Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-06-22
Lack of Funds to Cause
Health Department Changes.
DR.. NORRIS IN NEW POST
Several Promotions Will Follow His
Elevation.
WOODWARD HAS PROBLEM
Contagious Disease Service May Be
Hit Hardest by Small
Appropriation.

With the going into effect today OF
the promotion of Or. John 1. Norris as
deputy health officer the official person
mel OF the health department of the
District will be revised. while the
working arrangement of the several
branches Of the department will be al
most revolutionized when the new Dis.
trict appropriation bill becomes opera
tive. July 1. DIR. Norris succeeds DR.. ii.
F. Sawtelle. resigned. AS result of
his advancement there will be a num-
Der of promotions in the department
and one appointment from the eligible
list to q nine hundred dollar position.
The reduced appropriations for several
branches of the department will be re-
sponsible for the rearrangement of those
branches. The appropriation for personal
services in the contagious disease service
has been reduced from $4,000 to $1,000:
for the maintenance Of the crematory,
from $500 to 100; for the employment
of laborers in the pound, from 5000 to
$1,000; for the maintenance OF the bac-
THEOLOGICAL laboratory, from $500 TO 500,
and for the abatement of nusances. from
$500 to $1,000.
First Gives Concern.
The first of these reductions is the one
Woodward most concern. The plan UNI
der consideration Is to transfer some of
the work Of this service to the regular
inspection force. But this plan has it's
disadvantages in that II will mean a
diminishing Of the working capacity OF
the inspection force, and that is some
thing the health officer is DESTROYS of
avoiding.
Another problem confronting DIR.
Woodward is how to maintain the
crematory on $500. This problem, it
is said, is yet far from a solution.
The operation of the pound on the
appropriation provided bids fair to be
fraught with innumerable difficulties.
At present five laborers, whose prin-
cipal duties are to catch stray dogs.
are employed, and it is said that the
department cannot get along with a
provided for their services, they can
be paid only $500 each a year-an
amount that is below a living wage, it
is claimed.
Duties Are Increased.
In addition to this. the new regula-
ton for the impounding of stray cats
will increase the duties Of the pound
force. The new ten-thousand-dollar
pound being constructed on the west
side of South Capitol street between
II and 1 streets VIII De HnlsneO In
September, and the operation Of this
plant. it is expected, will entail addi-
tional labor.
The reduced appropriations for the
maintenance of the meteorological
laboratory and the abatement of nuts
ances are giving the health authorities
considerable concern. while the re-
duced appropriation for the mainte-
nance of horses and vehicles is another
matter that is being given considerable
attention.
DR. Norris, who entered on his duties
as deputy health officer today, first be-
came connected with the department. In
1908 Later he saw service in the Phil
ippines and. until few years ago. was
chief surgeon of the Sante Fe Central
Railroad Company. with headquarters
in New Mexico. His second connection
with the health department began
about four years ago. He will receive
salary of $4,000 per annum.