Evening star., 1944-04-25
fluff
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daily trips between Washington and
Lorton.
Also made public by the Commits
sioners were replies to Mr.. Warren
signed by MIR. HUFF and the Board of
Public Welfare, answering each of
the criticisms. The city heads also
announced that Budget Officer
Walter L. Fowler, Corporation
Counsel Richmond B. Keech and
Auditor Arthur r. Pilkerton had
been asked to investigate and reply
to the Controller General.
High Lights of Warren's Letter.
High lights of Mr.. Warren's letter
to the Commissioners follow:
AS acting superintendent of penal
institutions. Mr.. Huff uses the house
of the general superintendent near
Lorton, Va. Although $500 year is
deducted from his salary for rent,
this nominal amount does
not even cover the cost of fuel
furnished free each year to heat the
residence, which Is approximately IS
tons of coal at $40 per ton" He also
has the privilege of purchasing food
and supplies from the commissary
with S per cent handling charges.
Mr.. Huff drives daily from Lorton
to his Office in the New Municipal
Building, a distance Of Is miles each
way. in a District-owned car as
signed to him while he was super
intendent of penal institutions, and
ait appears the car Is used primarily
for his personal convenience and is
in contravention Of the Appropria-
ton Act OF 1913"
Holds Two Positions.
While the matter of Mr.. HUFF fill
ing two positions is a matter for the
determination of the Commission
ers. "it does appear. that the two
positions require full time services
to be devotedsto each in order that
the nultitudinous duties of the po-
sition may be properly handled
The position of general superin-
tendent is under. the direct super
vision of the director of public well
fare, so that as long as Mr.. Huff
holds the two positions there is no
Independence of action or RESPONSE
bility as was contemplated when the
two positions were authorized"
The purchase of 334 pounds of
cured ham on July 8, 1912, SUP
posedlys for the use of the general
superintendent fMr. Huff and his
family, would appear to be subject
to question" and the price charged
him was ''too low"
In May, 1912, DR.. F. r. Klune, resi-
dent physician, made physical ex-
animation during official hours OF
various employees to be given civil
service ratings, charging 50 for each
examination. This is contrary to the
recommendations of the Penal Com
mittee in 1889, which prohibited pri-
vate practice by the resident physi-
clan, except for initial treatments ir
emergencies.
Free Laundry Service.
Unlimited free laundry service is
extended to officers and employees
who reside on the reservation, al
though the Commissioners order oil
October !, 1880, authorizes service
only to the general superintendent,
and resident superintendents of the
reformatory, workhouse, women's
division and jail.
In a memorandum to the Commits
sioners, jointly signed by Edgar Nor.
ris, chairman of the Welfare Board
and Mr.. Huff, it was conceded tina,
Mr.. Huff lives at Lorton and uses
an official car. but justified the mat.
ter by stating that Mr.. Huff was
carrying out the responsibilities oi
two offices.
1T is our opinion that the officiaI
car is properly used to convey him
from one place of business to an.
other and to permit his ready re.
sponse to call from any of the pris.
ons," the reply declared.
The memorandum agreed that the
two positions should be filled BY
separate persons, promising such a
step when "it can be done ade-
quately" 1t was claimed that per-
sons found available for the super
intendent's post up to the present
time would have been less satisfac-
tory than the present arrangement
Reply on Ham Sale.
The boards reply agreed that Mr.
Huff had purchased 334 pounds of
ham, but that "the price paid was
the price charged" Without ex-
planation, Mr.. Morris and Mr.
Huff's rely linked the gasoline
shortage With the amount of ham
left:
Hams in this quantity were pur-
chased to permit them to age. There
are now on hand 20 hams, still
aging. CThe gas situation has ma
terially reduced the opportunity to
use them"
AS for the examinations by DR.
Klune, the memorandum stated
that he had resisted making then,
until demands by personnel anc
the failure of other sources per-
ouddcO illiil w Ao oo oo q PFa<
matter The circumstances Offered
no other solution" 1t was also sale
that because of the lack of medica
service in the neighborhood he ha!
had to respond to various calls.
TT Is our opinion that DR.. Klun
should not be subject to censure TO
the current situation, or for tn
civil service examination"
In rcoo ri tn the laundry seryirc