davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-03-28
Slash of S7.8 Million
To Assist District

A proposed S22.6 million Dis
trict highway budget request has
been trimmed by S7.8 million
without any corresponding cut
back IN planned projects.
This bit of fiscal legerdermain
has been made possible by the
Federal Aid Highway Act OF
1856.
On paper. this makes the Dis
trict look good in the eyes OF
economy minded Congresmer
who are tightening their grip
on the Nations purse strings
Actually. the revised requests are
expected to be supplemented by
the 90-l0 Federal aid program
for interstate highways.
This picture was disclosed to.
day in testimony released or
hearings by a House Appropria
tons subcommittee in charge Of
the District budget.
Highway Director j. N. Robert.
son broke the good news TO the
subcommittee in this fashion:
Due to the sequence Of events
within this period fiscal 1853
1t is necessary that ! advise you
that l am requesting a reduction
in the major capital outlay Sec
ton of our budget of S7.82l 900
This has become necessary
due to the effect of passage BY
the Congress of the Federal Aic
Highway Act of 1856. lnstruc-
lions TO the Department Of
Highways concerning the sums
TO be allocated to the District
of Columbia under this act were
not received until a time SUBJ
sequent to the preparation and
submission Of our 1858 estimates
to the Budget Office. and it is
therefore, necessary that certain
changes within these budget
estimates be made,
On January is. President
Eisenhower submitted the 1855
budget to Congress including ar
item Of S22.6l2.000 for major
capital outlay for District high
ways. This is the item Mr.. Rob-
ertson trimmed III his subcom-
mittee appearance.
The new figure for major cap
ital outlay would come out al
Sl49lO.O00.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-03-28

FOLLOWING the hearing
Mr.. Rabaut talked freely in the
privacy Of his Office.
THE Commissioners throw
items out-and they have to
hold down-and l get the
blame" he said. But l don't
care.
II can't tell you what we are
going to do but there will have
to be cuts. 1t wouldn't pass
the full committee otherwise.
They are wild about cutting
this year, and the ones that
want to cut the most are the
ones that want to protect
something they are inter-
eSted in"
Mr.. Rabaut is from Crosse
Pointe, Mich, the gold coast"
suburb OF Detroit. The Fords
and the Newberrys have large
estates there. But he also has
a fifth of the city proper and
says he owes his first election
lin 1884 to the large Belgian
group in his district. His
grandfather Rabaut came
from Belgium.
He is also ranking member
Of the House Appropriations
Subcommittee on Public Works
and has major responsibility
as to its So billion budget, in
Guiding atomic energy, rivers
and harbors and power plants.
He has nine children, the
oldest a Jesuit priest, three
daughters who are nuns and
% grandchildren. He is 70.
He sponsored the resolution
which placed "unoer God in
the oath OF allegiance.
He is known as the singing
Congressman
u used to hit high c. he
said. Il sang twice before the
House The second time / gave
them Ave Maria in Latin
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-03-28

ness they felt But their presence evidence
OF their loyalty and the reality of their love.
Where the many who had been helped by His
healing ministry? Only Mary Magdaene was at the cross
Where the remaining OF the twelve who
had enjoyed the privilege close companionShip with
Him? John there and Judas had hanged himself in
remorse but where were the others?
knew of course that many of those who crowded
around him during His popularity thrill seekers
and air-w weather friends, but adding to His physical
suffering, He must have felt the full Of anguish
that comes to us when those whom love and trust
stand afar off in hour OF need
And ! like TO think, too, that He may have found
large measure of comfort in the demonstrated love-
loyalty and compassion OF the three Marys at Gogoha
Tomorrow: J. Willard Marriott
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-03-28
Alexandra Names
jamestown Group

Alexandria Mayor Leroy S
Bendheim has appointed 49,
member citizens commission &c
plan the city's participation in
the festival celebrating the 350th
anniversary Of the founding OF
jamestown. Va.
The members are David c
Book. temporary chairman;
Eugene Barnwell. the Rev. Will
liam E. Bascom. Mrs. Una +
Carter. Robert V. H. Duncan
Joseph A. Ellis. Rabbi Emmett A
Frank. William Hurd. the Rev
Cliff r. johnson. John A. Long
the Rev. BENJAMIN Lynt, Miss
Utha Gray Smith and Mrs
Audrey Walz.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-03-28

