City Council Opposes Highway Appropriation, Votes to Study Cambridge Hospital Facilities

The City Council yesterday went on record against a State House highway appropriation bill, authorized $7,000 for a study of Cambridge hospital facilities, and voted city employees half a day off for St. Patrick's Day.

According to sponsor Thomas M. McNamara, the order to oppose Governor Volpe's $90 million highway bill would only apply to construction of an Inner Belt in Cambridge. McNamara said he hoped that the Cambridge State House delegation might amend the bill to give the City Council veto power over the route.

"There must be some measure of supervision over the site of the road," he emphasized. "None of the routes I've heard of is in any way constructive to the city--they mean destruction of the entire city." Only Councilor Cornelia B. Wheeler voted against the order.

Hospital Study Favored

In other action, Mrs. Wheeler spoke in favor of an authorization of $7,000 to defray part of the cost of a study of the city hospital system. "Improvements have been needed for a long time," she said, "but it is hard to know how to get started." Hamilton Associates of Minneapolis, hospital consultants, will conduct the study.

Councilor Walter J. Sullivan proposed a resolution that all city employees be given the afternoon off, Friday, March 17, St. Patrick's Day. It passed unanimously.