Evening star., 1960-08-06

man, IN Dotn mind and body
AS an executive, he was ener-
getic, direct and plain-spoken
Physically. he still enjoyed a
round of golf, and often would
climb out of his official car and
walk the last mile to the Dis
trict Building.
When named Commissioner
by President Eisenhower on
February 6, 1856, Mr.. Karrick
was president of the Fidelity
Storage Co., which his father
founded in 1905. He and his
brother also had extensive real
estate holdings.
Faced Big Task
His special spehere was pub
lie health, welfare and criminal
corrections, and when he took
office April 6, 1856. he was
faced with at least one major
problem.
The Health Department was
in an uproar. sparked by a Bit
ter feud between administra-
tors and the medical staff of
District General Hospital.
With a tactful but firm hand
he brought the dissension to an
end. He frankly admitted the
faults that existed and took
steps to correct them. He fired
back just as forcefully when he
considered criticism was unde-
served.
Policy Of Frankness
Mr.. Karrick often said that
frankness was the best policy,
and he seldom lodged a ques-
ton. He once publicly labeled
a mixup in ordering supplies
for a new hospital building a
"bungle" and then proclaimed
that there still remains some
deadwood" at the hospital.
Never a flowery speaker, he
delivered a speech last October
that was enthusiastically re-
ceived by some 200 persons at
a branch library.
Observing the crowds reac-
ton, Mr.. Karrick got back on
his feet thanked the audience
and then introduced the ghost"
who had written the speech
District Librarian Harry N.
Peterson.
Mr.. Karrick's views were
firm, sometimes causing differ
ences between him and his fell
low Commissioners. In 1857,
after an exhaustive study by
a committee, he released a A.
point report calling for a
heavier emphasis on probation
and parole as a solution to the
rising costs of Imprisonment.
Mr.. Mclaughlin disagreed,
maintaining that the report
might indicate to criminals that
the District was soft" on Of
tenders.
Pushed Treatment
Under Mr.. Karrick's direc-
ton, alcoholics. and drug ad-
diets began getting special
treatment at District General
Hospital, rather than being
jailed time and again.
He was also instrumental in
establishing a program of psy-
Geological services for young
criminals at Lorton Reforma-
tory, with the aim of steering
them onto the right paths be-
fore they became hardened to
a life of crime.
Mr.. Karrick reluctantly
agreed to accept a second three
year term as Commissioner in
the spring of 1859.
He then set his cap for the
board presidency but was de-
feated, 2 to l, after Gen. A. C.
yelling, then Engineer Com
missioner, was apparently per-
suaded by the White House to
vote for Mr.. Mclaughlin.
Mr.. Karrick almost qualified
as a native Washingtonian. He
was born June 18. 1893, in Bos-
ton but moved here six years
later.
His father, James L. Karrick,
founded the storage company,
began acquiring property, and
constructed the Fidelity Stor-
age Building at 1920 U street
NV.
AS a youngster. Mr.. Karrick
attended the old Dennison
School on S street NV, and
Friends School. From there he
went to Yale, and was gradu-
ated in 1914. He returned to
the District and studied law
at George Washington Univer-
sity, where he was graduated
in 1917.
Served in France
After being turned down
once because of poor sight, he
managed to enlist in the Army,
and served In France doing
legal work with the Army's
Legal Risk Section.
He came out as a captain,
and received the Purple Heart,
but not for a wound. 1t was
one of the comparatively few
such decorations awarded with
a citation by Gen. Pershing.
With an associate. the late