Evening star., 1952-12-31
Stormy Session
|Defers Action on
Hospital Control
Joint Meeting Set
On Prince Georges
Issue on Jan. Is

issue OF JON. ID
A bill to give directors of the
Prince Georges General Hospital
authority now vested in the
county commissioners faces q
fight for survival.
The proposed legislation set Oh
Ia string Of verbal expletives when
the county heads took up the
measure In Upper Marlboro yes
terday.
Caught In a series Of thrusts
and parties. the bill took a rugged
|mauling. So did the county med
ical society.
Finally the commissioners de-
|cided to review the proposal with
members Of the hospital board
and the society. The joint session
was set for 2 pm. January 13
in Upper Marlboro.
Commission Chairman Thomas
E. Latimer ignited the fuse. He
reminded his colleagues that all
three groups had tentatively in
dorsed the bill at a meeting on
December 26. Then he suggested
formal approval.
Waters Files Report.
Commissioner Edward j. Waters
tlared I'D. He inserted in the
record a minority report" filed
by Elwood j. Taylor, a member
Of the hospital board. Mr.. Tay-
lor and John A. Cole were the
only members of their group who
voted against the plan. Mr..
Waters was the lone commissioner
dissenter.
Mr.. Taylor pointed out that the
bill calls for elimination of the
present 19-member hospital board
and creation of q new 12-member
group, selected as follows:
One Of the commissioners, as
president: one chosen by the in
stitution's medical staff, one by
the Hospital Guild, three by the
medical society. three by the
county heads and three by the
hospital board.
"The above method" Mr.. Tay-
lor asserted. will give the medical
organizations four votes. Then,
with some lobbying, they could
easily control the three members
to be appointed by the Board of
Directors, thus giving control of
the board to the medical organ
ization to run as they see fit.
Cites Taxpayers Interests.
"Why should the hospital, a
public institution, be turned over
to a minority group, instead of
to representatives of the entire
body Of taxpayers?"
Mr.. Waters and Commissioner
w Everett Marion sprang to
their feet.
why, indeed?" they thundered.
Mr.. Marion and Mr. Waters
also criticized a provision Of the
bill that would direct the imposi-
ton of a special tax levy to
finance operational deficits. Mr..
Marion suggested that not more
than one director be named from
one election district.
Chairman Latimer and Com
missioner Daniel A. Abbott de-
Tended the measure. MIR. Abbott
said, however. he will study the
proposal further before finally de-
Gliding his position.
Mrs. Spicknall Noncommital.
The fifth commissioner, Mrs. H.
Wilson Spicknall. did not par
ticipate in the debate. Later she
said she was not yet prepared to
say which side she will take at
the showdown meeting.
Mr.. Waters unsuccessfully
moved to block the January IL
session. He contended that since
the commissioners have full au-
thority over the hospitals affairs
its problems should be settled al
the local level.
Mr.. Latimer and Mr.. Abbott
said the measures chief objective
lis to stabilize hospital admin
|istration generally and intern and
nurse training programs espe-
cially.
But Mr.. Waters and Mr.. Mar
ton vowed unceasing opposition to
the tax plan and a further pro-
vision that would permit the
commissioners to borrow for the
hospital up to $4,000 a year.
Doctor Membership Hit.
They also expressed fear that
too many doctors as directors
would be bad prescription for
the hospital. Said Mr.. Waters:
Three doctors on the board
are two too many"
Il agree" Mr.. Marion ex-
claimed.
you're being rough on the doc
tors" Mr.. Abbott rejoined. "They
are important people anywhere
and especially around a hospital.
Do you want to cause them hard
ship"
mo-" MIR. Marion replied, "but
show me a doctor in need"