Evening star., 1944-01-25
1912 Guffey Letters Attacking
RuhIond Found: Hinted Probe


frankly that II something isn't done
shortly will take the case up with
Senator McCarran when he returns
to Washington. l am tired having
DR.. Ruhland, for some unknown
reason, sidetrack such capable and
competent man.
Thanking you in advance for
your attention to this matter, be-
lieve me,
Very sincerely yours,
JOSEPH F. GUFFEY."
The other letter. dated December
7, 1912, addressed to Commissioner
Young, reads:
II am enclosing herewith a copy
of letter which DR.. de Savitsch
wrote on December 3. 1912, to Dr.
George G. Rutland of the District
of Columbia Health Department
Il am forwarding this letter to
you. asking you to notice the date
that first took this matter up with
you, and then you can see what a
glorious runaround you and myself
have been given by DR.. Rutland and
what suckers he has made of us for
the past three years.
This letter demonstrates, to me at
least, the value of the written word
over the spoken word, which you
prize so highly in your J. Russell
Young School of Expression.
Il can only add that DR.. Rutland
has made a sucker of your COL
league, Commissioner Guy Mason,
and myself for only half that time,
because that is when he first took
the case up with DR.. Rutland for
me.
Il guess the only hope I can have
to get anything done in the Health
Department is to turn the matter
over to Senator McCarran or to have
a special Senate Committee appoint
ed to investigate the Health Depart
ment Of the District, because I am
convinced that DR.. Rutland is not
qualified for the position he holds
and is deliberately depriving the peo-
pie of Washington of the assistance
of an unusually competent surgeon
and physician.
1T is immaterial to me whether
you show this letter to DR.. Rutland
or not. JOSEPH F. GUFFEY. +"
Letters Correct" Senator Says.
Senator Guffey today issued a
formal statement in which he de-
clared the two letters ARE correct"
and adding they were released
from the confidential files of the
District Commission by Commits
sioner Mason"
Senator Guffey continued:
II have been identified with hos
pitals, fresh-air homes and conval-
escent homes for the past 40 years
and as member of the Board of
Directors I was always very glad to
have good people recommended to
me, as were the other members of
the board on the hospital staffs.
Il first met DR.. de Savitsch in
Vienna in 1887, where he was sent
by the Belgian-American Educa-
tional Foundation. Vienna for many
years has had a wonderful medical
reputation, and the doctors l met
there spoke in the highest terms of
the ability of Dr. de Savitsch.
Still My Doctor"
Later. when he opened his offices
for practice in Washington, l con-
suited him. He is still my doctor, as
we'll as my sisters. Neither my sis
ter nor I nave ever regretted con-
sulting him.
DIR. de Savitsch in earlier life
was a victim of tuberculosis and
has been deeply interested in that
disease and he was anxious to con-
tinue to contribute his efforts to its
eradication. His offer to serve at
Glenn Dale did not involve any
financial compensation
Il have letter now in my file
from Maj. Leo v. Schneider, for
merly head resident physician of
Glenn Dale Sanatorium. who attests
to Dr. de Savitsch's competency in
that field and he deplores that no
opportunity had been given to DR.
de Savitsch to contribute his services
as thoracic surgeon.
Prior to bringing his qualifica-
tions to the attention of the Com
missioners. had occasion to investi-
gate his educational qualifications
and his Endorsements by specialized
societies OF that field"