The Washington herald., 1911-04-21

Government employees in Wash
ingtOn labor under conditions which
are detrimental to their health. This
fact, it is predicted, will result in a
recommendation to Congress for
the establishment of a commission
in which shall be centralized the
welfare of Uncle Sans employees.
1t is proposed that the health and
the safety of every department
worker in Washington shall be pri
marily considered by such a body,
and that every government building
now in use or to be erected in the
future shall have its sanitary and
fre-protection features placed in its
control.
RESULT OF INSPECTION.
DR.. William c. Woodward, health Off
Ger of the District. and DIR. George NJ.
N
town University and member Of the
Board of Charities. appeared yesterday
before the public buildings subcommittee
on sanitary conditions, composed of Rep
roCentatives Barnhart, Gudger, Underhill.
Copiey. and Hartman. 1t was an inter-
esting session. at which plenty Of ques-
tIons were asked and plain words were
spoken.
Dr. Woodward and DR.. Kober have in
speCted several of the departments. They
said that while conditions in many of the
buildings had been greatly improved
within the last few months, there was
room for much change. Poor ventilation
was the burden of their criticism, al
though impractical heating. dark. cor
ners, and unsanitary lunch accommoda-
tons came in for free comment. The
Government Printing Office was held up
as model for the other departments of
Washington to follow in the matter of
affording healthful conditions for en-
pIoyes.
Or. Woodward said that he had made
special inspections of the Bureau Of En-
craving and Printing, the Treasury De-
partment. and the buildings at the navy
S"lh ilt NtIIll4dtlIlS IdElIllltS or eaCn
of these three places. he said. had been
greatly improved, but that there were
still places in them where the health of
the workers could not be expected TO
remain at the proper stage on account of
impractical heating. poor airing devices, |
and careless practices.
Reforms that Are Needed.
Both of the medical experts before the |
committee recommended that sanitary
luncheon facilities he provided in every
department, and that the prOmiscuous
method Of serving food at midday be abol- !
ished. They asserted that additional rest
rooms should be provided. and that the |
antiquated methods of cleaning and dust |
ing be replaced by the modern and health |
preserving vacuum process. such as now
Is in operation at the War College
Health Officer Woodward called atten- |
tion to the fact that there was no one in |
authority in any of the departments who |
could pass upon the fitness of an en-
ploye to return to work after a period |
of Illness, and at this point he empha-
sized the general lack Of control by the
government of hygiene and features of
safety. The members of the subcomr1it
tee evinCed deep interest
Commission Idea Favored.
The commission idea was outlined
forthwith and generally discussed. IT
was the consensus of opinion that off,
cials now in the employ of the govern
ment should he drawn to serve on such
a commission without additional expense.
that the duties of the body should en-
brace a general supervision of buildings
and the power to overhaul and recon-
mend changes of the proper and neces-
sary sort in plans for future structures.
II was pointed out by Drs Woodward