Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-07-04
Hospital Housekeeper
Firing by Penn May
Bring Special Hearing

Directors of the Prince Georges
General Hospital soon may meet
in special session to consider the
case of an employee dismissed by
the institutions superintendent,
who was fired himself and rein
stated by the county commission
erS.
Chairman Thomas E. Latimer of
the Board of Commissioners. who
also heads the hospital board,
agreed to call the extraordinary
conference. provided Mrs. Eleanor
Yates, head housekeeper for the
hospital, requests such action, as
the result of her dismissal by Supt.
Harry w. Penn, jr.
Mr.. Penn was to be relieved of
his duties a few months ago, but
the commissioners. under whom
the hospital functions, rescinded
their action. after hearing protests
from a group of physicians.
Mrs. Yates. who lives at 1900
Hamilton street. Hyattsville, was
directed to relinquish her post on
July Is: but Mr.. Latimer said that,
If she presents a written request
for a hearing, he will hold the
directors meeting before that date.
Continued Friction Indicated.
| In long and sometimes sharp
debate, the commissioners at their
meeting yesterday at Upper MARI
boro indicated that friction still
exists between some members of
their board and the hospital ad-
mjnistration.
There were also thinly yelled
hints of lack of harmony between
hospital executives and employees.
Debate over the order ending
the housekeeper's employment
after she had held the post for
four years enlivened a session in
which the commissioners approved
an $4,000 improvement project,
named a highway engineer and
promoted three officers Of the
county police department.
They also received a progress
report from the Public Admins
tration Service. a Chicago firm
RETAINED to conduct a $25. 900
survey of the county government.
Report Covers June.
The report, for June, said public
works and recreation activities
have been reviewed and that
probes have begun of other govern
mental phases, including liquor
licensing and police services. The
survey is to be completed this fall.
/ Commissioner Edward j. Waters
opened the verbal exchange over
hospital matters when he read a
.lletter he said was signed by Mr..
Penn, notifying Mrs. Yates OF her
discharge. Mr.. Waters told his
colleagues Mrs. Yates brought the
letter to him.
! Declaring. that the action was
taken "summarily' and that NO
charges had been filed. Mr.. Waters
|unsuccessfully demanded that the
commissioners order the hospital
board to grant Mr. Yates a hear
ing.
Mr.. Latimer held that per-
sonnet problems should be ham
died by the superintendent, and
Board Attorney Adrian P. Fisher
supported his stand.
Dictatorial Rule Charged.
After charging and reiterating
that personalities are involved
in this case" Mr.. Waters de-
clared: mfr. Penn rules the hos
pital in dictatorial fashion, but
there is no one there I am afraid
of, doctors included"
! In another action, the commits
!. sioners authorized for the Hill
) Icrest Gardens special improve
ment district streets, curbs, gut
tiers and storm sewers in Twenty
eighth parkway, Easton street,
lTwenty-seventh avenue. Catskill
street. Twenty-seventh court and
Dawson street.
Albert w. Paine of Hunting
town, Calvert County, was named
Jas highway design engineer at
$500 annually. He was recon-