Galilee on that fateful Friday be-
fore the first Easter. Some of them
stood afar off at the edge of the
crowd, but three stood at the foot
OF the cross.
They were the three Marys--one
the mother of Jesus, one His aunt,
His mothers sister, and one de-
scribcd by one writer as beautiful
woman with auburn hair Mary
Magdalcne, all sharing common
grief and drawn to Golgotha by
common devotion.
We can only imagine the emo
tionS that filled them, the helpless
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-03-28
Budget Session
Praises Martin

James l.. Martin. veteran Dis
trict finance officer and assessor
who has gone through many
battles on Capitol Hill over city
taxes, left House hearings on the
1858 District budget with his
ears ringing with praise OF his
works.
He is retiring April 30
Chairman Rabaut of the House
subcommittee in charge of the
supply bill noted this and praised
him for devotion to his tasks
over many years
Representative Wilson. Repub-
lican Of Indiana. spoke up to say
Mr.. Martin had done a mighty
fine job" in carrying out wishes
Of the funds group.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-03-28
The Administration Of
District General Hospital

The administrative staff re-
fleets an inadequate and weak
administration on the part OF
responsible officials. There is no
delegation OF authority below
the deputy superintendent >
In most of the hospital de-
ficiencies set forth in this
report, the superintendent. DR..
Stebbing. failed to take positive
action to correct the situation.
All Of the hospital is marked
by poor maintenance.
There is not enough personnel
to work on budget and fiscal
matters there.
The failure Of the administra-
ton to keep the heads of de-
partments advised on their re-
quests has prevented the hos
pital from presenting "a real
and true picture of the needs of
the hospital TO Congress"
When a hospital department
head makes request. ii is
changed on any or all of three
different levels with the depart
ment head never advised of it.
Before last August. the hos
pital had not undertaken an
analysis of its costs. although
since then it has made an effort
Before last summer. the
budget problems there were in
chaotic condition because de-
partment heads were not advised
as to whether their budget re-
quests had been granted Some
times the heads requested the
same items repeatedly, receiving
certain of them twice.
There has been no inventory
Of non-eXpendable property al
the hospital for over 80 years
There is no record of costs oil
repairs 10 equipment.
There is no system of making
certain people responsible fol-
certain equipment. preventing
the institution from having any
control over the loss or theft o.
property"
THE equipment need at tht
hospital is critical and will re.
quire careful planning, purchas,
ing and installation TO put the
hospital on an efficient and eco.
romic operation.
The supply department ha'
been improved but there is a lacl
Of understanding Of supplies anc
equipment by the personnel.
The pharmacy chief is no
invited to medical staff meet
ings. He does not have complete
control over drugs used there
There are no spot checks made
Of the handling Of narcotics il
the hospital" although the Man
agement Office is working on {
plan.
Housekeeping at the institution
is not of the standard anC
quality that should be main
tanned in hospital and patien
care institution More person
mel will be needed.
The morale Of nurses is low.
number OF factors cause this
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-03-28

motions for themselves and
their friends.
"One official stated the re-
port reads, that he could not
get a frank statement from Mr..
Burdette in regard to reorgan-
ization. Mr.. Burdette would tell
this official that the men were
doing the combined jobs, and on
checking he would determine
they were not. Even when the
men were interviewed by Civil
Service Commission personnel,
this official received the impress
sion that the men were coached
to give answers calculated to
merit the desired promotions. p"
With regard to reorganization
activities and jockeying for pro-
motions, the report says: AM
other employee advised that he
became engaged in an argument
with the Chief of the Food and
Public Health Inspection Divi-
sion with regard TO falsifying
the records and that the Chief
tMr. Burdette) advised him that
the more lies he told, the better
of he would be-"
Morale Held to Suffer
"Seventy-two employees OF the
bureau received grade raises as
a result (of reorganization but
according to many employees in
terviewed morale went down. not
up. From available statistics,
efficiency was not improved
! There were, the investigators
point out, two strong candidates
I for the job of chief OF the new
bureau. Mr.. Burdette and Will
liam H. Cary, jr., formerly chief
of public health engineering.
brought into the new bureau
with reorganization.
Mr.. Cary's qualifications, the
report indicates. are far superior
7 20 those of Mr., Burdette.
! appointment of Mr.. Burdette
was attributed to the fact that
/ he was acceptable to the affected
business people and the fact that
he was a confidant Of the Di-
rector of Public Health. AL
though Mr.. Cary was stated to
be better qualified by training
and experience for the position
he lacked seniority. was con-
sidered infiexible in enforce
.ment matters and less acceptable
ito business"
I Mr.. Cary was made assistant
chief. Complaints were made,
however. that he was assistant
chief only in title.
Several weeks ago. Dr. Finu-
cane made some changes which
placed the public health inspec-
ton and public health engineer
ing divisions directly under Mr.
Cary and the milk and veterinary
division under Mr.. Burdette
Continued on Page A-2S, Col. 3
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-03-28

