The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-04-30

lature by the Hon s. Il Kerr on Tho
10th day OF March last and referred NV
the body on account Of some penalties i'm
rosed for violation OF it's text. 10 iudi
'lAlY committee No e. where It has lain
Wilnoni report ever riuce. II rs to be re-
sIellea thar this bin could no have been
eommitted 10 tho senate's conmitlee on
public health whose onaliGcation. ~
APPRECIATE SIS importance are prcsuma-
Wy TAR greater than those or Inc com
Hltlee to which II was referred
hepeated efforts have been mada h,
Fpui committee to secure report from,
lug leRisiatiNe committee on this ann
lgt n1t without avail Legislative in
wHFrEhce to Ibis important subject is no
' Sh isHiaFhhple Than Il is roprnAenstble
nc i'Nes and the property Of the besf
men III rho state are placed in.jeopardy
" II the health and comfort of those
maj are hoArat and dearest 10 every
lu1en ot The commonwealth rs mperiled
ana rs u too mach to say that the nar-
. whose au'y ~ Is TO provide laws for
me protection az life and propertv mako
themselves the acGomnlices OF homicide
Nv every preyentaho death that or. lug
iroW such neglect?
~ view OF all circumstances your COM
WltLee would recommend the adoptfon nv
mo a '0ciauon a. a memorial 10 tho
E'FeiHor ana members of the legislature
lAtl&lig their attention to the necessity
Tor speedy action IN the premises ,n-
committee submit herewith an ou,lino NJ,
sucn memorial and feel assured mat
memhers OF the association viii mike
sueh use of Il aB will result in the urn,t
est benefit to the State.
III all tho individual members OF the
association should append their names
70 memorial OF this association and
let II go at once to the governor and ~
members Of tho legislature. il woni;
nronahlv be the most effective methaA we
could ADOPT TO secure results"
y MtyI Harrison then read the following
memorial; ITO His Excellency the ca.
aflpor and to the Honorable the me,bers
Ioi The Twenty-slxth Legislature:
Your memorlalsts respectfully A,
licit your attention to tho apparent and
paipable necessity for the revision OF orr
STATE health laws, The preservation Of
life ana the protection OF property were
unquesiionably the primary incentives to
the formation OF organized government.
The progress OF civilization has introduced
new elements, imposing additional ohliga-
tions upon the statesmen OF the Nation
ihal these new elements ana addition
az obligations have taken precedence OF
the primary obligations for which govern :
ments were formed seems TO be a self-eyi-
dent proposition. Yet the state spends
annually half million dollars (more or
less) in the prosecution OF criminals. os.
iensbly for the protection OF human lie.
The utility OF that expenditure is made
Obvious 10y reference TO the records OF our
courts thai We can only wonder Hut this
is foreign 10 the purpose % this paper.
The constitution of the State provided
for the creation OF State board Of
health and vital statistics section "a of ar
iiele 10 OF the constitution OF 1870, For-
mer legislatures have ignored this pro.
vision OF tho States organic law. sub.
shutting statute for the appointment.
merely, OF state health officer This
state health officer is charged with The
duty OF administering quarantine against
Imported diseases, and tho exercise OF A
general supervision over the health OF
me state, especially, Il Is made his duty
10 mako all necessary Investigations and
inquiry as TO the adulteration OF food
and drugs
That tho different incumhenis Of this
office have Invariably restricted their
duties TO an effort IN protect the State
against the introduction OF yellow fever
VIII. we think be fully shown by REFER
enee TO the records OF that office, Other
lnfeetious and CONTAGIOUS diseases have
been almost, u not entirely. ignored.-as
mas also that part OF the statute re
ferrlng TO the examination OF foods snd
medicines while Il Is notorious that coun-
teueits of both particularly lard and
putter ioodsl and large numbers OF medi.
elnes are constantly on the markets Of
inc stats 10 the great detriment OF the