Evening star., 1928-10-16
STRESSES NEEDS
IN CARE OF HEALTH
DR.. Devine Discusses Gaps
in Social Program" Be-
fore Monday Evening Club.

Public health needs of Washington
were expounded last night before the
seasons first meeting of the Monday
Evening Club, held in the Y. w. c. A.
Building, Seventeenth and X streets,
by Dr. Edward r. Devine, dean of the
Graduate School of American Univer-
sity, who took the Bureau of Efficiency
report on this topic as his text. The
club, after discussion, voted to appoint
special committees to endeavor to have
the report printed by Congress and to
press upon the District Commissioners
and Congress the advisability of carry
ing into effect the recommendations
the report contains
Taking for his topic Gaps in Our
Social Program" DR.. Devine enumerat-
ed among the needs for advancement
in the Districts public health program
more appropriations for tuberculosis
prevention, venereal disease control,
child and school hygiene, aid in low
ering maternal mortality, for the con-
troll AND study of contagious diseases
and FIR great increase in public
health nurses. Expenditures for public
health, in the District are entirely too
low, Df. Devine informed the club, as
serting that over a five-year period ex-
penditures in large cities of the country
had been increased Al per cent, COM
pared with ID per cent for the District.
Small OutIays in Health Program.
LESS than one per cent of our mu-
nicipal budget is being expended for
health" DR.. Devine declared, adding
that this is about half what the aver
age for the large, cities is.
THE District of Columbia is the
only governmental unit that does not
make reports on social diseases to the
Public Health Service" DR.. Devine said,
referring to the report, which, he ex-
planned, is now about one year old.
1T Is desirable that the largest pos
sible number of people in the District
should read the report" he continued
I'VE have no board of health, but the
report recommends that there be one
The Gibson bill for $500,000 for a
children's preventorium should have
the Endorsement of this entire body.
Washington is SEVENTEEN in the list
OF 100 cities in health expenditures" )"
DR.. Devine declared, making it clear
that he did not intend to make any
personal criticism.
I'VE are not helpless as far as the
Qualification of public opinion is con-
cerned and insistence that this Situa-
ton shall be understood and the gaps
shall be filled" he concluded.
Work for Crippled Children Outlined.
Willard G. Smith, the clubs presi-
dent, called on Radford Moses, presi-
dent of the Kiwanis Club, to explain
that organizations work in aiding Grip
pied children. Mr.. Moses indicated
there might be school for crippled
children and a convalescent home for
them, If projected plans mature, but
he informed the club that the pressing
need is for proper transportation to get
the children to the hospital for mas
sage treatments, after they have been
operated upon. With this end in view,
Mr.. Moses said, bus system will be
asked for
The club. following discussion, went
on record as indorsing in principle the
proposal for special educational facili-
ties for crippled children.
Miss A. Patricia Morse, chief of child
welfare of the Board of Public Welfare,
said that from her viewpoint these three
things could aid in filling up the gaps in
the Districts social program: Legisla-
tion to receive the care of dependent
children without a court hearing and
commitments; one agency to make all
have the aid of a children's agency
making the investigation, and an in
crease in personnel, so that case work.
ers might be relieved of the present
task Of caring for 100 cases each.
Club Hears Reports.
Reports of the treasurer and men,
bership chairman were read and the
club voted to become a member agency
OF the Council of Social Agencies and
to authorize the executive committee to
proceed with the preparation of year.
book.
The Bureau Of Efficiency report was
made to the District Commissioners re-
Gently and will be laid before Congress
at the coming session. The report was
made, under the bureaus direction, by
the Office Of municipal health depart
ment practice of the Public Health Serv-
ice, Surgeon Paul Preble. director.