The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-06-24
AGAINST PUBLIC HEALTH BUREAU.
DR.. LeHardy Regards 1t a Marine
Hospital Service Measure.


Hospital Service Measure
A bill has been introduced in the House
of Representatives to establish a bureau
of public health in the treasury depart
ment of the United States, ito establish
and maintain system of quarantine and
to provide measures of security against
the introduction and spread of contagious
and epidemic diseases"
The first provision of the bill is for the
division of the country into nine sanitary
districts, to be known as the northern.
northeastern, northwestern, eastern, west
ern, southern, southeastern and central.
The southeastern district includes the
states of Georgia, Florida, South Carolina
and North Carolina.
There is to be president of the bureau
at salary of 5000 per annum. The SUI
pervising surgeon general of the United
states marine hospital service is to be the
secretary and executive officer of the bu-
reau, with additional compensa-
ton of $1,000 and all ne
cessary expenses. The surgeon general
OF the army, and one commissioner, learn
ca IN medicine and an expert sanitarian"
from each of the sanitary districts are to
dnish the make up of the board.
I The president and the commissioners
are 10 be appointed by the president, with
the advice and consent of the Senate. The
commissioners are to be allowed IS per
day and reasonable expenses" when
actually engaged in the performance of
their duties under the act
The commissioners from the northern.
northeastern and northwestern districts
are to be appointed for two years. those
from the eastern, western and southern
districts four years and those from the
southeastern, southwestern and central
districts, six years. 1t will be noticed
that the long term appointments go to the
districts Including the southern states.
Annual and other meetings of the hui
reau are provided for and the president
OF the bureau is authorized to invite con-
ferences with delegates from the boards
of health of the several states.
Section provides that It shall be unlaw-
full for any merchant ship or other vessel
from a foreign port to enter any port of
the United States except in accordance
with the provisions of this act, land with
such rules and regula tons of state and
municipal health authorities, as may be
made In pursuance of or consistent with
this act.
Section Z, s and practically gives the
board entire control of maritime and inter-
state quarantine. While II recognizes
state and munipica boards of health 1t
provides that they must comply with the
rules and regulations of the bureau and in
case of failure or refusal to do so the
President OF the United States Is given
authority to execute such measures as
he may deem best to prevent the intro
duction or spread of disease.
Provisions for bills of health are made
similar to those now in force, and also
as to the s<ationing of medical officers at
consular ports for the supervision of YES
sells bound for ports of the United States.
Section y is brief, but important and
appears to have special reference to Sa-
vannah, being as follows: THAT when
ever the proper authorities of a state shall
surrender to the United States the use of
the buildings and disinfecting apparatus
at a state quarantine station, the Secre-
tary Of the Treasury shall be authorized
TO receive them and to pay a reasonable
compensation to the state for their use
II, in his opinion, they are necessary to the
United States"
Section 20 provides for the removal Of
the seat Of government in case of emf
demic disease at the capital, and Section
p for tho removal of the supreme court In
a similar case, and Section % for the re-
moval OF district courts in case Of cpl
denies
Section 26 provides for comforting mower
TO enforce the provisions OF the act upon
local health officers and boards.
The officers provided for are six sani-
tary inspectors, at salaries not TO exceed
NSOO each per annum; a chief clerk. al
NDO; a clerk Of Glass g. at 81. 600: a clerk
OF class p at $i.i0O; four clerks. al 81 900
each; a messenger, az $500, and a watch
man, az 500 per annum.
Various penalties, varying from $500 10
5000 are provided for violations OF the
provisions OF the act. The sum OF sax. 600 h
appropriated for the purposes OF the act
DR.. LeHardy has received copy OF the
bill from Congressman Lester. DR.. Ie-
Hardy does not approve the bill. He re-
CARDS It as an attempt on the part OF tho
marine hospital service 20 gain entire con-
troll OF the health Affairs IN this country.
including especially maritime Quarantine
The surgeon general being secretary ana
executive officer Of the health bureau. Dr
LeHardy thinks the bureau would be-
merely an adjunct to the marine hospltai
service. He will write Col. Lester. rIv.
Ing his views on the bill
There Is no question about A. tfooa, |