The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-02-10

any epidemic that might threaten TO invade
o. households, together with ample juris-
q ION in all cases Of pulmonary tuber-
culosis. diphthcria, or typhoid fever, and
discretionary powers wherever the measles,
the corchro-spinnl meningitis, or the sew
cral varieties Of infant collie are prevalent
nobody would object to the Senatc's legslat-
ing ON the subject from now to the first Of
April. If simple majority vote Of the
senate were all that was necessary 10 pre-
vent the introduction into the United States
OF contagious or infectious diseases, we
should bo among the first to urge the pas
sage OF law to that effect. But, uniortu-
natcly the science OF government has not
yet reached that perfection Congress is
powcrlcss to control the progress of tho
Angel 81 Death by legislative enactment;
and the legislator who prociaims the con-
trary is either a simploton or knave.
The fnllacy which undcrlics propositions
Of tho character of Mr.. LAMAR's and Mr..
MAqruEwss IS the old fallacy that man
with an official title and drawing a monthly
salary from the Treasury can do that which
the same man In private life cannot do 1t
sttion that the Kings tojhh was specific
for certain maladics As fast as medical
knowledge is extended and enlightened we
shall have new safeguards against pest-
lcncc. All the bills which Mr.. LAMAR and
Mr. MATTHEWS can draught, and all the
votes which the Secretary OF the Senate can
record Will not hasten the process.
Mr.. LAMARs measure will probably bo
the first To be disposed of by the Senate.
This bill seeks to create so-callod Depart
ment Of Health, TO rank with the other OK
ecutive departments of Government. There
is to he Dirrctor-Geueral of HEALTH"
appointed by the President and confirmed
by the Senate, who shall receive an annual
salary Of $500 for experimenting tho
health OF the country. lie may be sus-
pended by the President, or removed from
Office "upon hearing before tho Chief
Justice Of the United States in case
we suppose, the death rate SURPRISES a
given percentage IN any section Of the ter
ritory under his control. or If other evidence
of his incOmpctcncy Is logically presented.
The Dircctor-Gcncral of Health is to be
assisted by a full stan Of clerks. chemists,
engineers, experts, and so forth, whose COM
pensation shall not exceed that authorized
for similar officers in other departments"
Besides his regular STAFF, Mr.. LAMAR's
D!rcctOr-Gcneral of Health Is empowered
to employ persons Of proper scientific
knowledge and skill" to make special
Investigations on subjects connected with
the sanitary condition Of the country, and
10 award to them such compensation as he
deems reasonable and just" There is no
limit affixed to tho Dircctor-Gonorals au-
thority to employ and pay special investl-
gators. At any period of universal indispo-
sition, as for example just before a Prcsi-
dental election, the entire medical fratcr-
nity OF the United Statcs of that part Of
the medical profession in political sympathy
with the party in power, might be put upon
the pay roll of the Government. The salu-
tary effects OF a special investigation at cer-
tain political crises may easily be conceived
STANLEY MATTHEwss bill makes the
| Health Department bureau Of the Treas
ury, with Dircctor-Goucral and board OF
seven members. the amounts Of who's,
salaries are modestly lett in blank, to be
| determined by tho collective wisdom OF
Congress. Otherwise the two measures ar,
nearly identical.
The possibility Of another pestlcnce lik,
that which visited the South last summer It
bad enough, without ontailing upon the
country the evils of red tape, official old
fogyism and political iobbcry for which
either Of those absurd bills opens the door.