Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-05-22
Hospital Center
Request Cut
BY JAMES G. DEANE

Inc BuQgeC bureau mas SlaSned
to. $79O.000 a 50 million emer-
gency grant requested to COM
Iplete the giant new Washington
Hospital Center.
Hospital officials said yester-
day the Budget Bureau action,
if sustained, will keep the hos
pital from obtaining the equip
ment necessary for its opening
Leaders of the hospital project
weeks ago asked for the extra
50 million after unexpected price
boosts made 1t impossible to fin
ish the new center within the
$21.7 million already appropri-
ated.
Charles S. Dewey, president of
the center. said yesterday he
hopes to persuade the admins
tration and Congress to grant
the full 50 million. despite the
Budget Bureaus action. Hospital
officials conducted Maj. Gen
Howard Nice. Synder, President
Eisenhower's personal physician,
on a tour Of the big 800-bed hos
lpital plant.
Snyder Indicates Sympathy
Gen. Snyder afterward had NO
comment. But he indicated to
officials sympathy with the hos
pitfalls financial situation.
Included in Budget Bureau
slashes was 100000 air-con-
ditioning system for the hos
pitfalls nursing school. Other
equipment not yet purchased
covers a wide range.
Neill p. Thompson, architect
and hospital consultant with
the Public Buildings Service,
told Gen. Snyder that the new
hospital did not have frills and
that any omission caused by
failure to obtain the needed
funds would make is SUBJ
standard.
DR.. Herbert Ramsey, former
president of the District Medical
Society. who accompanied Gen
Snyder on yesterdays tour
strongly backed the request fol
the additional 50 million.
ITO go this far and not 70
complete it is in effect to lose the
benefit Of the $22 million they've
already put in" DR.. Ramsey
said
Opening TO Be Delayed
Richard Loughery. admins
traitor of Garfield Hospital and
assistant administrator Of the
new center. said that the hos
pital is now unlikely to open be-
fore Thanksgiving. The original
hope was to open it by this
month. and officials more re.
Gently had hoped for completion
by October.
Mr.. Dewey has sought help
from Senator Beall. Republican
OF Maryland. and other mem.
bers Of Congress in meeting the
financial crisis. Senator Beall
is cosponsor Of a bill to add
SO million to the present Hos
pital Center Act.
However. this bill is intendet
to provide for new hospital il
Southeast Washington, rattle,
than for the Hospital Center.
Cost Split With District
Mr.. Dewey pointed out yester.
day that the Hospital Center has
been kept within 8 per cent O
the amount originally appropri.
ated for its construction ii year,
ago. despite the Imitation Of cost,
which has occurred since. H,
said this is a better record thar
that Of many other projects.
The new center, on the Sol
diers Home grounds. will replace
the present Emergency, Episcopa
and Garfield Hospitals. Tn,
Government is building the cen
ter. with the Federal Govern
ment and the District splittin,
the cost.
One stumbling block to the s.
million fund request was a re-
cent objection by the Distric
Commissioners to having tn,
District pay any part Of it.
Hospital officials have urges
the Commissioners to withdraw
this opposition and ask Congress
to reduce the Districts share IL
the total hospital cost to 80 PEI
cent. as provided in the origina
Hospital Act.