Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-04-23
City Urged to Back
Hospital Fund Plea
District Objects
To Portion Of
Equipment Cost
By JAMES G. DEANE

The District Commissioners
today were urged to withdraw
objections to a move to win SIT
million from Congress to finish
the New Washington Hospital
Center.
Hospital leaders disclosed on q
visit to the District building
that the city heads a few da;.
ago told the Budget Bureau they
were opposed to having the
District pay part Of the SIT
million.
1t was revealed several weeks
ago that lack of the additional
funds. needed for equipment,
might keep the 800-bed hospital,
now nearing completion on the
Soldiers Home grounds. from
opening.
Samuel Spencer, former Dis
trict Commissioner and executive
vice president Of the hospital,
told the Commissioners today
they would be "pennywise and
pound foolish" to stick to their
objections.
Financing Changes
Charles S. Dewey, hospital
president, proposed that the
District seek some major changes
in the financing arrangements
for the hospital. He suggested:
l. That the city seek to have
its share in the cost Of the hos
pital cut from half to 80 per
cent, as provided in the original
act of Congress.
2. That the city seek a delay
Of at least five or 10 years before
it must start paying its share.
The present requirement is for
the city to start paying 3 per
cent annually as soon as the
hospital is finished.
3. That emergency financing
steps be taken to launch a new
nursing school to be operated
by the hospital. Mr.. Dewey sug-
gested either seeking a special
appropriation or fund grant. or
asking Congress to cancel the
requirement that the three hos
pitfalls scheduled to move into the
new center turn over present
property to the Government. II
the property were retained it
could be used as revenue to sup
port the school. he said.
Fear Reaction in Congress
General Services Administra
ton, which is building the new
center. already has agreed to
seek the additional SIT million
for equipment. But Mr.. Spencer
told the Commissioners hospital
leaders fear that if the Com
missioners say they won't go
along with the emergency fund
request Congress won't go along
either"
If we don't get the appropria-
ton" Mr.. Spencer said, well be
like a person with a good set Of
teeth. except the two front teeth
are missing"
He said the hospital couldn't
operate properly without the
needed equipment.
If the new hospital is not OPP
Grated successfully, the law pro-
vldes that it will revert to the
Federal Government. If it doesn't
open, the reversion might occur
Immediately, today's session was
told.
Sees Unfair Treatment
Mr.. Spencer said he felt the
District had been unfairly
treated when Congress changed
the city's share in the cost of
the hospital from 80 to SO per
cent and he said the city should
try to work out the financing
problem to correct its present
disadvantage. But he urged that
the Commissioners go along with
the SIT million request even
If they have to help pay for it.
The new center has been
scheduled to cost $2l.7 million.
The additional expenditure
would cost the District about
SIS, 900 more a year.
Dr.. Warwick Brown. admin
istrator of the new center. and
Richard Loughrey, deputy sd
ministrator. listed equipment
costs figuring in the SIT million
estimate. ranging from $624,000
for bedroom facilities, down to
5000 for a pneumatic tube room.
DR.. Brown said some of the
major needs arise from plans TO
operate the city's biggest out
patient department, to handle
400 patients a day.
Cost Rise Cited
The administrators said cost
increases had caused the equip
ment shortage. and that another
price rise is expected in July.
THE longer we wait, the more
1t will cost" Mr.. Loughrey de-
clared.
Mr.. Dewey said he already has
approached the Health, Educa-
ton and Welfare Department
about a possible grant for the
nursing school. If the school
can't be launched properly. he
said, it may jeopardize the staff
ing Of the hospital.
The three hospitals slated to
exchange their present facilities
for the new center are Emer-
gency, Episcopal and Garfield.
The Commissioners took the
plea of the hospital leaders
under advisement.
a-aAs-