Evening star., 1903-09-28
ANNUAL ESTIMATES
Health Officer Submits State
ment to Commissioners.
INCREASES WANTED
SUGGESTION FOR IMMEDIATE
WORK ON MUNICIPAL HOSPITAL.
Additional Inspectors for Food and
Sanitary Service-ReasoEs for
Advances in Salaries.
INCREASES WANTED

partment during the fiscal year beginning
July l next. DIR. Woodward submits in
blank estimate for beginning work on
the new municipal hospital, to be located
on Brightwood avenue. the plans for which
were accepted more than a year ago. He
leaves the amount to be inserted to the dis
cretion of the Commissioners A public
bath house is recommended An estimate
of 5000 to carry out the provisions Of the
anti-weed law is also submitted. while an
other important item is the request for
new pound for the Imprisonment and de-
struction of vagrant dogs. In support Of
his estimates DR.. Woodward has made
statement to the Commissioners in which
he says:
Recommendations for increases of sal
aries have been made only where the per-
sons affected have rendered themselves
worthy of such increases by services rem
dered in the past required by the
duties which they perform to have quail
| fications for which their present compen-
sation is believed to be inadeqpase. or both.
Recommends tionS for increases in the force
of the department have been made only
where 1t is believed that public interests
require an extension or improvement in the
service now rendered by the health depart
ment
I'm further support of recomme ndations
for increases of salary ard OF force it may
be stated that many of the employees on the
regular annual TODS OF lne Htdltn
ment find 1t necessary in the p. oper per
formance of their duties to work over time
quite as often as they find themselves able
to discontinue their official duties d the
close Of the usual official day. and this not
exceptional occurrence due to eN-
traoI Idinary situations, but as the usual
rule. 1t may be stated furthermore that
only three of the nine clerks borne on the
regular rolls of the Office and only four OF
the twenty-four regular inspectors have
during the past year had the full leave OF
absence to which, under the regu}a tons of
the Commissioners they are entitled.
Neither the poundmaSter nor any of the
laboring force procured that amount of
leave.
Commissioners to Decide.
while. doubtless, it may be necessary
for the Commissioners to disallow some of
the increases recommended in the accom-
panying estimates, 1t is, Notwithstanding,
deemed proper to submit them so that the
Commissioners, who are familiar with the
estimated resources of the District for the
coming fiscal year and of the needs of the
other departments of the District govern
nent may pass upon the entire motter
rather than 1t shall be done by the health
officer, who is not familiar either with such
resources or with such other needs
I'm this connection | have the honor to
suggest the advisability of legislation which
will regulate in a proper manner leaves OF
absence of per diem employees of the Dis
L,
In the service of the health department.
Existing legislation, il is believed, assumed
Its present form through carelessly selected
phraseology, and does not carry out the In
tentionS of those who recommended its en-
actment. This matter may. it is suggested,
possibly be advanta geously referred TO the
committee which heretofore has had to do
with the distribution of leave among such
employees and which, therefore, is preSuma-
bly, acquainted with the entire situation as
1t relates to all branches of the District
government
Additional Inspectors Wanted.
In the matter of salaries DR.. Woodward
recommends increase for DR.. r. l..
Lynch chief sanitary and food inspector,
from 81 200 to 81 500. He asks for six ad-
dtional sanitary and food inspectors at ST.
600 a year each, saying:
THE health department is now unable to
maintain any system of house TO house in
spection even in the most unsanitary por-
tions of the District. In order 10 maintain
even its present service, based almost en-
tlrely complaints received II is neces-
sary for the sanitary inspection force COM
monty to work over time. For this reason
an increase in the inspection force is de-
sired If such increase be granted the
health department may be able to discover
nuisances and to cause their abatement
without waiting for complaint
For Professor j. ID. Hird. the District
chemist. Dr. Woodward requests an in
crease in salary, from 81 800 to So. 100. With
regard to this item he says
1.-The proposed increase in the salary OF
the chemist from 81 800 to $500 per an
nun is recommended because of the special
qualifications necessary for the proper dis
charge of the duties of this position. This
chemist examines dairy products and other
foods of all kinds water, and substances
submitted by the coroner and by the police
department. the analysis OF wlich IS nee
essary for the detection of crime.
DIR. Woodward asks for sever | additional
clerks at different salaries. He urges that
provision be made for assistant pound
master at $500 year, saying the proposed
addition to the force is necessary to MAIN
tain the eftic -ency of the service. An in
crease in the compensation of the veteri
nary surgeons of the department from S9UO
to $3.50 year is recommended.
The Rental Of Buildings
AS a result of the recent discuss on as to
whether or not the department had the
right TO rent stables and other buildings in
connection with the prevention of the
spread of contagious 'seases, DR.. Wood
ward recommends that specific provis. on
be made for the rental of the necessary
buildings.
DR.. Woodward recommends the usual ap-
preparations for the IN aintenanc, of the
several branches Of the health service. He
says If the department is to pay Tostage
from its contingent fund no less than 81 OU
should De added to the amount
The sum of 500 is reQues ed for the on
GRAFTON of an additional pound wagon The
health department has In previous years
asked for an appropriation Sufficient to
maintain an additional pound W. gon during
the entire year. Experience during the past
year having demonstrated that much can
pe accomplished by hiring a wagon for a
prier period and manning 1t with an impro-
Viseo crew, an appropriation to permit this
10 pe oone next year is recommended
In submitting an estimate of IS isO for en-
forcing the weed law. DIR. Woodward saws.
The act to cause the removal of weeds
approved March 1. 1899. cannot be eeneraIIv
enforced without a large appropriation To
pay the expenses of the nececs lry ipsnac
fors and TO pay for the cost of remoyin.
weeds from lands belonging to non-rest
dents, etc. reasonable amount of worl.
can possibly be accomplished for the
amount suggested. 5000 but II a strict on
iorcement of this law is desired a mucb
larger sum Will be necessary
New Pound and Stable
The sum of $4,000 Is requested for tb.
purchase of a site for a new pound and
stable and $l4.53S for the erection of the
buildings. DIR. Woodward says the site for
the proposed pound must be ample in order
to prevent nuisance to neighbors through
the barking of dogs, etc, 1t must, however
be located within easy reach of all parts of
city, so as to enable owners to call for inn