Evening star., 1943-10-20

their views to Senator Holman on
September "a. in which they assert
ed the real reasons for conditions
at the hospital are inadequate ap-
preparations and shortage of avail
able employees due to the war. This
petition said in part:
II 1t were certainty that dis
closure OF the findings of the in
vestigators would alter the existing
conditions we are sure the admin
istration would have no objection
to assuming responsibility. even for
some actions over which it had no
control. However, we feel that OBJ
scuring the real reasons - made
quate appropriations and shortage
of available employees due to the
war-and approaching the matter
by attacking the administration on
the basis of improved, biased testi-
mony will serve only to increase
Gallinger's problems by creating
public prejudice against individuals
whose records of public service are
long and clean"
Statement Supports Rutland.
/ Meanwhile. Dr.. Fred r. Sanderson,
president of the District Medical So
clety. and Dr.. Henry r. Schreiber,
chairman of the society'S Executive
Board, issued the following state
ment in support Of Health Officer
Runland:
In view of the recommendation
OF the subcommittee of the District
Committee, following the investiga-
ton Of Gallinger Hospital, the Ex-
ecutive Board of the Medical Society
wishes to make its position known
| in regard to DR.. Rutland.
1T feels that DR.. Rutland has
been an outstanding health officer
and that any attempt to remove him
from office is unjustified and detri-
mental to the best interests of this
community. On the basis of his rec
ord. our board believes he is entitled
to the whole hearted support not
only Of the medical profession. but
of the people of the District of Co.
lumbia.
AS to the situation at Gallinger
Hospital. the board wishes to call
attention to the fact that this in
stltution Is stated in large part by
! physicians in the District who render
service to that institution without
compensation. Among them are the
! ablest medical practitioners in the
city. Patients at Gauinger are.
/ therefore, receiving the best medi-
cal care available in Washington.
So far as we know. no recognition
has been given to this fact by the
Investigators
Our society is deeply concerned
with maintaining the highest pos
sible standards Of medical practice
in this community, and it will be
glad at any time to lend its best
efforts to that end"
Hancock Praises Health Officer.
Representative Hancock. Republi-
, can, of New York, who has known
DR.. Rutland for many years and
was for time a working associate
with him in Syracuse. N Y, came
to his defense in speech on the
floor OF the House Yesterday
Representative Hancock called 1t
the height of folly and rank in
justice to victimize DR.. Rutland.
the extremely able health officer OF
the District, for a situation he did
not create and has struggled to
correct
Mr. Hancock said he had known
Dr.. Rutland and his work for 20
years.
Before coming to Washington he
was commissioner of health in my
home city of Syracuse. .. City
health records were vastly improved,
and mortality rates were substan-
TALLY lowered We took pride in
the fact that during his regime our
infant mortality rate was lower than
that in any comparable city.
Il haven't any doubt that many
of the criticisms leveled at CALM
ger were we'll taken. Public insti-
tutions are seldom administered as
we'll as those under private control.
II there is not a local board of
good citizens charged with the re-
Sponsibility of visitation and inspec-
ton, there ought to be. A voteless
District cannot hold its public Off
cials in strict accountability, but
enlightened public opinion is an ir-
resistible force"