Evening star., 1913-07-29
HOW C|TY'S HEALTH
IS SbE|NG GUARDED

Recently adopted regulations Of the
District health department, amending and
amphfytng previously existing rules. 1t
was stated today, have made the work Of
the big force Of inspectors easier, and at
the same time have greatly aided in MAX
ing Washington . "spotIees town" in so
far as concerns restaurants, lunchrooms
and places where food is sold, prepared
or served.
Among the newer regulations that have
proven Of material aid to the inspectors
Of the health department is one pr0vid-
ing that no license shall be issued for
the opening of restaurant or lunch
room until the person seeking the license
Is able to present a satisfactory certif-
cate o. inspection, showing that the
premises n which it is desired to estab-
lish the new eating house are adapted to
the purpose, and that the place is clean
and can be kept In that condition.
The regulation gives the license clerk
no discretion in the matter, and that Of
fetal Is positively forbidden to issue the
desired license until sanitary inspec-
ton Of the place where the restaurant
or lunchroom is desired to be, establish
ed has been made and a certificate OF
the places suitability has been issued.
Must Find Suitable Quarters.
BY this means, it is stated, many
would-be proprietors Of lunchrooms are
kept from opening their establishments
in rooms that under no circumstances
could be maintained in a sanitary con-
dition, and persons who have contem-
plated opening eating houses in such
places are compelled to find other and
more satisfactory quarters.
Another recently adopted health regu-
lation, which protects dealers and con-
sumers alike from the possibility OF han
ding or purchasing poorly preserved
foodstufs, Is that which cOmpels dealers
Including commission men. wholesalers
and retailers-to notify the health de-
partment of the receipt OF shipment OF
any kind of foodstuff in poor condition.
On receipt of such notification health
department inspectors view the conslsn-
ment. and IL they find 1t in unsatisfac-
tory condition or spoiled, the inspectors
issue voucher stating the result of the
inspection The dealer to whom the
goods have been consigned uses this
voucher as a means Of getting back the
them replaced by good articles In case
the damage has been due to slow trans
portation or other delay on the part or
the railroads or other freight handlers,
the voucher affords the consignee
means Of compelling the transportation
company to make good the purchase price
Of the consignment.
Increased by Hot Weather.
Since the advent of the really hot
weather the activities Of the District
health department have been increased,
and during the past week inspections
have been made of 176 grocery stores.
forty-three markets and the CITY
commission houses have been inspected
2O2 times A total Of 104 restaurants
and lunchrooms have been visited, only
one of which was found to be In an In
sanitary condition. The proprietor for
feited IS collateral rather than appear
for trial, and the health department
reports that the place has been thor
oughly cleaned and placed In salts
factorily sanitary condition. Only
seven grocery stores and commission
houses were found to be in an insant-
tary condition. and the proprietors
o1 these places forfeited collateral
totaling $39 rather than gain the pub
S;cifv that would have attended trials.
Regulations providing for the screen
ing Of all places where FOOD 10 pre-
na1ed and served, as well as all those
piaces where foodstuns are displayed
for sale, are being rigidly enforced.
and as q result. 1t was stafed TO-DAY.
fiies in and about such places are "as
scarce as hens teeth.
Would Inspect Private Houses.
Health department officials regret that
the application Of inspection rules and
r.0u,ations cannot under existing laws
~ extended to private residences. It
30. stated that many homes in the Dis
trict which cannot be reached by the
inspection service are maintained In ex-
...nely insanitary condition as far as
ards the Kitchens, and health depart
.snt officials would welcome some plan
namiiar to that adopted few years ago
sn tampa, Fla. whereby the inspections
no,,id be extended to such places SO that
avery place, private as well as public,
whsre food ID prepared could be made
s,sHSeot % the departments visitatioas
and reGulati0nA