Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-08-16
Federal Grants
To Hospitals
Criticized
Religious Affiliations
Of Some institutions
Challenged by Miller

II
grants toward rebuilding of volun-
tary hospitals~here ran into op-
position before a Senate subcom-
mittee today on the issue of sep
aration of Church and State.
Hospital officials refuted that
issue and pointed out that the
hospitals treat members of all re-
ligions despite any sectarianism
on the part of the institution.
The total possible grants has
been estimated as high as $l2 mil
lion. This money would be avail
able to hospitals not included in
the proposed Washington Hospital
Center.
Must Repay Part of Grant.
Sponsored by House Majority
Leader Mccormack. who spoke to-
day for the measure, the bill would
provide grants of so per cent of
the value of the hospital project.
The District government would
have to repay a third of the grant
over 30-year period.
Representative Miller, Repub-
lican, of Nebraska, touched off to-
days opposition to the bill ON
grounds that some of the hospi-
tails had religious affiliations.
II say it isn't right for the
church hospitals to put their
hands in the Federal Treasury
when they can go out and raise
money from their own people," he
said The principle is wrong"
Objects to Statement.
Mr.. Miller added that Congress
has not been stingy With the Dis
tric5." and ccntended also that
these hospitals are making
money"
Chairman PasJore of the Health,
Education and Recreation SUBJ
committee of the Senate District
Committee, objected to this state
ment.
| Mr. Miller said he would have
no objection to the bill if the
Commissioners paid back the full
so per cent.
IF not" he declared, every
hospital in your State and my
State has the right to come here
and say. Look, here's what you've
done for the District-let's do ii
for my State"
Church State Issue Cited.
Joseph M. Dawson. executive
director of the Baptist Joint Com
mittee on Public Affairs, urged the
subcommittee to uphold the dis
tinctive American principle of
separation of church and state. ~
He urged elimination from any
bill proposed for the aid of hos
pitfalls any money for church hos
pitfalls.
He said Baptists have endea-
vored to abide by the Constitution
as interpreted by the Supreme
Court. He quoted the court in a
statement that no tax can be
levied to support religious activi-
ties or institutions.
DR.. Dawson presented figures
indicating that more than one
sixth of the $424, 199, 280 granted
to public and private health prof.
ects under the Halliburton Act in
the whole country went to Roman
Catholic institutions.
Endorsed by Officials.
Another witness, former Sem
ator John A. Danaher of Con-
necticut, a member of the Ad-
visory Board of Providence Hos
pital, pointed out that Catholic
hospitals have rs per cent of the
voluntary hospital beds in the
country.
The measure was Endorsed by
Commissioner F. Joseph Donohue
on behalf of the Board of Com
missioners.
/ Hospital officials also Endorsed
the measure, telling of their need
for expansion, .inadequacy OF
present buildings and need fol-
help in raising funds for their
new building projects.
Hospitals represented included
Providence, Sibley, Casualty
Homeopathic and Childrens. In
stitutions included in the hospital
center are Garfield, Emergency
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