Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-07-06
Statement
Reduced Appropriations Threaten to
Impair Efficiency.
FORCE AT POUND CURTAuED
Double Duty for Regular Disease In
spectors Follows Depletion Of
Personal Service Fund.

As result OF the reduced amount
appropriated by Congress for personal
services in the contagious disease serv-
Ice of the health department of the
District of Columbia, an outbreak of
an epidemic of contagious disease In
the District would find the department
almost power1ess to cope with the
emergency. according to a statement
today by DR.. William c. Woodward,
health officer.
Reduced appropriations for several
branches of the health department
threaten to considerably impair the
efficiency of the departments admin
istration, it is stated. Announcement
was made this morning of a recon-
mendation to the Commiss toner's to re-
duce the pound force from five to
four laborers. This Is the result Of
the appropriation for their services
having been reduced from $4,000 to
$4,000 per annum.
Has But Small Balance.
So serious is the reduced appropriation
for personal services in the contagious
disease service regarded that Health Of
ficer Woodward has addressed a COM
munication on the subject to the Com
missioners. In this he points out the
fact that. when the monthly pay roll for
been subtracted from the appropriation
available but $195.s3 will be left with
which to pay for additional personal SER
vices in case of an epidemic of conta-
gious disease.
This amount will be drawn on only
in case Of unusual prevalence of conta-
gious diseases" states the communica-
ton to the Commissioners. While 1T is
too small to cope with any serious emer-
gency. yet, as monthly balances accu-
sonable sum will be available for un-
usual expenditures"
For the past fiscal year Congress ap-
propriated $4,000 for personal serv-
Of the department. The appropria-
tion this year is but $4,000. In ad-
justing the work of the service to
meet the reduced appropriation it Is
DR.. Woodward's plan to transfer some
of the work Of the service TO the reg
ular inspection force.
Double Duty Imposed.
'1t should be added" he informs the
Commissioners, "that in order to operate
the contagious disease service with the
basic organization described above it will
be necessary to assign to the regular san
itary inspection force the duty of placard-
ing houses on account of scarlet fever,
diphtheria, ETC.; of investigating the ORR
gin OF cases Of these diseases and of
typhoid fever, and of conducting any
other unusual inquiries that may be nee
essary in connection with the ontagiOus
disease work.
The situation presented at the pound, as
result of the reduced appropriation for
the maintenance Of that institution, has
given the health officer considerable con-
Germ. With only $1,000 appropriated for
personal services, had the five laborers
employed by the pound during the past
fiscal year been retained they could have
been paid but $500 each per annum-an
amount that is below q living wage, it
Is claimed. The decision to employ only
four labOrers means that they will re-
ceive $500 each per annum.
Force Taxed to Limit.
With a new cat-impounding order to
enforce and new n-thousand dollar
pound. now being constructed, to be
operated after September. the small
pound force of four laborers will be
taxed to its limit.
Il cannot say how effectively the
dog and cat impounding regulations
will be enforced said Dr. Woodward
today. "A1 1 can promise is that we
will do the best we can"
Appropriations for the maintenance of
the crematory. meteorological laborn-
tory and abatement of nuisances were re-
duced this year. DR.. Woodward is now
at work on plans looking toward the ad-
and laboratory to meet THE reduced ap-
propriations.