospitals here is ex-
pected to be signed by President
Truman this week despite oppo-
sition from church groups and
others.
Glenn L. Archer, executive ii-
rector of Protestants and Other
Americans United for Separation
of Church and State, has wired
the President asking veto of the
bill on the ground it violates the
constitutional principle of separa-
ton Of Church and State.
Not Included in Center.
Eligible under the bill would be
those hospitals not included n
the projected Washington Hospi-
tai Center.
Officials at Providence. Sibley
and Homeopathic Hospitals said
last night the hospitals would have
to launch public fund drives for
the first time to raise their half Of
construction costs.
A fourth private hospital, Cas-
ualty. which plans to request Gov
ernment aid, says it has the
matching funds.
Officials at all four hospitals
have been dusting off long delayed
construction plans since Congress
sional approval was given Friday
to the hospital grant bill.
Private Washington hospitals
probably will have about S12 mil
lion on which to draw. although
no amount was mentioned in the
legislation. The measure is in the
form Of an amendment to the
Washington Hospital Center bill.
and specifies that private hospitals
not included in the Center prof.
.ect can use the difference between
the cost of the Center and the $35
million authorized for it.
Higher Costs Likely.
When the original Center bill
was passed in 1916. it was esti-
mated the cost would be about $40
million. Higher prices for con-
lstruction materials may increase
the cost. however.
Set to launch a public drive
sometime during 1852 is Provi-
dence Hospital, a Catholic institu-
ton which wants to build a 81
million 350-bed hospital at Twelfth
and Varnum streets NE. A 15-
acre tract already has been bought.
The most ambitious long-range
construction program is planned
by Sibley Hospital, a Methodist
institution. Plans were drawn five
years ago for a complete new
plant on land adjoining the pres
ent hospital, in the HOO block Of
North Capitol street. Land for the
expansion has been bought from
time to time.
George M. Merris, ST., chairman
Iof the executive and financial
committees of National Homeo-
pathic Hospital, saie officials there
hope to build an annex which
would raise the hospitals capacity
from IS beds to 100 beds Prelimi-
nary talks with architects indic2 g
the cost would be about $500, 900,
he said.
Casualty Ready to Go.
| Casualty Hospitl. is ready with
ong-contemplated repair and
construction program as soon as
fund authorization is given. The
hospital plans to replace an old
wing now housing about so beds.
and build a new addition contain
ing another so beds. Biggest part
of the cost would be replacement
Of the old section.
Officials said they were not sure
what the renovation would cost,
but estimates a year or so ago were
about $750,000.
Although Children's Hospital
had been mentioned as a possible
participant in the Government aid
program. officials there said no
fund request was contemplated at
this time.
The badly y-overcrowded hospital
currently is building a new Sec
tion at the corner of Thirteenth
and w streets NV. Officials have
applied for SITS, 900 of Hill-Burton
funds to finish tn 81 million
building.
In addition to fund drive con-
tributions. District taxpayers will
eventually have to pay for Is per
cent of all construction authorized,
One provision of the amendment
lis that the District government
will repay, over a 33-year period.
half Of the funds advanced by the
Federal Government.
Hypodermic Use