Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-10-16
COMBINE TO HALT
CALLSF0R CLERKS
Officials Urge Departments
Not to Bring Helpers to
City During Epidemic.
VIEW OF THE STAR UPHELD

Uniting their forces for general
drive on influenza and making a spe-
cia1 effort to prevent a further influx
of employees and others to the Dis
trict, John A. McIlhenny, president of
the Civil Service Commission; Surgeon
General Blue Of the public health
|kervice and Commissioner Brownlow,
for the District government todAy
caused a letter to be addressed to all
heads of departments asking them to
bring no persons here whose services
are not shown to be absolutely in
Gispensable.
All agreed that the situation was
becoming intolerable and that the
public health demanded an immedi-
ate stoppage of immigration to the
District. Commissioner McIlhenny
said the Civil Service Commission is
without plenary powers-it cannot
prevent a clerk from coming here,
has been done in concert with Mr.
Brownlow and Gen. Blue. Commits
sioner McIlhenny explained.
Approval of The Stars View.
1--WE are doing all possible to pre-
vent a further influx of citizens to
Washington" Gen. Blue said. Il like
the stand The Star has taken on the
matter.
"It is intelligent and highly patri-
otic. Of course, the public health
service has no power to send persons
out of the District, but conditions in
the boarding houses, hotels, apart
ment houses and other places where
erable. They should not be aggra-
vated."
1t was suggested that Washington
might be quarantined but it was
pointed out that if the War Depart
ment needs men it's requisitions must
be honored. But there are peace de-
partments that, have ony a remote
connection with the war program of
the government. These should not
bring man or woman to Washing
ton, these three Commissioners. who
have taken steps to shut off the in
f1uX, unite in declaring.
Bureaus to Respect Requast.
Commissioner Mc1lhenny was as
sured in private conversation with
leaders of bureaus that all the de-
partments would respect his wishes
and the wishes Of his associates in
the campaign against influenza.
"AI the Civil Service Commission can
do is to ask that no further requisi
tions be made on it for clerks said
Mr. McIlhenny. This has been done" :"
Mr. McIlhenny explained that in
asking that no further requisitions be
made for help strong reasons were
given for such a request. This re-
quest already has been honored by
Secretary Lane of the Interior De-
partment, and Secretary McAdoo of
the Treasury has, it is understood.
agreed to adopt the policy suggested
by Mr. McIlhenny and his associates.
At the offices of the Interstate
Commerce Commission it was stated
that the views OF Mr.. McIlhenny. Sur
geon General Blue and Commissioner
Brownlow would prevail there. Every
department of the government has
suffered through the plague. and it
was stated all in authority are anx-
ious to do anything or agree to any
thing which promises to mitigate its
| seventies.
Washington Unprepared.
ber Of clerks who have come here dur
ing the past few days were engaged
two or three weeks ago. They had come
here at a specified time to begin their
duties. Nobody had wired them to stay
away, otherwise they would have re-
mained at their home. one of the civil
service commissioners said Washing
ton, he declared. was wholly unprepared
to meet the conditions forced on the city
by the disease.
If the city were closed to all but
healthy persons there would not be
sufficient physicians to examine appli-
cants for admission. it was stated
Many of the victims of the disease, an
offcer Of the Civil Service Commission
said, died through lack Of proper nu-
triton. They were unable to pay the
cost of nourishing food in sufficient
quantities to fortify themselves
against an attack by the plague.
Not Sufficiently Fed.