Evening star., 1937-03-05
HEALTH CONDITION
IN D, c. ASSA|LED IN
FUNDS DEMAND.
Representative EngeI Urges
SIum Eradication as One
Major Step.
WOULD EQUIP RUTLAND
WITH ADEQUATE POWER
House District Subcommittee
Clears Decks for Study of
Jacobs Report.
BY JAMES E. CHINN.

BY JAMES E. CHINN.
Describing health conditions in
Washington as rotten" Representa-
tive Engel, Republican. of Michigan,
announced today he would seek in
creased appropriations for the Health
Department in the coming fiscal year
so it can undertake a vigorous fight
against tuberculosis and the breeding
places Of disease.
Engel. member of the House Sub
committee on Appropriations in charge
of the 1888 District supply bill, has
taken an active part in the hearings
on the measure which have just con-
cluded.
Information given the subcommittee,
together with his own personal knowl-
edge of health conditions, Engel said,
has convinced him the policy of ap-
propriating funds to combat tuber-
culosis and other serious diseases after
they have developed has been extra
VACANT. and that steps should be taken
to prevent their inception.
Urges "Ounce of Prevention
washington has an excellent health
officer in DR.. George C. Rutland"
said Engel, and I am sure if he is
given sufficient funds and an adequate
staff, he can do much to reduce the
city's high mortality rate. If that had
been done years ago, 1 am sure funds
would not have to be appropriated to
build and maintain expensive tuber-
culosis hospitals. believe in the old
adage that an ounce of prevention is
worth pound of cure
Engel was particularly critical of
slum conditions in Washington-con-
ditions, he declared. which breed dis
ease as well as crime.
Get rid of these SlumS, and give
DR.. Rutland adequate funds to fight
disease" he said, "and I am sure the
mortality rate will be reduced, and
the taxpayers of Washington in the
future will not be required to build
expensive hospitals to care for the
crippled or the victims of some serious
disease"
Praises Boys Club Work"
Engel also believes that slum dir
dance will serve automatically to re-
duce crime He said Supt of Police
Ernest w. Brown is doing remark
able" work in that connection through
the police boys clubs, and he proposed
to recommend to the subcommittee an
increase in the appropriation for eY-
tension of these clubs
"These clubs are taking the boys off
the street and leading them away from
any temptation that might carry them
on to a career of crime" he declared
That's what believe to be sincere
crime prevention work"
Engel is known to have the support
of Chairman Collins in his fight for
increased appropriations for both the
Health Department and the boys
clubs.
Except for study of the Jacobs
fiscal relations plan on which the
1888 budget is predicated, the sub
committee completed its work on the
appropriation bill late yesterday after
hearing more than 80 civic representa-
tives make pleas for varied assort-
ment Of public improvements. In ad-
dltlon, delegation representing or
ganizationS affiliated with the Council
of Social Agencies urged an increase
of at least s1.0OO,00O in the s1,465 900
emergency relief item in the 1888
budget.
Analyzes Report Monday.
The subcommittee will undertake its
analysis of the complicated three
point fiscal relations formula of j. L.
Jacobs, Chicago efficiency engineer,
Monday. Jacobs will be the first wit
ness. He will be followed by George
Lord, Detroit tax expert, who aided the
special Mapes committee of the House
make an exhaustive fiscal relations
survey more than five years ago.
Two special subcommittee of the
District Legislative Committee of the
House appointed to study various fea-
lures OF the Jacobs plan will sit with
the appropriations subcommittee dur
ing its examination of Jacobs and
Lord.
Among the witnesses who appeared
before the Appropriations Subcommit-
tee at its final hearing was Mrs. Bur-
ton K. Wheeler, wife of Senator
Wheeler, Democrat, of Montana. She
urged that funds be included in the
appropriation bill to complete the
stadium at the new Wilson Senior
High School.
C. E. McGhee, president of the City
Firefighters Association. appealed
particularly for an increase in the uni
form allowance for firemen to a min
imum of S35 a year, pointing out that
the clothing problem in the Fire De-
partment is so acute some men are
forced to wear the uniforms of fire.
men who have died. He also recon-
mended that fremen be relieved of
clerical work.
School Accommodations Asked.
Increased public school accommo-
dations and especially an addition to
the new Anacostia Junior High School,
was requested by DR.. H. K. Butler
and Vernis Absher, representing the
Southeast Washington Citizens Asso-
citation.
Mrs. Andrew Snow of the Chevy
Chase Recreational Council appealed
for an increase in the appropriation
for Fairgrounds. The Washington
Board of Trade. through Cooper B.
Rhodes and Col. L. c. Crawford,
urged increased funds for the public
schools and the Police Department to
provide additional school buildings,
more teachers and more traffic off,
GERS.
Larger appropriations for the High
way and Police Departments were re-
quested by Washington I. Cleveland
Of the District Motor Club of the
American Automobile Association.