Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-08-12
Health Official
SaysAgency's
Morale IsBad
Charges Thwortine
OF Administration
At House Hearing

In the District Health Depart
ment and that medical officers
have thwarted the administra-
ton were aired today, before a
House District subcommittee.
The subcommittee. holding
another hearing In an investi-
cation authorized more than a
year ago, drew the accusations
from DR.. A. Harry Ostrow. chief
of the departments Bureau Of
Dental Health.
DR.. Ostrow, who has been in
the department for 20 years.
said he had not been conscious
of morale problems until the
last two or three years. He
said lack Of cooperation be-
tween some branches Of the de-
partment has caused feelings Of
uncertainty and insecurity.
Hospital Ofiicer Criticized
His complaint about other
medical officers was directed at
DR.. Joseph Fazekas. chief med
ical officer at District General
Hospital. DR.. Ostrow said that.
several years ago. he was
ordered by DR.. Daniel L. Sec
kinger, then director of the
department, and Renah CANA
lier, then a District Commits
sioner. to study the possibility
of improving dental services
at the hospital. He explained
he had no direct responsible
ity for the hospitals dental
program.
But when he attempted to
carry out the study. he said.
he got no support from DR..
Fazekas. II found some an
tagonism and was practically
ordered out Of the hospital"
DR.. Ostrow said.
At a later conference with
DR.. Seckinger to iron out the
difficulty, he said, II was gross
| ly Inundated and insulted by
DR.. Fazekas."
Chairman Cites Complaint
Chairman Mcmillan of the
full House District Committee
interrupted the testimony to
say that DR.. Seckinger had
told me many times he
couldn't get his directives car
ried out at District General
Hospital"
Another witness, William z.
Bowman, executive officer of
the Health Department, was
asked what he knew about hos
pital doctors receiving pay
from other sources, such as
medical schools, for work they
did on District time.
We've been looking into it, "
Mr.. Bowman said. I'VE want
to formalize the whole situa-
ton"
Asked If an overspending of
STA. 799 for drugs and medical
supplies in the first half of the
last fiscal year was unprece-
denied, Mr.. Bowman said funds
were apportioned incorrectly
for the year, making the deficit
appear larger than it really
was.
Headed by Davis
The special subcommittee,
which was appointed after a
House Appropriations subcom-
mittee criticized Health De-
partment operations severely
last year. is headed by Repre-
sentative Davis, Democrat of
Georgia. In appointing the
subcommittee, Chairman Nc
MILAN said he disagreed with
the Appropriations units find
ing.
The subcommittee will hold
another hearing at 10 am. to-
morrow. A staff member said
DR.. Fazekas will be called at
that time or later.
\ The subcommittee also IS
scheduled to investigate the
administration of the District
Public Works Act of 1854 and
the Revenue Act of 1856. Leon
ard o. Hilder, who conducted
todays questioning, said the
subcommittee definitely will
issue a report on the Health
Department investigation be-
fore the next session of Con-
gress. but he said he was I'M
able to say whether the report
also would deal with the other
two subjects.