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the hospital functions, rescinded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 a 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-
ministration.
| There were also thinly yelled
hints of lack of harmony between
hospital executives and employees.
l Debate over the order ending
the housekeeper's employment
after she had held the post for
} -four years enlivened session in
which the commissioners approved
Ian 100000 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
'ltration Service. a Chicago firm
RETAINED to conduct $25 ,00C
survey of the county government
Report Covers June.
The report, for June, said public
| works and recreation activitie.
have been reviewed and thai
probes have begun of other govern
mental phases, including Liquor
,Ilicensing and police services. Ths
} survey is to be completed this fall
Commissioner Edward j. Water!
: Iopened the verbal exchange ovel
fIhospital matters when he read
letter he said was signed by Mr.
Penn, notifying Mrs. Yates OF he
q discharge. Mr.. Waters told hi
q colleagues Mrs. Yates brought th'
q letter to him.
Declaring that the action wa
= taken "summarily" and that NJ
: charges had been filed, Mr.. Water
unsuccessfully demanded that tn
commissioners order the hospita
board to grant Mr.. Yates a hear
~ ing.
), MIR. Latimer held that per
). sonnet problems should be han
: died by the superintendent. ant
!, Board Attorney Adrian P. Fishe
supported his stand.
Dictatorial Rule Charged.
After charging and reiteratinl
that personalities are involves
in this case" Mr.. Waters de
|clared: mfr. Penn rules the hos
Ipital in dictatorial fashion, bu
there is no one there am afrai'
lof, doctors included"
h In another action, the commits
t. sioners authorized for the Hill
IS crest Gardens special improve
d ment district streets. curbs, gut
n tiers and storm sewers in Twenty
n eighth parkway, Easton street
Twenty-seventh avenue, Catskil
street, Twenty-seventh court an
d Dawson street.
Albert w. Paine of Hunting
town. Calvert County, was name
t.Ias a highway design engineer q
$500 annually. He was recon