Evening star., 1946-05-01


ture for this organization (HSA) as
at present constituted and function
ing" he declared.
Summarizing the comprehensive
survey of the area of six political
jurisdictions, DR.. Winslow declared
the public health program of the
area, both as regards public off,
cials and voluntary agencies, was
sound and constructive.
But he charged the hospital
picture is less satisfactory, and even
in the public health field there are
many gaps to be filled"
Where advance has Jagged. DR.
Winslow said, the blame in general
rests, mot upon individual" but on
three factors:
FIRST. the cumbrous machinery
of the District plan Of government
Second. the lack of cooperation
between hospitals and voluntary
and public agencies.
Third, the lack Of informed and
active community support"
NOLClCSS otdtuS LulVhdSALCu.
The voteless plight OF the Wash
ingtonian was strongly emphasized
by DR.. Winslow as largely respon-
sible for lacks in the District OF
Columbia health situation.
THE fact that nearly million
people inhabiting the District are
disfranchised and have no share in
their own self-government," he said
lis violation of the fundamental
principles for which we have fought
the Revolutionary and two World
Wars; and in its actual working, II
makes flexible and effective admin.
istration exceedingly difficult." He
pointed to II steps required for q
budget request from the health OH.
Ger to result in an appropriation Of
funds available, but said the Vote
less District of Columbia League OF
Women Voters insisted this process
took q steps.
"The system" he charged, has
the serious fault that the real gov.
erning bodies have no responsibility
to the people who are governed -
We believe reform in this respect
is fundamentally essential. Oul
first and most fundamental recon-.
mendation therefore is that the
strongest possible pressure -bt
brought to bear on Congress te
secure for the residents of the Dis.
trict of Columbia full power of self.
government for the District itself
and representation of the Districi
in the Congress of the United
States.''
This was greeted by an outburst
of applause.
Slum Health a Problem.
Thirty-eight specific recommenda.
tions are made in the official sur.
vey report with regard to the Dis.
trict Health Department, DR.. Wins
low said.
The outstanding health problem
of the District, he charged, wa.
''its deplorable slum area" but he
said the Bureau of Public Health
Engineering, while doing an ex.
cenent job" had neither the lega.
powers nor the personnel to cope
adequately with it,"
Declaring no radical changes were
needed in administrative machinery
of the Bureau Of. tuberculosis, DR.
Winslow mentioned no names, bul
said: "It's ideals can only be real.
lied, however, under a director o1
tuberculosis qualified to formulate
a balanced program and tempera-
mentally able to establish co-opera-
tive relationships for its execution
Such a cooperative balanced pro.
gram," he said, docs not now exist.
DR.. Winslow said that in ths
Health Department, under the lead.
ership of the present health officer
there has been notable develop.
ment," adding that in general the
department "is soundly planned ano
is rendering good service"
"It could, and should be devel.
oped," he said, Into one of the out.