Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-07-22
Health Board Plan
Opposed by Majority
Testifying al Hearing
By John w. Stepp


By John W. Stepp
Washington citizenry may well
have cleared doubts from the
minds of the Commissioners on
whether the Health Department
should be ruled by a health
board.
The peoples voice, recorded at
an all-day public hearing yester-
day, was opposed-by a solid IT.
to-4 majority-to the board con-
cept. The department has been
headed for many years by a
single administrative chief.
The other issue of the hearing
whether the long-existing We'll
fare Board should be abolished
in favor of the single director
SyStem-waS given little clarifica-
ton by the witnesses. Some IS
who testified we're about equally
divided in their pro-or-con board
views.
That part of the medical pro-
fession which has recommended
creation of a health board failed
to find allies even among three
Of the city's largest hospitals
and one of the medical associa-
tions.
See "N0 Solution"
Spokesman for Georgetown,
Freedmen's and George Wash
ington University Hospitals
agreed that a health board would
be, as one said, mo solution" to
public health problems here. DR..
Edward c. Mazique, president of
the Medico- Chirurgical Society,
observed that a board would
only result in divided RESPONSE
bility, confusion and buck-pass-
ing"
And while a spokesman for
the dental profession spoke for
a health board. his Endorsement
was lukewarm. He said he would
be willing to have his profession
represented on citizens advis-
DRY public health council.
The city government reorgan-
izers have recommended forming
such an advisory group, along
with retention of the single di-
rector setup. The reorganizers
have also urged abolition of the
Welfare Board, and fashioning
a welfare advisory body for the
welfare director.
It was as a consequence of
these reorganization proposals
that the Commissioners resorted
to public hearing to help resolve
the controversy. The city heads
gave no indication at the close
of yesterdays session when or
how they will decide.
The Health Department took
advantage of yesterdays oppor-
tunity to swing at the District
Medical Association and a Spe-
cial citizens laymen committee
on medical care for the indl-
gent-both of which urge a
health board.
DR.. Joseph F. Fazekas. chief
of staff of Gallinger Municipal
Hospital, accused these organ
izations and their supporters Of
favoring a board chiefly so that
the interests of private hospitals
can be we'll served.
ut should be obvious that the
committee would make every eff
fort to insure that the interests
of private institutions were we'll
served" DR.. Fazekas declared.
RaiIrOading Charged.
He further charged that DR..
Wallace M. Yater, former presi-
dent of the medical society,
"railroaded" the Health Board
proposition through a poorly
attended" meeting of the society.
The committee, DR.. Fazekas
went on, does not represent all
the medical profession, "but
chiefly those interested in private
hospitals"
The real thinking" behind the
pro-board faction, he declared, is
that private hospitals, although
against socialized medicine. would
like to get as much money as
possible from the taxpayers to
support their medical programs. "
Taking his turn as a witness,
DR.. Herbert P. Ramsey, presi-
dent of the medical society, later
met DR.. FazekaS' comments by
noting that 1.-The ugly head of
remuneration has been raised"
and adding that anybody who
rises in the public interest is &C
cused of Interior motives"
Creation of a board, DR.. Ram
sey continued, lis in the public
interests. not in the interests of
doctors. I believe this move Is
right"
Several witnesses spoke of
boards, in general, being unde-
sirable. One called attention to
the operation of the Board of
Education here, commenting that
residents have a right to be
bitter about the constant bicker-
ing" between school board and
school administrators.