Evening star., 1943-03-24
Rutland Denies
P|um|ey Charge
OF Typhoid Peril
Health Officer Coils
CopitoI 'Cleunest
City in Nation

Washington is the cleanest city in
the United States and should not
become alarmed over charges by
Representative Plumley, Repub-
lican, OF Vermont that it faces
typhoid epidemic from insanitary
housing conditions, a House Appro-
priations subcommittee was told to-
Gay by DR.. George c. Ruhland,
District health officer,
DR.. Rutland was among the Dis
,trict officials called before the sub
committee in an investigation of
charges which Representative Plum
ley made Monday on the House
floor. The other officials were the
three Commissioner and J. Blake
Gordon, Sanitary engineer,
Seepage from the few remaining
old-fashioned "box' outhouseS which
have no pits, the health officer de-
clared, would not create a typhoid
epidemic-"not even the slightest
trace of one"
DR., Rutland made the statement
in reply to a direct question by Rep
resentative Stefan, Republican, Of
Nebraska.
A second congressional inveStiga-
ton of the charges of Representa-
tive Plumley will be started tomor-
row by the Public Health Subcom-
mittee of the House District Com
mittee.
The inquiry was suggested late
today by Chairman Randolph of
the District Committee. Imme-
diately the subcommittee chairman,
Representative D'Alesandro, Demo-
crat, of Maryland, decided to begin
the inquiry at II am. tomorrow
and called as the first witnesses the
Commissioners DR.. Rutland, Sani-
tary Engineer Gordon and William
A. Xanten. supervisor of city refuse.
Representative Plumley also has
been invited to testify.
Inquiry Is Brief.
The Appropriations Subcommit-
tee. headed by Representative
Mahon, Democrat, Of Texas. inter-
rupted it's review Of the 1914 District
budget to inquire into the Plumley
charges.
The investigation was short lived,
however. After taking the testimony
of DR.. Rutland, Engineer Commits
/ sioner Kutz and Mr.. Gordon, the
| subcommittee resumed its regular
/ budget proceedings. Two members
Chairman Mahon and Representa-
/ tive Stefan-expressed the opinion
that District officials had done a
good job" and had handled the
| public health problem ''as we'll as we
would have expected it to be ham
died.
The Commissioners told the sub
committee, it was learned, they had
already taken steps to eliminate one
Of the contributing causes of the
reported insanitary conditions-the
/ fashioned clubhouse, from which
| seepage is possible. Corporation
| Counsel Richmond B. Keech was
| instructed today. the Commissioners
/ said, to draft new sanitary regula-
| ton requiring the use of modern
| equipment to prevent seepage.
Reduction Since 1912.
Sanitary Engineer Gordon dis
closed today that on January / out
/ houses were being maintained at 962
/ premises throughout the District,
/ and pointed out this represented a
reduction of 2,216 since January.
1912, when the peak total was 3,178.
Most of those now in use, he said,
are in the far Northeast and South
east sections
Mr. Gordon explained he and
| Engineer Commissioner KutZ in
/ spected two houses in the $500 block
of Alabama avenue Sc. from which
it was reported seepage had over
/ flowed on the sidewalk and said;
1T is my opinion that the seepage
running across the sidewalk in this
/ vicinity was natural seepage from
high ground adjacent to the side
/ walk"
/ To provide a sewer line to serve
these two houses, ne said. would
( necessitate the construction of ap-
/ proXimately 425 linear feet Of To-
/ inch pipe and two manholes at an
I estimated rOct NJ e9 5On