The evening times., 1899-04-20
NO NECESSITY FOR 1
new Cabinet OFFICE
Creation &sa Public Health
Secretary, Not Favored.
A Commissionership Thought to Be
Sufficient.
Prominent O@cials Opposed to the
Consolidation Of Branches of the
Public Service.

Certain medical men and medical jour-
mails have recently come forward with
proposition that a new Cabinet ofiice be
created. the purpose Of whose incumbent
shall be to carefully guard the public
health Of the nation.
1t is suggested that the new Cabinet
officer be designated as the Surgeon Gen
eral Of the United States or as the Secre-
tary of the Public Health.
While the idea has never been seriously
considered by members Of Congress, 1t
has been before that body in one form or
another for years. After each outbreak or
epidemic Of yellow fever, smallpox or chol-
era the necessity of having the health OF
the country guarded by one set Of officers.
acting under uniform laws, is actively agi-
tated. but as the epidemic dies away and
The fears Of the people are quieted the
agitation ceases and matters move on as
before.
Last year Congress considered a bill to
extend the powers Of the surgeon general
OF the Marine Hospital Corps so as to pre-
vent interference with his officials by the
officials Of any State. That something
must be done TO prevent the shotgun quar-
antine. to stop interference with interstate
commerce, and to compel the ignorant to
observe the ordinary laws OF hygiene in
cases Of epidem;cs is recognized by medi-
cal and political peT5onages alike, but the
proposal for the appointment Of a new
Cabinet officer does not meet with much
favor. At present the health OF the army
is cared for by the Surgeon General OF the
Army; that Of the navy is in charge Of the
Surgeon General of the Navy. while the
Surgeon General Of the Marine Hospital
Service has charge Of the quarantine sery-
ice, and, in limited sense. Of the health
OF the general public. In addition there is
the Bureau of Animal Industry Of the De-
partment OF Agriculture.
Congress has been considering for some
time the advisability OF enacting pure
food law. II such law should pass.
new department or bureau would be Cre-
ated. the functions of which would be TO
prevent the adulteration OF food intended
for domestic consumption as well as that
for foreign sale.
1t appears to be the wish OF those adyo-
eating the creation of the Office of Surgeon
General OF the United States to have all
the duties of all the departments or off,
GERS mentioned. except those connected
strictly with the branches of the public
service under which they naturally come,
consolidated in one department and placed
under the supervision Of a new Cabinet Of
n HuLlpSI VI
pear to be against such departure.
1T does not appeal to me- said Secre-
tary Wilson, "as | think the field is well
covered now, and / cannot see how any OF
the bureaus already organized could be
separated from the department under which
they are now conducted. II any Office
is to be created. the head OF which should
have direct charge OF the general health,
should think a commissionership would
be the proper Office. as the commissioner OF
railroads. OF labor and other bureaus"
Another member of the Cabinet said
he thought the work would scarcely be
sufficient for a Cabinet officer. with a sep
arate department Of his own. but thought
il should come under bureau with 4 COM
missioner at its head. While there may
be in other countries. he said. cabinet off,
GERS such as the minister of public edu-
cation. OF public health. etc, the tendency
in America is TO keep down the number Of
Cabinet officers as much as possible, and
place the subordinate matters in the hands
of bureaus. Il am inclined TO believe that
a commissioner Of public health would an
swer all purposes