Evening star., 1934-04-05
REFUSES To URGE
FOWLER REMOVAL
D. c. Medical Society Acts
on Proposal to Replace
Him in October.

Closer cooperation between the
Medical Society of the District of Co.
lumbia and the District Commis-
sioners looking to improved general
health conditions in the National
Capital had been achieved today as
a result of the society's anti-tubercu
losis campaign.
However, the society refused last
night to 60 on record as favoring re-
placement of Health Officer William
c. Fowler by a physician from the
United States Public Health Service
BY a close vote it tabled a recon-
mendation of it's Public Health Com
mittee for such change, to be ef-
fected when DR.. Fowler reaches the
statutory retirement age of 10 in
October.
No Formal Action Taken.
The society's action. marked by
heated debate, followed by only few
hours call on Commissioners Hazen
and Allen by the Executive Commit
tee, headed by DR.. Prentiss Wilson,
president of the organization. Com
mittee members, acting informally,
suggested to the Commissioners that
replacement of DR.. Fowler by Public
Health Service officer would be ad-
visable and the District Health De-
partment should be reorganized along
more up-to-date lines.
DR.. Wilson explained last night that
the suggestion had been made to the
city heads after they had brought up
the matter of reOrganizing the Health
Department. He said the committee
made it plain no formal action on the
matter had been taken by the society
aS whole.
In a statement issued coincident to
the physicians call at the District
Building. the Committee on Public
Information of the society said:
The investigation of the Subcom-
mittee on tuberculosis of the Com
mittee on Public Health of the Med
ical Society of the District of Colum-
bia on the facilities of the District OF
Columbia for caring for the tubercu-
iosis was initiated last July. The
Medical Society has never had before
1t the question of the advlsability OF
a change in the personnel or policies
Of the Health Department.
ANY action that it may see fit to
take with respect to this matter will
be the result of rather than the cause
Of its Investigations.
Fowler Urged Tabling.
The statement was made in reply to
Or. Fowler's charge that the tubercu-
losis inquiry was inspired as means
Of taking his department away from
the jurisdiction of the District and
placing it under the Federal Govern
ment.
DR.. Fowler was the author of the
motion last night to table the Public
Health Committees recommendation.
His action followed an amendment to
the committees original resolution,
which would have the society formally
request reorganization of the Health
Department by Public Health Serv-
ice officer. The amendment would in
struct the Executive Committee to take
the matter up with the Commission
ers.
Resolutions were adopted immedi-
atcly authorizing the president of the
society to confer with the Commits
sioners and authorizing the Executive
Committee to consider ways and
means whereby the society can CO.
operate more fully with the Commits
sioners. These moves we're hailed by
members as a great step forward in
advancing the public health of the
Capital and evincing an awakened in
terest on the part of the Medical So
ciety in the health conditions here.
Commissioner Hazen repeated today
chat the Board of District Commits
sioners is opposed to any suggestion
for placing the District Health De-
partment under the control of the
United States Public Health Service.
He conferred with Health Officer Will
liam G. Fowler.