Evening star., 1952-05-05
Medical Center
Extension Wins
House Support
Committee Approves
Bill Allowing 5 Years
More on Project
By WoIIoce {. CIaYton

by Wolloce {. Cioyton
The House Public Works Com
mittee today unanimously recon-
mended favorable action on a bill
giving hospital leaders here an
other five years to build the pro-
posed 1,000-bed Washington med
ical center.
The committee approved the ex-
tension Immediately after hearing
testimony from hospital officials
in favor of extending the Hospital
Center Act. An amendment which
would advance construction funds
to private hospitals not included
in the new center also was ex-
tended.
Original legislation authorizing
the center was passed in 1946 and
expires June 80. The amendment
was passed last fall, but would
also expire next month.
Other Hospitals Included.
The $22 million center will in
corporate the present Emergency,
Garfield and Episcopal Hospitals.
Funds left under the present $35
million authorization could be
used by private non-participating
hospitals for construction pur-
poses. These hospitals would have
to raise half the cost themselves.
Providence Hospital is now rails
ing funds to construct a new ST
million building near Catholic
University. Casualty is planning
an addition to the present site,
and Sibley and National Homeo-
pathic Hospitals have tentative
construction plans.
No opposition was expressed by
any of the committee members.
See Shortage of Beds.
Charles S. Dewey, president of
the Medical Center and head of
Garfield, pointed out there will
be shortage of nearly 500 hos
pitfalls beds in the Washington
area, even after the center is built
and planned construction of other
hospitals is completed.
To-day we often have to turn
away people seeking hospitaliza-
tion," he said. 1--WE must be pre-
pared to take care of them"
The District would pick up
about 300 beds on completion of
the center. Emergency now has
800, Garfield 302 and Episcopal
100.
Mr.. Dewey said the center is
behind schedule because:
l. An original site selected at
the Naval Observatory could not
be obtained since the Navy could
not get funds to move the observ-
atory to Charlottesville, Va.
2. Personnel changes in the
stop commands" of the participat-
ing hospitals delayed much of the
early planning.
Knows of No Opposition.
w. E. Reynolds, commissioner
of public buildings for the Cen
eral Services Administration, told
the committee members he knew
of mo opposition to the center"
GSA architects are now drawing
plans for the seven-story struc-
ture and the agency's lawyers
have completed negotiations for
the Soldiers Home land on which
the center will be built.
Samuel H. Kaufman, former
president of Emergency and now
a vice president, pointed out that
the hospitals main building is 40
years old. He said hospital Off
cials distributed questionnaires to
all patients during the last year.
and added:
Although most favorable COM
ments were received concerning
the hospital staff and the care
received, there are persistent COM
plants on the physical condition
of the building"
These included, he said, COM
plants about leaky faucets, rat
Ting windows and, in one case,
falling plaster.
Overhaul Impossible.
"It is impossible to per-
form major physical overhauls
which a 40-year-old building in
evitably needs" he said. CAL
though Emergency is a proud en-
tity, it is willing to sacrifice that
entity and loyalty in order to
obtain a new modern hospital
here"
District Commissioner F. Joseph
Donohue testified: 1.-THE Commis-
Sioners feel the health of the
people in Washington, which is
largely populated by thousands
.. of Government workers, is the
responsibility of both Federal and
District governments. Both re-
sponsibilities could be met under
this legislation"
Others testifying in favor of the
extension were H. L. Rust. jr., ex-I
ecutive vice president of Episcopal
Hospital, and Alan Johnstone, a
former general counsel for the
6Indero1 LNorkc Aonocv Y1radnceS.