Evening star., 1935-06-09
Signal for a New Battle.

for a bare beginning on a decent pro-
gram of public health protection in
Washington must not be permitted
to kill that program.
Dr. Rutland. the public health
officer, and the Medical Society Of
the District indicate the proper
course by accepting the appropri-
atoms failure as challenge. making
it the occasion for a persistent. de-
termined and renewed fight to obtain
from the responsible leaders in Con-
gress recognition of the city's needs
Some of the members OF Congress
speak of the "civic apathy" they find
here of the tendency on the part of
the local community to "let George
do it"-Congress personifying the
faithful George.
Well. what is the record in the mat
ter of public health appropriations?
Responsive to real civic demand,
awakened by the realization Of the
disgraceful lack OF attention paid to
the abnormally high death rate from
tuberculosis and the prevalence Of
other undesirable and antiquated con-
ditionS in Washington relating to
public health. the Commissioners last
Winter set out to find a health officer
the Improvements considered neces-
sary.
The Commissioners threw political
| considerations out of the window and
left the choice Of health officer to
representative leaders of the medical
profession. These, in turn. demanded
that any health officer should meet
| high standards. professionally and in
experience.
DR.. Rutland came to Washington
at personal sacrifice in salary and
took over the job. He was promised
the full cooperation of the medical
men. He received the support of the
lay community and of the private
health and welfare organizations.
Unfortunately, DR.. Rutland arrived
in Washington and set about the
business Of formulating a beginning
program long after the District bill
had gone to Congress. The new health
program was not discussed until the
bill reached the Senate Committee.
There the matter received considerate
and sympathetic attention. with SEN
ator Copeland. physician as we'll as
a Senator. leading much of the dis
cussion. Page after page of the SEN
ate record is devoted to the petitions
and pleas of organizations and the
testimony Of interested private ply
sicians as TO the need for more funds
funds for child welfare, for preventive
and follow-up work in the homes of
the INDECENT. for more trained medi-
cal and nursing personnel. The pro-
gram received the full approval Of
the Senate. The increased funds
were allowed without dissent.
And then, in short discussion In
conference between the two Houses,
the new health program was arbi-
trarily thrown out. Not word Of
explanation.
Are the people of Washington guilty
of apathy" or is it Congress which
is guilty of grave, possibly fatally
apathetic, indifference toward the real
and urgent needs of this politically
helpless community?
Are the people of Washington to
blame when the government of their
affairs and the appropriation OF their
taxes are placed exclusively with a
Congress willing to delegate unusual
authority to few OF its members
who may, in turn, be at the mercy of
the prejudices and the personal and
whimsical vagaries of one or two in
dividuals?
No wonder DIR. Rutland, coming
here from a self-governing. progress
sive community. is at first amazed
and then angered by the arbitrary
refusal of funds even to maintain the
Health Department. let alone sup
porting the enlarged needs Of pro-
gressive health program!
The people of Washington must be
quick to lend him what support they
can give. The medical society is to
be commended for its own decision
to take up the battle.