Evening star., 1954-10-12
Medical School
Secret Report
WrdpsLifted
Byrd Places Blame
On McKeIdin for
Maryland U. Status
By Gene Goodwin

~~S "sss
A report evaluating the Uni
versity of Maryland School of
Medicine, held confidential by
the Board Of Regents because it
is highly controversial" has
lost some of it's secrecy in Mary
lands gubernatorial campaign.
While DR.. H. C. Byrd spoke at
a rally Of some TOO Democrats in
Hyattsville last night. his head
quarters in Baltimore took the
wraps off portion of the Middle
States Committee report of some
so scholars and educators after a
study of the university
He said most important crit
icisms about the University of
Maryland School of Medicine lie
on Gov. McKeldin's doorstep" ="
thus placing the blame on the
Republican whom he is attempt
ing to unSeat.
Attempt to Refute G. O. p.
The statement was an attempt
to refute a G. o. P. statement
that the school was sin a status
of probation in regard to its ac-
creditation."
DR.. Byrd said the report of
the committee of the Middle
States Association of Colleges
and Secondary Schools, as we'll
as two reports by another group,
show such statements are not
justified.
He said both reports contained
constructive criticism" but said
they were generally compliment
tary.
The medical association report,
he said, commented on grossly
inadequate" library. definitely
low" faculty salaries. and Gin
adequate" faculty stating in the
basic science departments.
DR.. Byrd said his Republican
opponent, Gov. McKeldin. had
refused to recommend" funds
for a new library and failed to
provide in his budget for the
necessary funds for salary in
creaSes :"
$50 the most important criti-
ciSmS about the medical school
lie on Gov. McKeldin's doorstep"
he concluded.
Launched by Sherwood.
The Republican candidate for
Congress from the 4th district
in Baltimore. Arthur w. Sher-
wood, launched the criticism of
the medical school when he said
last week that he had it on
good authority that the medical
school is on probation" for
accreditation.
Gov. McKeldin said he agreed
with this statement, and DR..
Wilson Fl. Elkins. the man who
has succeeded DR.. Byrd as pres
ldent at College Park, said Mr..
Sherwood's statement was true
"in a sense"
DR.. Byrd's statement last
night said survey showed 98. 10
per cent of graduates from the
Maryland school in 1936-1953
had passed State Medical Board
examinations, compared with
1881 per cent for Johns Hopkins
University graduates.
ITO say that a medical school
with a record of this kind is
on probation is rather ridicu-
lous." the Democratic candidate
declared.
Quotes MSA Report.
He also quoted from the Mid
die States Association report,
which the university Board of
Regents, despite pressure from
Gov. McKeldin. had refused to
make public.
The part Of the report he
quoted seemed to deal with the
entire university and not just
the medical school.
It referred to DR.. Byrd as "a
skillful administrator who has
made few errors"
DR.. Byrd said, however, that
the report Criticized me for ex-
ercising too tight an adminis-
trative control"
"This in some measure is
true" he said, because tight
administrative control in an or
ganization like the University of
Maryland is necessary to hold
expenditures within check and
prevent the creation of deficits"
Labor Theme of Speech.
His address in Hyattsville last
night was pitched to a labor
theme. Stating that he and the
Democratic Party believed in the
dignity of labor. DR.. Byrd pledged
to maintain the income of the
families of this State"
IF the families of the State
don't have sufficient income for
the necessities of life." he con-
tinued. there's no use talking
about any State services because
there would be no taxes to pay
for these services"
He said the time has come
to stop ascending tax spirals:
we must cut out frills."