Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-07-22
Health Department Testimony
Witnesses Present Reaction
To PoIicy-Mokine Board Idea

Following is the list of wit
nesses, with the gist of their
testimony, at the Commissioners
hearing yesterday on whether a
policy making board should
head the District Health De-
partment:
DIR. Daniel L. Seckinger, Dis
trict public health director
Boards of Health have failed to
meet the community's health
needs for municipal health de-
partment services. There
comes a time when too much
governmental control by COM
mittees may be very time con-
Stunning to the orderly function
ing of services"
DIR. Philip A. E. Stebbing,
superintendent of Gallinger
Municipal Hospital-"The job of
directing public health should be
filled by one trained in public
health work: 1t is a speciality as
much as surgery and internal
medicine. A health board of
the composition proposed would
not be qualified to administer
health matters"
DR.. Joseph F. FazekaS, Gal
linger chief of staff-"It should
be obvious that the committee
would make every effort to in
sure that the interests of private
institutions were well repre-
sented. Health standards
would deteriorate under such a
group"
DIR. william P. Herbst, for the
Executive Committee of the Dis
trict Survey of Medical Care for
the Indigent-Since a non-rep-
resentative form of government
exists, to have major depart
ment without a board results
in even less representation.
Advisory councils too often are
ineffective, tend to become rub
Der stamps ..
William H. Cary, director of
the Bureau of Public Health
Engineering-Public health is a
science, not acquired by basic
training in other fields. In pio-
neer public health. board was
a logical solution. No one knew
the answer. to peoples needs
when disease threatened better
than the elders in every day life.
Today. problems and solutions
are different. Public health is
recognized science, the admins
tration of which should be left
in qualified hands.
Mrs. Ernest w. Howard, repre-
senting the Federation of Citi-
zens' Associations and the Dis
trict Federation of Women'S
Clubs.-The citizens federation
is definitely opposed to a health
board for the District. The
women'S clubs federation also OPP
pose a health board. A simple
solution would be to put doc
tor on the Citizens Advisory
Council.
DIR. Herbert Ramsay, presi-
dent of District Medical Society
"A health board is in the pub
lie interest, not in the interests
of doctors. Furthermore, in the
light of my personal experience
and past history, I would under
no circumstances waste my time
by serving on an advisory coun-
Gil.
Robert J. Wilson, executive
vice president. Washington Res
taurant Association-We see no
need for a new board.
L. M. Fisher, a sanitary engi-
neer of Garrett Park. Md
favor the establishment of an
advisory health council rather
than an administrative board OF
health.
Mrs. Arthur C. Wagner of the
Capitol Hill Southeast Citizens
Association-The present trend
away from autonomous boards,
made up of well-meaning, part
time amateurs on whom no re-
sponsibility can be pinned. is
sound.
Charles w. BIiven, president
of District Pharmaceutical Board
Took no sides in the present
controversy but complained of
the fact that the proposed health
advisory council fails to include
a pharmacist.
DIR. Edward H. Steinberg, Dis
trict Dental Society - FavorS
health board, but willing to be
represented on an advisory coun-
Gil.
DR.. Reginald G. James, Far
Northeast Citizens Council-"A
health board would disrupt the
city's health program"
The Rev. Andrew Fowler. di-
rector of Washington Bureau,
National Fraternal Council of
Churches-"A board could make
a great contribution to govern
ment."
DR.. Thomas Mcpherson Brown,
head of the department of medi-
cine Of George Washington UNI