Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-09-11
DR. Rutland Has Made d. G.. Healthier
Retiring Health Chief
Reduces City's
Death Rate


have to pass separate examina-
lions in each State in order to
practice.
At 10, DR.. Rutland shows no
signs of wear from the series Of
crises which has marked his
career.
At least partly, the doctor has
been responsible for the crises
himself. He simply has refused to
sit still.
Shortly after he arrived here, he
said recently. it seemed to him
there were two courses OF action
open. "One could either stay out
Of trouble and neglect the job" he
said, cor one could stick to it and
keep agitating until there was
some progress"
The "agitating" began almost at
once.
DR.. Rutland had his first clash
with Congress in June, 1885, ex-
pressing public "astonishment"
over Congress action in denying
health funds while giving thou
sands of dollars for housing ami
mails in the Zoo
Criticized by Congress
The next year he was taken
severely to task by Congress for
speaking out on the city's health
needs to the public. But later
members of a committee told him
he had not been tough enough"
in his demands. so put on the
boxing gloves, they advised, land
go after the Commissioners"
In 1910 the Commissioners pro-
posed reorganization plan which
would have ousted DR.. Rutland by
requiring that his post be filled by
a United States Public Health
Service doctor. But the plan was
dropped after the purge" was
protested loudly by medical and
civic leaders.
Then in 1943 the custer of both
DR.. Rutland and Commissioner
Guy Mason was urged by members
of the Senate District Committee
in connection with deficiencies at
Gallinger Hospital. At about the
same time DR.. Rutland was in hot
water with Senator Guffey, Dem
ocrat. of Pennsylvania for refusing
to allow certain hospital privileges
to the Senator's personal doctor.
Several months ago, Dr.. Rutland
drew a storm of criticism when he
commented that the slum problem
might be attacked by screening
colored persons moving here to see
if they would become "a drug on
the market" But out of a protest
meeting with the health officer
grew a plan by Washington's Ne
gro leaders to carry to Congress
their own appeal for funds to erase
SlumS.
Now that it's about over, DR..
Rutland comedies that my not
being a politician may have been a
deficiency" Associates warned
that would be a shortcoming, he
recalled, when he first was offered
the job here.
On the matter of making known
health needs, however. Dr.. Rub
land still is definite. He frequently
has criticized District officials for
not permitting departments to in
crease budget estimates and carry
them to Congress.
I'VE might not get them" he
said, but at least it is more fair
both to Congress and the people to
be able to state fully what the
needs are"
His retirement will bring to an
end three decades of service as a
health officer. He came here from
the post of first full-time health
commissioner of Syracuse, N. Y.
and previously served in Milwau-
kee.
DR.. Rutland may stay in some
type of public health work. and
has had offers of positions with
several private agencies.
OF the last Is years:
1T has been most interesting.
Possibly" he added thoughtfully,
"even knowing the handicaps, I
would do it again."