VI all lIthcSiisdllOil VI NtildIt
made by the House Appropria-
lions Committee staff.
The investigative report itself
was not made public, unlike a
similar report on health and
hospitals here. Mr.. Rabaut said
the committee had decided not
to make the welfare investiga-
ton public at this time because
more studies would be conducted
In comparing relief grants,
Mr.. Rsbaut called attention to
the fact that the District well
fare program provides nothing
for families where the father is
le-bodied but unemployed.
Cites Differences
He cited these comparisons
An able bodied but unem-
ployed father with a wife and
three minor children gets MOTH
ing in the District. The same
family gets sl8l.70 in Virginia
and $500 in Baltimore monthly
An incapacitated father with
a wife and three minor children
gets sl6225 in the District. COM
pared with S18l.70 in Virginia.
A mother and three minor
children gets $138 06 in the Dis
trict. compared with Sl59 in
Virginia,
Virginia" concluded Mr.
Rabaut, lis more thoughtful
where children are concerned
than we are"
Variation in Figures
The chairman did not give the
source Of his figures. Some varia-
tons were apparent. however
between his figures and those
presented to the subcommittee
by Welfare Director Gerard NJ
Shea.
For instance. on grants for
old-sge assistance. Mr.. Rabaut
said his report showed the
average grant in that category
here Is S72 81 a month. Mr.
Shea said the average. as OF
December. 1856. was S52,67. Mr.
Shea added that the average in
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-03-28

THE PUBLIC hearing con-
tinued from 10 am. to 6:15
pm. Most of the witnesses,
all representing civic groups.
were on the younger side of
40 and they were very earnest.
Most of them began: Il
appreciate this opportunity to
express Our views before this
committee. The right of
petition is written into the
Constitution, and even the
votelesS citizens Of Washing
ton are entitled to it.
At times, apparently with
out referring to the document,
the chairman showed surpris-
ing knowledge OF details in the
budget.
When two women were re-
queSting structural changes,
including the moving OF walls
to reopen the swimming pool
at Dunbar High School, which
has been closed for two years,
he asked of each:
"Are you an engineer"
Then he said:
"These requests should come
up to us from the principal,
through the Board of Educa-
ton and the Commissioners
The only thing the Commits
sioners requested was repair
OF the rife range. l think it's
a shame that the swimming
pool has been closed for two
years, and l am going to ask
about it,"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-03-28

vast changes in administration
and singled out Walter w. Bur-
dette. bureau chief. as the mos
important target for criticism
AS a result of these items. the
report charges. there have beer
many poor public health prac-
ticeS in the District, many per-
sons embarrassed because of in
consiStencies and evidence O.
bureau chiefs playing favoriteS
The investigators made a mum
Der of criticisms, citing a lacl
of delegation of authority, baC
personnel practices. poorly pre-
pared budget material, erratit
enforcement of regulations anc
poor inspection practices.
The investigators called fol
changes in the administrative
personnel IF the bureau is u
become an efficient organiza'
tional unit"
The investigation, headed BY
Charles G.. Haynes. House APP.
preparations Committee director
of surveys and investigations
was ordered last summer.
The two reports in effect con-
Istitute sweeping indictment Of
the departments administration
over the last few years.
Hiding Data Charged
The investigators said Mr.
Burdette, in effect. released in.
formation about the investiga'
ton to members of Congress
without authorization and trleC
to hide information at times.
Although the report criticized
many aspects of the bureau, i
singled out for its major attack
Mr.. Burdette, the controversial
figure who was formerly chief o
Food Inspection before the re-
organization.
He was promoted to the jot
Iof chief of the Bureau of FooC
and Public Engineering by for
mer Health Director DR.. DAME
L. Seckinger, who resigned las
January because of i'll health.
Earlier this month. the Hous'
subcommittee ordered the Dis
trict Commissioners and the new
Health Director, DR.. Daniel L
Finucane. to report back by mex
January | on what steps have
been taken to correct the stu
alton in this bureau and tn,
troubles brought out in the re-
port dealing with the hospital.
Three-Year Lag
The Investigators declared
that although reorganization
combining two department
health inspection services was
ordered in 1858, it wasn't until
March. 1856, that steps wert
actually taken to carry out the
order.
The report cites several years
of confusion and jockeying BY
officials within the Health De-
partment anxious to get pro-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-03-28
The
Rambler
Gentle but Firm
With the GuveI

