The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-12-14
HEALTH OFFICER OR STATE
BOARDr

HEALTH OFFICER OR STATE
BOARDr
The Post wiz be greatly mistaken in Il.
estimate Of public sentiment If the action
of the gentlemen. chiefly physicians, who
in this city saturday declared for State
board Of health to take charge Of quaran-
time matters in this State. is approved BY
a majority OF the oiaizens of Texas.
The opposition of the delegation from
Beaumont. one OF the exposed points, and
one OF the communities most deeply inter-
ceted IN quarantine, is significant of wha.
may be expected from other vitality con-
ccrned localities.
The substitution or board OF five ply
scans for one to handle great pubic
emergencies would be fatal mistake, for
various reasons. All the world knows that
Irompter. less confused ard more vigorous
action. In an sour OF danger. can be looked
for from one capable man than from 4
cumbersome board, with the necessary
meetings and long discussions and red
tape.
We have had many notable Instances
during the past twelve or eighteen months
that doctors Will differ" We neard them
disputing when the State was threatened
with ain epidemic and while au efficient,
independent health officer was safely
guarding our boundary dimes! with a
board of five big doctors in supreme au-
tlrority we might expect to soc pestilencs
making It's way from point to point while
these learned men were holding intermi-
nable inquiries and discussions over the
specific character OF the microbe that was
doing the damage!
If, in a word, we want to replace SIM
pticity, efficiency and prompt acblcn IN
hines of perl, with doubt, hesitation,
learned disputation and professional
courtesy" we would take the right course
BY substituting a State health board for
State health officer.
These are plain words. but they are
truthful ones.
The experience OF Texas under It's pres
emit system has only to be compared with
the records in Louisiana and Mississippi
under State boards to prove the immeas-
urable superiority of our plan.
II the gentlemen who desire a Stats
food inspection and questions OF SANTA
dion, there might be no objection 10 the
cneation OF such body. But IN IN emer-
gency let US have the one man power--it Is
fully ms "democMhc'' as five men power.
and far more efficient.
The great objection to our present sys-
tenn lis that the State health officer has not
O wide enough authority. The independent
and veMatlous local quarahttnee, whach
craate all our trouble and annoyance
should be made subject TO the State Off
Ger. Let the legislature enlarge the State
health officers powers by providing that
no local guarantees cam be established
or continued without the consent OF this
State official, then grant him an adequa'e
sum for the Vigorous administration and
Improvement of his department, and we
will have an ideal arm for safeguarding
the States interests and the public
health.
II the legislature of Texas. in short. viii
,nly confer upon the State nealtI officer
the powers In quarantine matters asked
FOL a State board OF health. and make
such financial provisions in The premises
as are suggested for the efriclaat eq,iip-
meni of such "a board. IL will give us all
the reform, progress and protection re-
quired
Generals Miles and Scofield argued before