The Washington times., 1906-07-14
Recent Order Requiring
Examination of Suspects
Not Enforced.
NEW STEPS TO BE TAKEN
Department Employees Civ
ing Information to Chiefs
VIII Be Protected.

How 20 bring about a proper and strict
enforcement OF the executive order
tending 10 stamp out and prevent
tuberculosis in the different depart
rnents is a question that IS troubling
number OF clerks whose health, and
lives. even. are being menaced by close
and constant contact with persons
known to be victims OF the dreaded
white plague.
II is known that in the different de-
partments in Washington alone there
are hundreds Of clerks. most OF them
we'll advanced In years. who have con-
jracted the terrible malady. II was a
result Of an agitation that was started
originally by clerks that the order was
issued by the President last fail, calling
Tor an examination and segregation Of
persons effected with tuberculosis.
The order was supposedly nut into ef-
feet early I'm the spring, bur the cry now
goes up that in many cases 1t was not
done. and that the good il was cIculGt-
ed 10 bring about has not become notice
able. AT the beginning. each clerk was
given a slip Of paper, with instructions
10 state whether he had tuberculosis.
Few acknowledged 10 having the affiic-
ton, while many who realized that they
were under suspicion stated that they
Were merly subject 10 bronchial trouble,
Shielded by Chief Clerks.
According TO the sense Of the order.
all persons known or even suspected or
having the disease should al once be
ordered before the examining board. This
task would fan upon the chief clerk OF
the particular bureau or division IN
which the clerks is employed. AS years
OF constant association has brought the
employees of these rooms into a sort of
working family, with the chief clerk
the official and fatherly head, these Of
ficlals have been known 10 neglect the
duty of breaking the news 20 a clerk
that he must 90 up for examination.
one notable instance Is in an up
town department. In one of the small
rooms with but TWO windows is
a mIddlc-aged woman who is known
10 be in the advanced stages of CON
sumption, She gave her aiIment as
bronchial trouble. and 20 far has es-
capped examination. She has a desk by
a window. and all the fresh air on that
side Of the room necessarily comes by
her. BY her side, within three feet Of
her, there has sat for a year or more
a young wOman-a mere girl OF scarcely
eighteen years-of delicate constitution.
The office was crowded, and as their
work was together. there was only the
one place fo- the young girl 10 sit, as
the eldeTy woman for years has tena-
ciously hung on 10 the window desk.
Young Girl Develops Disease.
Recently, the parents of the girl made
the discovery that she had developed
tuberculosis and one glance at her loca-
tion in the Office. where she spends
seven hours OF more a day. convinced
them or the cause. The matter was
called TO the atteutlO- of an official OF
the divisicn, but he stated that the
woman's statement had been accepted
as true there was no reason to believe
that she had tuberculosis, and there was
10 call for an examination
Other employees OF the office threat
eued 10 bring the matter directly before
the chief of the division or the head of
the department. but they were warned
that their complaint would be referred
back TO their immediate chief for ac-
ton and he would know from whom the
complaint came. which might result i'm
an embarrassing situation.
Complaints Held in Confidence.
Inquiry. however, has developed the
fact that the heads Of The departments.
anxious 10 stamp out the disease and
prevent its further spread, viii hold the
names of all COmplainants in confidence
and Call upon the Medical Department
20 ask the immediate chief 90 send the
person complained against up for an eX-
animation. When this stand becomes
generally known. il Is likely that scores
of persons. both men and women, in
each of the departments VIII be com
PEELED 10 30 before the board for exam
ination, with the result that they Will be
segregated from the others and the stand
ard OF average health of the Govern
ment clerks viii greatly improve in con-
sequence.