Evening star., 1934-04-04
Formal Plea Made to City
Heads as Health Officer
Plans Fight.
COMPROMISE PROGRAM
SUGGESTED BY HAZEN
Would Use Public Health Physi-
clan as Adviser on Tubercu-
losis Situation.

A committee Of the Medical Society
Of the District Of Columbia suggested
to the District Commissioners today
that Public Health Service physician
replace District Health Oficer William
c. Fowler when he retires in Oc-
tober.
Formal action of the society on a
recommendation of its Public Health
Committee to replace Fowler by
member Of the staff of the Public
Health Service, a Federal agency, Is
scheduled for action tonight at a
meeting Of the society.
Commissioner Hazen, interviewed
after the conference with the Medi-
cal Society's Committee, expressed op-
position to any plan to replace Fowler
by a Federal physician. However, he
said he did favor detailing Public
Health Service officer In an advisory
capacity" to the District Health De-
partment.
P0stponement Is Possible.
Possibility that action on the recon-
mendation Of the Medical Society
Committee might be postponed until
a later meeting Of the organization
was foreseen by DR.. Prentiss Wilson.
president of the society, however. DR..
Wilson headed the committee which
called on Commissioners Hazen and
Allen.
This development in the campaign
Of the Medical Society for improve
ment Of the methods Of preventing
and combating tuberculosis in the
District followed an assertion by DR..
Fowler yesterday that the society's
drive for tuberculosis eradication in
Washington had its inception in a
movement from "inside and outside"
the Medical Society to remove the
Health Department from Jurisdiction
of the District government and place
it under the Public Health Service.
DR.. Fowler reiterated his intention
today of fighting the movement"
and said:
The citizens of the District of Co
lumbia will rise up in opposition to
any movement to take the Health
Department away from the District
government"
viii Attend Meeting.
Fowler said he would be present
tonight when the Medical Society
takes up the recommendation of its
Public Health Committee and that he
would fight the proposal Ito the last
ditch"
Il am not going to stand by and
let them put this thing over If l can
prevent it." he said. "At first
thought might not attend the meet
ing, but after considering the situa.
ton in the light of previous efforts to
transfer the Health Department to
Federal Jurisdiction, have decided
to make a fight.
1T might be that the action Of the
society will not coincide with the
action Of the committee"
Commenting on the possibility Of a
public health service officer being ap-
pointed as an advisor to the Health
DR.. Fowler said:
Its not advice we need, but action
And the only way to get action Is to
get money to act with"
Discussion of the status Of DR..
Fowler, who is scheduled to retire in
October unless he asks for two-year
extension beyond the statutory retire.
ment age, was said by DR.. Wilson to
have been incidental" to a plea of
the committee for better facilities for
fighting tuberculosis in the District.
Death Rate Is Cited.
The committee submitted a one
page statement to the Commissioners,
pointing out the high death rate from
here, and urging the con-
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