Evening star., 1937-11-28
BY DON S. WARREN,

BY DON S. WARREN.
Seeking to halt the controversy over
his announced policy Of operating the
District tuberculosis Sanatoria at
Glenn Dale, Md, as one institution,
Health Officer, George c. Rutland has
temporarily revoked his decision to
house adult patients in the Childrens
Building, The Star learned yesterday.
The policy of considering the chill
dren's and the adults buildings as one
institution, it was revealed, will be
submitted this week by DR.. Rutland to
the tuberculosis Advisory Board of the
Health Department for review. The
last OF the adult patients yesterday
were being moved from the childrens
building back to the adults. where
II beds are available.
The Health Department. meanwhile,
faced the election of its permit office
from the building at 90l Eighth street
NV. under ruling by the Controller
General that Congress had made no
specific appropriation to cover rent for
the quarters, it was disclosed.
An immediate search was started
under the direction of the Commission.
ers to find a new home for the bureau,
which handles all appropriations for
disqualification of charity cases-at the
Glenn Dale Sanatoria, at Gallinger Mu-
nlclpal Hospital and at other hospitals
with which the District has contrac-
tual relations. The Controller General,
1t was said. may be asked to reconsider
his legal ruling.
Move to End Controversy.
At the same time the Commission.
ers moved to end still another con-
troversy which Is holding up a major
element Of the Health Department
program-the construction of the first
OF the new health centers or poly
clinics. Health. school and engineer
officials are to be called into confer
ence this week to determine finally
II the starting of construction Of this
building, at First and L streets NV.
Will mean the election of 300 colored
school children, who are pupils of the
old Jones Elementary School, which
stands on the polyclinic site. Con-
struction of the polyclinic was held
up October IS, when school officials
insisted there was no other place
available for the 800 pupils.
Protests developed over the policy
OF DR.. Rutland for ending the seq
regation of child and adult patients
at Glenn Dale shortly after his plan
was announced. His decision, he
explained. was based on an endeayor
to make the fullest possible use of the
two buildings. He explained yesterday
also that his advisers had agreed
there was no danger to the children
from housing some adult patients tn
the same building.
However, DR.. j. A. Myers, president
OF the National tuberculosis Associa-
ton, said his organization always
advised that children afflicted with
non-infectious or childhood tuber-
culosis be hospitalized in buildings
entirely separate from quarters for
adult patients. The point was made
by objectors that adult patients for
the most part suffered from the pull
monary type OF the disease, as distin-
guished from childhood cases.
Allen Orders Study.
Commissioner George E. Allen. who
has supervision over health and well
fare activities, then directed that a
study of the legality of the operation
OF the two buildings as one institu-
ton be made by Corporation Counsel
Elwood H. Seal. This has not been
completed.
DR.. Rutland explained that one Of
his reasons for the merged type Of
operation was the necessary provision
OF additional nurses for the sanatoria.
Congress last session provided for
employment of IL additional nurses.
During the last week the Civil Service
Commission certified so nurses eligible
for such appointment The II will be
appointed as fast as the legal require.
ments can be met. Dr. Rutland said.
Meanwhile, the supervising ply.
sicians at the sanatoria acted promptly
to restore the institutions to their
former mode of operation. Last week
there were II adults quartered in
the childrens buildings A check yes
terday showed all but four of these
fSAe HEATTH pace