Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-07-29
Startling Conditions in Govern
ment Buildings Disclosed.
QUICK ACTION is PROPOSED
Searching Investigation Being Made
by Order of the President.
PR0BERS ARE RETICEl
Board Designated to Consider the
Report on Treasury Depart
ment Buildings.

A searching Investigation Of the sani-
tary condition of the various government
buildings in Washington, ordered by
President Taft himself, is said to have
yielded some startling facts. and in sew
eral instances the health, IL not the lives,
OF the government employees has been
menaced by conditions.
Passed Asst. Surgeon B. S. Warren of
the public health and marine hospital
service Is making the Investigation. hav-
ing been detailed by Surgeon General
Blue for this duty. and spends practically
all Of his working day in and about the
scores Of buildings owned and rented by
the government in this city.
Every effort, 1t is said, is being made
to keep the result of the investigation
quiet. 1t is planned to act upon the
recommendations of the public health
and marine hospital officials as quickly
as possible, SO as to remedy conditions
Some Buildings in Excellent Shape.
Not all Of the government buildings
have been found insanitary by any
means. and. in fact, conditions in many
OF them are said to be excellent. But
when the following question was put
sQuarely to a prominent official con-
nected with the investigation: Have
dangerous and insanitary conditions been
found in any of the government build
ingsr" he replied:
"Oficially can say nothing about that"
And that was all the information. so
far as details of bad conditions in the
various departments were concerned, that
could be obtained from him. The fact
tnat all OF the government departments,
with the exception of the War and Navy.
are involved in the Investigation. makes
the matter one Of particular dellcacy, 1t
is said. And officials of the public health
and marine hospital service, who are en-
ployed under the Treasury Department,
are chary about saying anything tnat
may reflect upon any of the cabinet OF
f1cers or their departments.
IL was learned today that DIR. Warren
has already submitted his reports on
many of the government buildings to the
President. though the President has not
yet had an opportunity to take them up
for consideration. 1t was learned, too,
that the work of bettering conditions Of
sanitation in the government buildings is
not TO stop with the present investigation
and consequent improvements. An official
OF the public health .and marine hospital
service will be detailed from time to time
to make the rounds of the departments
with a view TO having the conditions kept
up to the mark at all times.
Special Treasury Board Designated.
Secretary MacVeagh Of the Treasury
Department has designated a board to
consider the report of DR.. Warren on the
Treasury Department building. This
board consists of George o. Won Nerta,
chief of the technical division of the SUI
pervising architects office; Charles F.
Cummins. chief of the asserting division,
office OF the auditor for the Post Office
DQnartment
eral William Colby Rucker of the public
nealth and marine hospital service. AL
ready the board has had several meetings
and II Is expected will make recommenda-
tions for several improvements about the
buildings.
Several months ago Secretary Mac
Veagh requested Charles F. Cummins to
go over the Treasury building with
View to having sanitary conditions at the
best. He then had DIR. Long of the pub
lie health and marine hospital service
check up this work Much was done to
improve conditions about the department
it Is said. Then came the President S
order for an investigation Of all the gov
eminent buildings except those of the
War and Navy departments and those
buildings which come directly under the
control OF Congress. Secretary Mac
Veagh has expressed a desire that the
Treasury Department should be a model
of sanitation Although the Treasury
building is one of the oldest government
buildings in Washington. it has been put
in good sanitary condition. it is said, and
compares favorably even with the newest
of the buildings