Evening star., 1953-03-01
Decision Asked
On Building Of
Hospitals Here
Council Is Concerned
Lest Economy Plans
Delay Projects
By John McKelwoy

The Metropolitan Area Hos
pital Council today asked the Eli
senhower administration for a
decision permitting the critical
and vital" construction programs
of the Hospital Center and other
D. c. hospitals to proceed.
The council also expressed
deep concern over any halt or
delay" in the programs, threat
ened now by a sweeping economy
move in Government.
Budget Director Joseph NJ.
Dodge early last month ordered
all Federal departments" to pro-
ceed only with construction
projects which are clearly es-
sential." The possibility arose
that erection of the long sought
Hospital Center and other hos
pital construction faced post
ponement.
At that time a spokesman for
the General Services Admini-
Stration said little difficulty was
anticipated in the Districts hos
pital construction programs.
Decision is Hinted.
However, officials of the
agency said last night no de-
cision has been reached as yet.
They added that all construction
projects were being reviewed and
were to be in the hands of the
Bureau of the Budget by tomor-
row. It was limited that some
announcement on the status of
the Hospital Center could be
expected this week.
According to the Hospital
Council. 1T does not believe that
the Budget Directors directive,
laudably aimed at unnecessary
and wasteful construction, was
intended to halt an urgently
needed program of the character
authorized by the amended Hos
pital Center Act"
Even aside, the Council said.
from the major participation of
local funds and private contri-
buttons, local hospital conStruc-
ton plans clearly meet the test
of essentially laid down by the
Budget Director"
Plants Still Obsolete.
A decision to delay this pro-
gram OF rehabilitating local hos
pitals would be "fraught with
tragic consequences" the council
said
It was we'll before 1945, the
council points out, that there
was serious shortage of hospital
beds here. The majority of them
were housed in ancient, dete-
riorated, -f1reproof buildings,
ill-suited to the needs of mod
ern medical care and consti-
tuting a potential hazard to
patients and staff alike. 1.-THE
bulk of our citizens, including
Government personnel, must still
look to these obsolete plants for
their care and treatment" the
council added.
Plans for the construction of
the Hospital Center are nearing
completion To be located on>the
grounds OF Soldiers Home. about
$21.7 million already has been
authorized for it's construction,
while 50 million has been ap-
propriated
Incorporate Facilities.
The center will incorporate the
facilities of Emergency, Garfield
and Episcopal Hospitals. When
completed. the Government is to
receive the properties now owned
by the three institutions.
In an amendment to the Hos
pital Center Act. $11 million was
appropriated by Congress last
year for additional hospital IA
cilities for six hospitals. These
include Providence, Sibley, Cas-
ualty, Childrens' National Home
opathic and Columbia.
The Hospital Council stand on
the possibility of a halt or delay
in the construction program was
announced in the form of a res
oldtion. unanimously adopted by
its members. H. Gabriel Murphy.
president, issued the announce
ment.