Evening star., 1940-01-25
BY DON S. WARREN,


Of their reorganization proposals.,
interpreted as an indirect move for
the ousting of Health Officer George
c. Ruhland, the Commissioners to-
day prepared tos eliminate the Sec
ton from the proposed bill, it was
disclosed in reliable quarters at the
District Building.
The Commissioners, it was learned,
have directed Corporation Counsel
Elwood H. Seal to prepare a substi-
tute section designed to permit a
wider field of appointment of a
health off1cer-if and when a
vacancy occurs in the post in the
future-but not directed at DR.. Ruiz
land personally.
It was made clear the Comnis-
sioners had acted informally without
awaiting any statement which may
come from the Budget Bureau, where
their District reorganization pro-
posals were sent for review. No
reply has yet been received by the
Commissioners from the Budget Bu-
reau, it was reported.
Present Authorities Continued.
While the present proposal of the
Commissioners did not specifically
say that Dr. Rutland must be re.
placed, the public Interpretation
placed on the proposal was that its
approval by Congress would mean
the custer of DR.. Rutland within 30
days after enactment, he to be re-
placed by an officer of the United
States Public Health Service, to be
designated by the President.
The new plan being drafted today
by Mr.. Seal, under instructions in.
formally given by the Commissioners,
would provide first for the continual
ton Of the present authorities, duties
and functions of the District health
services, as provided under existing
law, and would carry proviso that
the President be authorized to desig-
nate, If and when requested by the
Commissioners, an officer of the
public health service, or from the
Army or Navy Medical Corps.
The language of the proposed sub
stitute has not been placed in final
form by Mr.. Seal, but it was stated
that the objective would be to per-
NIT in the future the designation of
a Federal medical officer to serve as
District health officer, if the Com
missioners found such an official was
the best qualified man for the job
and did not choose to name as health
officer some physician in the District
health services or in private practice.
Meets White House Views.
This was suggested at the Dis
trict Building as more or less in
line with the views expressed by
President Roosevelt at recent press
conference at the White House,
when the President denied that he
had inspired the Commissioners
move. At that time Mr.. Roosevelt
added that he felt the Commission
ers should not be restricted in any
way in selecting the health officer
for the District.
Under present circumstances,
should the Commissioners seek the
appointment of a physician in the
Federal service as District health
olllSCl, SuCll all OlllCtT WUulu lOSc
his standing in his Federal post if
he took the District job.
The substitute plan being pre-
pared by the Commissioners, it was
explained, would mean that if the
Commissioners wanted Federal Of
fetal to take the District job, he
could be so detailed by the Presi-
dent for term in District service
without losing his status in the
Federal service
The Commissioners and Mr.. Seal
made no statement regarding the
new plan, although reports of the
new move were verified in reliable
quarters. When told of the new de-
velopment, DR.. Rutland said he pre-
ferred to withhold comment. 1t had
been anticipated at the District
Building that the Commissioners
would change their original proposal
IN view of the protests voiced by
civic and professional groups, the
disavowal of sponsorship that came
(See HEALTH, Page AID