Evening star., 1943-10-14
Hygiene Society
Urges Retention
0fDr. Rutland
McCurrun to Call
Early Meeting Of
Full Committee

non OF Dr. George H. Rutland As
District health officer. Dr. Rub
lands dismissal was recommended
by Senate subcommittee yesterday
alter an investigation of conditions
Rt Gallinger Hospital.
The Hygiene Society resolution
agreed with the subcommittee that
the District should be provided with
a more democratic form of govern
ment and that Civil War" build
ineS at GallinGer should be replaced
but praised Dr. Rutland as IAN
able pubic servant"
Meanwhile. Chairman McCarran
planned an early meeting of the
Senate District Committee to con-
sldor the subcommittee recon-
mcndation that DR.. Rutland, Com
missioner Guy Mason and three
Gallineer Hospital physicians. in
chding Supt. Edgar A. Bocock, be
dismissed because OF conditions at
the municipal institution.
Findings Called Proper"
After hurried study of the long
report prepared by Sena tors Bush
field. Republican, of South Dakota
and Buck, Republican. OF Delaware
and concurred in by subcommittee
Chairman Holman, Republican, of
Oregon, Senator McCarran said
their recommendations were, in his
opinion, proper to flow from their
findings of fact.
The subcommittee recommended
that Dr. Bocock, Dr. Joseph Gilbert,
head OF the psychiatric ward. and
Dr, Charles P, Cake be relieved of
their duty for their alleged failure
to correct conditions described by
witnesses at the hearings.
Senator Buck today cleared up
some confusion that had arisen over
one sentence in the recommended
tinnS of the subcommittee. After
urging that DR.. Bocock, Dr. Gilbert
and DR.. Cake be dismissed, the sub
committee had added.
We recognize, however, the re-
tentlon of these doctors to be the
direct rcspons ibility of the Superin-
tendent of Galiinger Hospital and
that he first should be held strictly
accountable for the unsatisfactory
conditions that prevail i'll their re-
spective wards.
Phra>ing Explained.
Senator Buck explained that he
wanted 10 word the report so that
the removal OF Dr. Bocock would be
recommended and that the TWO 9th
er physicians would be declared 'un-
suited for their positions He felt.
ne SalG, that Dr. BOcOck should
he held responsible for everything
that went on at GalInneer and that
il new superintendent were ap-
pointed. 1t would be up 10 the new
official to decide what further house
cleaning seemed necessary.
Senator Buck said, however, he
accepted III" version which his Two
colleagues ON the subcommit &c pre-
lcfreG and tlla'. as finally drafted
the report meant TO recommend the
dismissal O. all three doctors. but
also 10 point out that the superin-
tendPnt was primarily responsible
for conditions.
Meanwhile, a legal authority
V"Tsod in District affairs pointed out
today that only the President can
remove a District Commissioner and
that such an official is not subject to
impeachment.
Dismissal Of Dr.. Rutland and the
superintendent and TWO physicians
At the hospital is up to the Com
mlSSionerS. this lawyer also said
Should the District Committee ap-
prove tnH report Of its subcommittee
he said, it would be only a recon-
mendation which could not be en-
forced, and the result would be the
same even if Congress should ADOPT
resolution calling for the dis
miSSalS.
Recent Case Cited.
The LAWYER pointed to the recent
1mpaSSe between President RooSe-
Welt and Congress, which resulted
from recommendation Of the Dies
Committee that three Federal Off
Gals be fired fer alleged Subvcrsive
activities. In this case. Congress re-
sorted to Withholding appropria tons
Tor salaries Of the three officials,
finally amending this bv holding
that they could not be paid beyond
a certain date. unless the President
reappointed them and the Senate
confirmed the appointments.
Chairman McCarran said today.
regarding the subcommittee rec
ommendation that Commissioner
Mason be dismissed Immediately:
The attituoe Of Commissioner
Mason before the subcommittee was
unfortunate and poorly advised. if
not reprehenSible. in his refusal to
be frank and candid about condi-
tons in Gallinger Hospital. not
NithStanding the fact that the Cen
eral Accounting Office had laid be-
fore the Commissioner in July of
this year a detailed report which
My. Mason said disturbed him"
Action Is Urged
Senator MCCarran added:
The institution .iGOWn as Calm
ecr Hospital, was and is, according
to Mr.. Mason. one Of his special as
siqnmcnts of duty on the commits
sion of which he is a member. The
unanimous findings Of the subc0m
mitrcc must of necessity arrest the
2-.cntion of CONGRESS and the entire
municipality Of the District Of Co.
lunbia. No institution in the Ma
ti0nal Capital, and especially non,
of the nature Of Gallinoer, should
ho 50 conducted as TO warrant the
fTciincs of the unanimous subcom-
mittco.
Where findings Of this emphatic
N9tnro 9rc made by q dili2ent, p2ins.
t9ling and fearless group Of men
re"enrtory action should follow
Public money should not be cX.
pended in such way as to brin,
atoUt conditions such as those founc
hy the subcommittee.
The poor and unfortunate VIII,
a"e Of necessity tHe patients Of Gal.
linger Hospital. deserve better re.
suits and better treatment at 80
hands of those who spend publ,
money and supervise institutions o
charity. There may be excuse fol
l>,,t 81