1t was the day the citizens
of Washington were allowed to
present to the House of Rep
reSentativeS their ideas on the
spending of their taxes, and
the committee room was in
charge of Louis Rabaut.
He is chairman of the House
Appropriations subcommittee
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-03-28
A Ulrnug1t fur Unhay
Lenten Reflections on How the Bible
Has Affected Lives Of People You Know
By MRS. SARA HAMMOND KNIGHT
Attorney Named Outstanding Bible Glass Leader
By the ORGANIZED Bible Class Association

Three Marys at Gogotha-"Now there stood by the
cross of Jesus mother and His mothers sister, Mary
the wife OF Ceophas and Mary Magdalene"
like to think OF the women at Golgotha. Many women
followers of Jesus the Gospels tell us, up from
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-03-28
Study Hospital,
Health Department
Four-Month Survey Stresses
Criticism, Gives Small Praise

major surgical procedure performed by investigating
of the House the Health De-
partment and its administration of the District
The survey released today by committee nves-
gators headed by Charles G. Haynes
months studying the long and confusing Health
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-03-28
Legislators Assoi|
D. .HeoIth Unit
Poor Administration Cited
In Report of House Group

The Health Departments Bureau of Food and Public Health
Engineering charged with administration weakness
regulation enforcement inconsistencies complete
candor cooperation the of its chief today
The charges from the report of investigation by
APPROPRIATIONS subcommittee today
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-03-28

Department..
1t remains, however, for other
doctors" to correct the faults
described and sew the depart
ment back together again. The
House Appropriations subcom-
mittee Immediately in charge
told the District Commissioners
and DR.. Daniel Leo Finucane
new health director, to report
back by next January l on prog
resS made.
The survey included an over
whelming amount of criticism
and a small portion of praise
A resume Of the findings fol-
lows:
Poor Organization and
Administration
The department is most def
Gent in administration. The Dis
trict General Hospital and it,
relationship with the Glen Dale
Hospital for tuberculosis patients
the departments Bureau of Di.
ISease Control and the Bureau oil
Maternal and Child Health show
this.
The health director Or
Daniel L. Seckinger, who planned
retirement before the investiga-
tors started and retired after
they f1nished) failed to delegate
sufficient responsibility, over
burdened himself and his deputy
with paperwork. This meant
failure to provide adequate lead
ership in public health and med.
ical care programs. There ha:
been a lack of overall planning
and programming which is es.
sential to good administration"
/ The District General Hospita
superintendent. DR.. P. A. E. Steb-
bing, is not certain as to how
much authority he has in operat-
ing the institution"
/ The entire situation, marked by
confusion and discrepancies
caused personality conflicts anC
revolts by the medical staff of tn,
hospital. Instead of workinl
through channels. the staff wen
over the heads of the superin'
tendent. the director of health
even to the Commissioners.
Last year. the department de-
cided to move the Chest. Venerea
Disease and Cancer Detection
Clinics to the former Upshu
Street Hospital but never as
signed anyone 10 supervise, plal
and coordinate this move. TIL
Job isn't finished and it has cos
some $4,000 so far. The origlna
estimate was S26,50
recommendations were mad
by the tuberculosis control Off
Ger about a better program TO
checking persons in contact Will
those known to have tuberculosis
Six months later, no answer wa
returned from the health direc
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-03-28
Robout Finds D. c. Re|iefRoad PROGRAM
Penalties Some Children In (;atII { Aid

