Evening star., 1948-12-05
Order
ST. Marys Drive on
|nsanitary Conditions
By J. L. Michael
Special Correspondent Of Tn. stor

Special Correspondent OF The Stor
LEONARDTOWN, Md, Dec. A.
The St. Marys County Commission.
ers today ordered the county health
officer to clean up insanitary condi.
tions after DR.. Robert H. Riley
chairman of the State Health Board
denied charges that the conditions
was caused by policies of his de-
partment.
A resolution adopted by the county
commissioners at a special meeting
directed" DR.. George E. Waters
the county's deputy State health
officer, to Immediately effect cor
rection of the present more fragrant
violations that tend to impair the
health of the several sections"
The commissioners said in the
resolution that there is on the
statute books sufficient authority fol
the enforcement of necessary meas
ures to insure the safety of the sew
eral communities"
Special Session Called.
Authorities said the special ses-
sion was called at the request OF
the Leonardtown Lions Club. The
club had unanimously adopted a
report which placed a maj ior share
of responsibility for insanitary con-
ditiof,s OF, the State Health Depart
merit. ,.'-,
A resolution adopted by the club
and presented to the. commissioners
today declared that this report
shows that the insanitary condi-
tions existing reduce this county
to rubbage heap, disease-breed-
ing locality, and potential area for
the beginning of major epidemic" "
The situation came to light last
week when DR.. Waters issued a
statement labelling st. Marys County
as "one of the worst in Maryland
from a sanitary standpoint"
He said enforcement Of present
health regulations had virtually
ceased because the general law of
the State covering such matters Is
too vague"
"a specific code is needed" he
declared, ito cover the many phases
of this work"
Opposed BY Lions Club
His request for a sanitary code
brought opposition from the Lions
Club, which contended the reason
for the insanitary conditions was
that "the State Health Department
has been and is opposed to prosescu-
ton of health law violations under
the general law"
Called at his Baltimore Office, Dr.
Riley denied the charge.
The Lions Club is mistaken in it's
belief that the State Health De-
partment is opposed to prosecuting
violators of health rules under the
general law of the State" he de-
clared.
"A specific code of regulation is
not necessary" he added. I'VE think
there is plenty of authority under
existing statutes-what is needed is
enforcement of the laws We have" ."
Meanwhile, State Senator Paul J.
Bailey and Capt. Thomas A. Turner.
commanding officer of the Patuxent
River Naval Air Test Center, ex-
pressed their approval of DR..
Waters campaign for improved
sanitary conditions.
Senator Bailey said he believed
health regulations could be i'm
proved all over Maryland and that
he strongly favored correctional
on Statewide basis.
Back of Housing Cited.
However" he declared, IF it is
found necessary to pass measures in
the legislature applicable solely to
st. Marys County, will be glad to
introduce such measures or will sup
port them if introduced by either
of the county's two delegates"
Capt. Turner deplored the lack of
adequate housing facilities near the
Naval base.
Il have for long time" he said,
been trying to help promote ci-
villain housing project near the base
on Government land which the