Evening star., 1955-06-21
|ScI1eeIe Called
Responsible for.
|Sa|k Program

A new factor was present to-
day in the polio vaccine situa-
ton, already complicated by
congressional efforts to find an
incubation financing plan that
would satisfy both the admin
istration and Democrats.
That factor was a disclaimer
by Secretary of Welfare Hobby
Of responsibility for the Govern
ment's actions on vaccine. Mrs.
Hobby said in a radio interview
last night that the law places
the burden Of responsibility on
Surgeon General Leonard A.
Scheele.
Although Mrs. Hobby en-
phasized that she was not
dissatisfied with DR.. Scheele'S
actions, she made repeated
distinctions between the respon-
sibilities of her department and
those of the Public HEALTH
Service, a department agency
headed by DR.. Scheele.
Nothing I Could Do Differently
Asked if she had any apollo
gies for the way the vaccine
program has been handled, or
would with hindsight have act
ed differently, Mrs. Hobby said:
There is nothing could have
done differently. The law Con
control of biologicals such as
the Salk vaccine) charged the
Public Health Service and not
the Secretary"
At another point, she said she
would be legally powerless to
overrule Mr.. Scheele If she
thought he had made a mis-
take.
Mrs. Hobby said she did not
think it would be known
whether or if" the health serv-
lice had been negligent until a
final report is made on vaccine
produced by Cutter Laboratories,
Berkeley, Calf.
Cutter-made vaccine was
withdrawn from public use when
IA number of children developed
polio after receiving it. DR..
Scheele has suggested some of
the Cutter product may have
been unsafe. The question still
lis being studied.
After the broadcast Mrs. Hob
by issued a statement in which
she said her remarks about
health service responsibilities
should not be interpreted in
any way as criticism of the
United States Surgeon General
or the Public Health Service.
They are serving the public
with all the scientific knowledge
at their command"
During the broadcast Mrs.
lobby had said, 81 want to
make it clear that I am not
dissatisfied with the surgeon
general"
Asked if she had any legal
light to overrule DR.. Scheele if
she thought he had erred, Mrs.
Hobby replied, 81 have none"
Meanwhile. the Senate Labor
and Public Welfare Committee
called off a tentatively arranged
closed session this morning to
consider financing plans. Chair
man Hill. Democrat, of Ala
bama, said a principal reason
for the postponement was that
the committee has not yet re-
ceived complete transcripts of
open hearings last week.
Two conflicting bills before the
committee, however, not only
would split the committee prac-
tically along party lines but also
have aroused criticism among
several other Senators in both
parties.
Compromise Fails
Neither bill completely salts
fled Senator Ives, Republican. of
New York, a committee mem
ber. But his efforts to devise
a middle-ground measure re-
portedly have failed thus far to
produce an acceptable COM
promise.
Democratic members of the
committee backed a measure
sponsored by Senator Hill for
approximately $135 million in
Federal grants to States for
free vaccine for all youngsters
through the age of 10. Repub-
licans in general rallied behind
an administration bill for $35.2
million in such grants to supple
ment State public health pro-
grams.
Members are awaiting prob
able further recommendations of
the national advisory committee
on polio vaccine. 1t will meet
tomorrow with Public Health
Service and other Government
officials and is expected to rec
clearance of additional
lots of the serum.
Meanwhile, in an effort to
keep the financial and social"