Children are differentiated against" in the District
welfare grants Chairman Rabaut of the House Appropriations
subcommittee charged in hearings made public today
The Michigan Democrat cited figures relief
compared to other cities and the States
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-03-28

including bad publicity, the
battle between the medical staff
and the management and a cam
palgn to make the nursing service
responsible to the medical staff.
This has increased the recruit
ment problem.
The personnel officer of the
Health Department has never
visited the personnel Office at the
hospital and is in no position to
know the institutions problems.
Yet. the hospital superintendent
can only suspend employees up to
five days and must then await
department action.
The War Between the Medical
Stoff and the Administration
1T has seriously affected the
efficient and economic operation
of the hospital"
The superintendent, a medical
DOCTOR, does not attend weekly
staff meetings, saying that he
hasn't been invited for two years.
He does not make regular rounds
of the hospital except to con-
duct certain visitors about.
The rapid medical advance
ment at the hospital in the past
10 years while administration
policies have remained stag
nant" is a factor that intensi-
fed the battle. Administration
policies have not kept current
with modern methods on man.
agement, personnel and other
phases of administration.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-03-28
The PhysicoI Plont
Of the Hospital

All buildings used as ward
areas show poor planning.
None of the buildings, for ex-
ample, including those built in
1851, is equipped with safety de-
vices for washing windows.
The laboratory building, built
in 1851, is an example of poor
planning on the part of the hos
pital and Health Department
officials. District of Columbia
Architects Office, and Depart
ment of Buildings and Grounds"
The new psychiatric building
IS too far away from the rest of
the institution. This will increase
costs of operation and admin
istration. The current problem
of equipping the building. con-
Structed with no consideration
for any future expansion. could
develop into a situation where
there is a new building but not
equipped to handle mental pa
tients by the most modern
concepts.
The action of the Commits
sioners. few years ago. in APP
proving a residence for interns
and resident physicians with
only 80 beds instead Of 1870
shows a lack of foresight" be-
cause both the new and the old
structure. termed "disgraceful."
will have to be used.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-03-28
The Hospital and Public Health

tween the services at the Dis
trict General Hospital and the
rest of the Health Department.
tuberculosis. in the process OF
being stamped out in many cities,
is still a major problem here.
The TB control program is in
adequate and has caused many
MISUNDERSTANDING among off,
Gals of the department and the
two hospitals. There has been
a lack of coordination and in
tegration
Officials at District General.
the TB Control Division and
Glenn Dale are at odds. with each
hospital trying To maintain
certain patient level for teach
ing and training.
Only the alcoholic rehabilita-
I ton program is integrated with
the hospital. Otherwise. the serv-
ices of the PSychlatric Service
Division under the departments
Bureau of Disease Control. are
not integrated with the psychiat-
ric program at the hospital.
The Health Director, in March
1855, proposed a reorganization
in this field. But, this proposed
reorganization has been tagging"
A new bureau has now been pro-
posed in the department to inte-
; CRATE pubic and private psy-
chiatric services.
The Crippled Childrens Unit,
! located in the hospital. is under
the control Of the downtown de-
partment's Bureau of Maternal
and Child Health.
This bureau pays professional
personnel except for nurses.
Nursing and other services. in
Guiding utilities, are paid for by
the hospital.
Eligibility for Hospital and
/ Medical Gore
Patients are sometimes being
? admitted to the hospital, treated
: and discharged before it can be
: determined if their admission is
, legal.
: The Medical Assistance Divi-
sion. located on hospital grounds
5 but attached to the department.
( doesn't have the staff to keep up.
! The fact that admissions are
made on a 24-hour basis while
the MAD staff works only in the
: daytime doesn't help.
Accomplishments
2 This section takes up about a
! half page only, with small
: Smatterings scattered through
, the criticisms.
The medical stan has pub
| lished hundreds OF papers in med
ical journals on the work be-
: ing performed and the research
I being done at the hospital.
: The nursing service performs
exCellently, underStafied and
\ under the most adverse condi-
/, lions.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-03-28

Tomorrow: J. Willard Marriott