The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-15
A BUREAU OF PUBLIC HEALTH.
WITH A CABINET OFFICER AT THE
HEAD OF 1T.


ment-Marine Hospital Service Too
Small an Affair For Such an Under
taking, He Thinks-The Depart
ment should Have General Super
vision of the Public Health With
Ample Means at It's Disposal For
Medical Research.
The action of the legislature, reported
in the Atlanta dispatches in yesterdays
Morning News, memoralizing congress in
favor of a national quarantine law and
ealing upon congress to extend the au-
thority of the marine hospital service for
this purpose, does not meet with the ap-
proval of Health Officer LeHardy.
This may not be a matter of much i'm
portance to the legislature but at the
same time DR.. LeHardy has views upon
this subject that are worthy of considera.
ton. Instead Of being totally opposed to
the control of matters of health and quar-
| antine DR.. LeHardy is strongly in favor
Of such action by the general government
provided it is done upon the proper scale.
Quarantine is a very small item in the
general health said DIR. LeIIardy yester-
day. What is wanted is department
of public health, with a member of the
Presidents cabinet at it's head. Certainly
the health of 100000 people is of sufl-
cient Importance to dignity the head of
department having Supervision of it with
place in the chief council of the nation.
Such a department should have general
supervision of health matters throughout
the whole country, with full power to take
such steps as may be necessary on extra
ordinary occasions. Only the most capable
and eminent men in the profession should
be in charge of its affairs and the serv-
ice of the best medical experts should be
obtained for its work. 1t should be well
equipped with laboratories, where these
experts might experiment and work out
the causes of disease. Quarantine, IS a
means of prevention of disease, has been
tried for 300 years, and has always been
a failure. There is but one sure way to
fight disease, and that is to find the cause
of the disease and remove it. This would
be the chief work of the department of
| public health"
1.-The marine hospital service" eontin-
| ued DIR. LeHardy, lis. one of the most ex-
cellent institutions of the government and
in its own sphere has rendered excellent
service, but it is not based upon sufficient
| ly broad foundation; it has not the scope
| for it by some of its friends in this section.
| 1t should be continued for its own special
| purpose, but it is too limited in its con-
! structiOn, it has not the men nor The re-
| sources for such a work as is contemplate
! ed. What is needed is a department of
public health, controlled by LIBERAL broad
| minded men, making use of the latest
| scientific discoveries of the age and filled
! with zeal for the advancement of their pro-
fession and the welfare of the people of
! the United States"
1t was evident from the fight
on the quarantine matter in the
House that the Knowles resolution was a
| measure advocated by the interior towns
! and cities of the state for business rea-
! sons. Mr.. Knowles denied the assertion
| that there was any tendency in it toward
/ paternalism and spoke of it as a business
proposition. 1t was fight between the in
terror of the state and the coast counties.
and it does not take a very broad knowl-
edge of the geography of the state to de-
termine that the interior is in the ma
jority.
The resolution was one which Savannah
could hardly have done otherwise than op-
! pose. The experience of half a century
and more in handling guarantees puts
/ Savannah in a position to most effectually
protect itself Realizing this, Mayor Mel
drim, in opposing the resolution, took the
strong stand he did, characterizing it as a
step in the direction of paternalism. He
strongly advocated home rule and said
Savannah simply wanted to be let alone
in the matter of quarantine regulations,
and she would protect herself and pro-
tect her neighbors.
Mayor Meldrim's effort, however, was
unavailing. The interior of the state
wanted the resolution passed, and the in
terror of the state was going to have it,
Mr.. Knowles was equipped with indorse-
ments of the resolution from many state
! papers, but among them were none from
! papers published in the coast counties.
The resolution passed on majority vote.
The scene in the house during the de-
bate upon this resolution, and no doubt it
was sample of the scenes which NAV be
| witnessed daily, Savannahian
who witnessed it said yester-
day, was not one of a character
to inspire with reverence the Georgian who
gazed upon his dignified law making body.
There were plenty of empty seats, there
were members in the Hobbies, there were
members reading newspapers and paying
no attention to what was going on before
them, and there were other members who
were interested in their own private
schemes and We're discussing matters en-
tirely foreign 10 that under debate.
The buzz of conversation proceeded
| throughout the debate despite the call for
order now and then from Speaker Pro Tenn.
Boifeuillet, and few of the speakers could
be heard far beyond their desks People
who were lobbing for this or that measure
! were here, there and everywhere upon the
floor of the House, and the lobbying was
by no means confined to the Hobbies. 1t an
| peared that they were admitted in many
instances without right or reason. making
the usual courteous invitation to a seat
upon the floor an unnecessary farce Some
of the members even broke the time-hon-
cd 10 inst 49,.
of the House, while it was in session. The
whole scene seemed to be one of confu-
sion. In word it was evident that almost
every member had gone there with some
AK to grind, and after grinding it he did
not care much whether he turned the
grindstone for the other fellows ak or not.
TENEMENT IN A BLAZE.