Evening star., 1943-06-27
Health
Continued From First Page.)

first three months or this year than
during the corresponding period of
1912.
To Report to House.
"a. Misunderstanding mosquitoes
have been found in stagnant water
here. There is shortage of qui-
nine in the District.
IS. Respiratory diseases, such as
%ie influenza of the last war, are
spread by overcrowding in living
quarters.
An increase in venereal disease
rates among servicemen also was
noted by the subcommittee.
The report, signed by Chairman
DsAlesandro and the other four
members of the subcommittee
Democrats Mcmillan of South Caro-
lima and Rowan of Illinois, and Re-
publicans LeFevre of New York and
Beal of Maryland-will be pre-
sented to the House District Com
rnittee tomorrow, at meeting
called by Chairman Randolph.
1t is the outcome of an investiga-
ton ordered by Representative
Randolph after Representative
Plumley, Republican, of Vermont,
charged on the House floor March
q that District residents were
threatened with an epidemic of
typhoid fever, because of widespread
insanitary conditions here.
In outlining its findings of in
sanitary conditions, the D'Alesan-
dro committee criticized the District
Commissioners for having failed to
be sufficiently energetic or active
in the interest of the welfare of this
Capital"
Evidence before this committee"
the report said, shows that they
have not carefully prepared statistics
and facts, which were available to
them, to support their requests to
the War Production Board" for
priorities for housing construction0
Also raped, though more gently,
was DR.. George Rutland, the Dis
trict health officer, who, the sub
committee said, must display more
aggressive action in the solution of
public health problems.
Ask Health Budget Raise.
Some measure of censure must
rest upon him and the District
Commissioners for having permit
ted conditions to grow to their pres
ent extent" the subcommittee main
tained.
The report recommended that the
budget of the Health Department
be increased so that the amount
snent for health will approximate
50 to $3.50 per capita, as suggested
by the American Public Health As
sociation. This increase would give
the department larger staff, which
would be better able to cope with
health problems, it was pointed out.
Only about $1.20 per capita is now
allowed the District Health Depart
ment for public health work here,
Dr.. Rutland said last night.
An outstanding need of the
Health Department, according to
the subcommittee, is for a sanitary
engineer as assistant to the health
officer.
Need More Inspectors.
Also needed is an increased stall
of inspectors. These inspectors
should be young and vigorous
enough to perform their duties and
should be trained by the Health
Department before being sent out,
the subcommittee recommended. In
view of the manpower shortage, the
report suggested that the employ
ment of more women for inspection
Jobs be considered.
The D'Alesandro group further
proposed that all health inspectors
be uniformed and supplied with
proper credentials, "since the pub
lie has more respect and confidence
for uniformed representatives"
An enlarged force for rodent con-
troll was recommended by the COM
mittee, which said that consider
ing the overcrowded condition Of
the city, the determination of rats
is imperative to remove the poten-
tial threat of a typhus epidemic"
Attack Garbage Problem.
Lack of adequate garbage con-
tanners and indifference of resi-
dents in covering their garbage
cans is helping TO sustain large
rat population here, it was reported.
The subcommittee suggested that
citizen and civic associations help
to educate householders in the prop
er methods of garbage disposal, and
recommended that more frequent
collections be made, particularly
during the summer.
Several of the D'Alesandro Com
mittee's recommendations were for
changes in practices of the Federal
Government
All civil service applicants should
be given a thorough physical exami-
nation before they are employed, the
report declared. No X-ray examina-
tion of the lungs or blood test is now
required. Many civil-service- selected
Government employees have shown
definite SYMPTOMS of advanced stages
of tuberculosis within 80 days after
receiving their appointments, the
committee said it had learned.
Lack Medical Officers.
The committee also contended
there is grave possibility of an
epidemic in Federal dormitories in
the absence of adequate medical
supervision" 1t pointed out that
while private employers with fewer