The Washington times., 1938-03-11
Public Health in D. C..
and Gambling Instincts

NNURGEON GENERAL THOMAS PARRAN'S recent re-
- port to the District Commssioners-the result of
comprehensive survey of health conditions in Washington
made by 25 Public Health surgeons and physcians-was
promptly pgeonhoed by Commissioner Hazen and is al
ready gathering dust.
That report clear indictment of what is .ermed
generation of neglect Thoroughly constructive in tone
effort made to whitewash the appalling conditions
under which the local health department has been forced
to operate.
Most of the deporabe conditions, the investigators
found stemmed from overcrowding and insufficient
Mood sOO Rode sonnet" And they marked as EUR
gent" in their report recommenda-
Az U0NH'geF tions for 500 new beds for T. B. suf
ferers three new buildings at Gallinger Hospital Zone to
replace firetrap housing sick chdren and additional
personnel.
That such conditions exist in the Capital of the worlds
richest nation criminal That such report should be
pigeonholed due to ack of money paradox to make
the devil laugh.
Let us see how little Ireland handles the problem
generation ago. Dublin, the capital was called IAN eye
sore on the map of Europe Today boasts the finest
hospitals and health centers in the world.
I What caused the metamorphoss? 1t came about when
realistic Irish officials 1--WE usually think of them as i'm
practical dreamer the golden harvest that could be
xeaped out of anknds ngraned love of Lady Luck and
racing horses.
WHY cannot we be just realistic here in the Dis
ric? Each year hundreds of thousands of dollars find
way out of pockets into distant race tracks and
across the sea into the Irish treasury That huge sum
npent at local track and subject to tax would
mean more than the money required to carry out the
Parran recommendations.
Why cannot face the issue Of legalzed District
racing fairly and squarey? Why cannot we be honest
with ourselves and being blind fools? Why pussy
foot and prate loudly of false moral issues in city
where the T. B. and diphthera death rates among
The highest in the country?
Ninety out of 100 citizens recently interviewed by
nquiring Photographer enthusiastically indorsed the
idea of legalizng horse racing
We Nee~ VOS0 here. Why not have it, they all
8 W. will toll Won WHY We of the District are political
@.,tcasts and pariahs. We, the voteess wonders OF
America are voices crying in legislative Wilderness
Unless we get that vote and have the right to put
nur house in order we will have another generation
"a neglect" mrrored in the faces of our childrens
children.
s Referring again to gambling, here's what the New
FORK Daily News says today:
sOf the usual OOJecLIOnS VIII NC Ia4Seu' W
fec that gambling not good for people That is not
he question The fact is that most people like to gamble
t NAV not be good for them does in fact ruin some
eope But to the few ruins and the many does not
ruin gambling is interesting, sometimes fascinating
"This goes for sweepstake gambling as well as for
horse race betting $3.50 sweepsake ticket enables
ou to dream for six weeks of coming into $1OOOOO
- ~, ~ less taxes. That is living in
A~"eV''''V O' fools paradise doubt But
Pay Our Taxes living in a fools paradise for
while is better than living perpetualy in wise guys
ave of gloom.
sit would be hard to prove that musical comedies are
#ood for you Or night clubs Or dancing. Or movies.
roller coasters and tunnels of love at amusement parks
or prize fights But all these things are fun for those
who like them and most of like or all OF them.
ave ought to be utilizing the gambling instinct by
making it pay taxes for relief for general revenues and
for reduction of other kinds of taxes which everybody
hates to pay
Every Knock a Boost