Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-03-23
Kutz Inspects
Area Described
As Insanitary
Tour Decided On
After Charge Of
Epidemic Threat

Acting swiftly after an attack in
the House yesterday on alleged in
sanitary housing conditions in the
Washington area, COL Charles w.
kutz. Engineer Commissioner for
the District, today made a tour of
several areas in the Southeast sec
ton of the city.
Col. Kutz was accompanied by
Maj. John Blake Gordon, city san
itary engineer. The area visited
included those where outside toilets
exist.
Decisions to survey the areas fol-
lowed charge yesterday by Repre-
sentative Plumley, Republican, of
Vermont that people living in the
Metropolitan Area are threatened
with an epidemic of typhoid fever
due to negligence of responsible
officials" Speaking from the floor,
he predicted people living in this
area would die like flies' un-
less the conditions were corrected.
Funds Cut OF in Recent Years.
Before the city officials tour, Com
missioner Guy Mason and Col Kutz
indicated they do not fear any
health menace here.
Maj. Gordon has informed the
Commissioners that approximately
1000 outside toilets still remain in
the District. The majority are
located away from developed Sec
tons of the city. 1t was pointed out
At the District Building that Con-
gress had provided funds some years
ago for the elimination of this con-
dition, but in recent years funds had
been cut of.
City authorities also express doubt
that they could get required priori-
ties at this time for laying sewers.
Commenting today on the situa-
tion. Representative Plumley said:
Unless there is prompt ofncial
action to purge the epidemic breed
ing. insanitary situations in this
wartime Capital, which are a grave
menace to the Nations war drive.
an unofhcial citizens home-front
group in the Capital and nearby
residential areas will see what can
be DONE"
Action Demanded.
In the belief that the Federal
Government itself is likely to be
the worst sufferer from conditions,
he told the House yesterday that
the Public Health Service should
act Immediately and that the san
itary service of the War Depart
ment should cooperate.
Il understand that in addition
to the hundreds of thousands of
Government employees brought here
from my State and every other
State in the Union there are 10000
more scheduled to come here soon,"
Mr.. Plumley said.
I'VE don't want to have typhoid
and meningitis and other infectious
diseases get a wildfire start. An
ounce of prevention. is worth :
pound OF cure. With the acute man
power shortage. we cannot afford to
lose single life on the home front
putting it with brutal GOODNESS. We
must not have the mothers back
home alarmed for their daughters
who come here to aid in the war
effort. Something must be done
Immediately
Receives Telephone Calls.
Mr.. Plumley said that telephone
calls and mail he has received as
result of his speech in the House
yesterday convinces him that Con-
gress and the people are aroused.
He said he did not wish it to be
understood that in speaking on Dis
trict day In the House he meant
any criticism OF the District COM
mittee. L am sure they have done
all they could" he said
In the House yesterday, Mr.. Plum
ley called attention to reports of
stagnant pools and mud holes filled
with raw sewage in Arlington and
asked:
Are we trying to commit mass
murder here or suicide by sewage?"
Blames Buck Passing"
"The insanitary housing condi-
tions for Government war workers
in the Washington Metropolitan
Area are absolutely shocking if the
reports which have reached me are
reliable. and I have reason to be-
lieve they are declared Mr.. Plum
ley.
"Off7cers of the Army and Navy
have come to tell me they are more
worried about losing their wives
and children from diseases in the
Nations Capital than they are about
losing their own lives in the front
lines of battle
He blamed the reported conditions
on Indifference" and buck pass
ing" and said: =
DO we have to health break the
District Commissioners and public
health officers by rubbing their
poses in filth or u-hato"