The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-23
HErTrI.rC SPECIAL

months after his Inauguration as Governor
Of Illinois John r. Tanner appointed 4 State
Board Of Health. II was branI-ncw c!,ar
through.
Thu very mention Of -hc Tanner state
Roari OF Health brings a tinge OF rod n
tho checks Of the medical men Of Illinois
Wrat scandals have been concealed since
The Tanner board took chsrce! Thousands e
dollsr9 lave been appropriated BY the Leg
isiat:re for the use Of tiiis Tanner political
adjunct. Thousands more have been col
lected ny IL for examining persons DESTROYS
O: a license 10 practice medicine and mid
vi.Cry ia Illinois
What has become Of all the gold and ST.
yer and hank notes that have entered the
hopper OF the Illinois State Board Of
Health?
And Their there is the foe for examining
eInbalmers of the State-reEarded by most
reputable undertakers as 4 system e black
mail-what has become of all the thou
sands OF dollars this feature has poured into
the exchequer OF the State Board?
Old and New Laws Compared.
The old law authorized the state Board
TO charge s3i for examination Of candidates
for physicians licenses ard $40 for mid
wife certificates. This schedule operated for
about year and hals Of the present
boards existence. when il was superSc led
by the law of 1859, which became effective
on July of that year Under this law the
board was authorized to charge SO for eX-
animation In medicine and surgery and -
more If q certificate was issued: s. for exam
lining Il midwife and 3 more Tor a c.E;!ii-
cate; Cor all other tx limitations SlV. and s.
additional for certificates.
This law was the product OF the COM
h!ned genius represented Icy the Tanner
Board OF Health, and here IS a sample
sentence from section Z:
ANY person stall be regarded as practic-
ing medicine within the meaning OF this
act. VINO shall treat or profess TO treat. OPP
crate on or prescribe for any physical all
ment or any physical injury TO, or deFOrsn.iy
OF. another: provided. this act shall not ap-
ply to any person who ministers to or treats
the sick or suffering 81 mental or spiritual
means"
Open Door for 'Dt,iu. HcaIcrs"
This opened the door to all divine heal
ers.' clairvoyants and ct a.latan5 IN the
State. and hundreds OF these who had been
driven from the State under the Alleged
State Board have returned. Many Of them
1t Is alleged by Chicago newspapers. are
paying blood money to representatives. or
pretended representative OF the present
State Board Of Health FOR immunity.
The law also provides that "cn Septeni-
Der 81 OF each year the State Board shall
make report Of Its proceedings, showing
ell items Of receipts from all sources and
disbursements for all purposes. and all
funds IN the treasury on said date which
have been received in tie enforcement of
this act shall be paid into the State treas
ury."
Right there Is where the gazelle comes in.
No Report From Tanner.
The Illinois State Roard Of Health has
not printed a report since the Democrats
were turned out by Tanner.
Nobody except the board Itself knows
anything about the receipts or disburse-
ments The law provides for an annual
report but the last one issued was that Of
Secretary ]. W. Scott of tho AltEeld board
In 1885.
Doctor Scott and the Democrats took
charge In tho spring Of 1898, and the re-
port for 1st2 0he Fffer adnlinistration) was
issued 10y the Democrats. and thereafter
regularly appeared annual reports ernbrac-
ing AL proceedings in detail, from the
Democratic board.
The Tanner board has been In office near
ly three and one-half years. and not a
scrap OF information much desired by
the people has come 70 light. About a
year ago the press Of Chicago opened war
on the board for its sins Of omission and
commission. AMI Secretary Egan promised
q report Secretary Egan. IN an interview
November 3. 1888. said:
1T is true, We have spent O good deal
of money-more than former boards have
spent-but We think We have got value re-
ceiyed for what we have paid out. We have
rot made any financial report since we
have been In office. but we have signed
voucher for every cent that has been paid
out, The law requires an annual financial
report ours has been delayed II was
ONLY little while ago that We could get
the printers at work On it. The report Is
now in press
Not In Hands of Priuters.
This was ON November 3 of last year.
asst Thursday l called on John L. Philips
of phillips Brothers, State printers, and
asked him Il he had yet printed a report
for the State Board of Health.
ct have not" was the reply. and have
not a single page of copy OF the report Of
TIN. State Board Of Health"
..Doctor Egan stated nearly a year ago
thft his report was in the hands of the
urintera" l suggested
My attention was called to that inter
view Of Doctor Esan's." said Mr.. Phillips.
IAN ( can say Is that l have not yet re
c.iyad a page OF copy for the report Of the
state Board of Health. II will lie printed
quick enough when it Is given TO us"
Why did Doctor Egan make such a state
ment7 Why isn't the report printed? Who
IS holding It back, and what are the rea-
sons?
Tanner Beard OF Health. and maybe the
is furnished By the character
of us members.
AitxeId's Board Sonparti>an.
In the first place / desire 90 quote vol
uutary Endorsement of the board OF Cover
nor Aitgeld. II was not n political board
under AltgeId. lie appointed as many Is or
more Republicans than Democrats. When
h. called Doctor Il. Il. Brewer of Chicago 10
his office the Governor said:
doctor Brewer, how would you like TO De
on the state Board Of Health2'
why. Governor" replied Doctor Brewer,
lyon don't want me. I'm Republican.
II didn't know. DOCTOR" replied Al;Seld,
"that there was any politics in medicine"
Doctor Brewer was put on the board nc
cause he was u giant in his profession, and
regardless o: politics. So II was with Doc
TOR growers neutrality-suspicious. Z. T.. Cook
of Mendoza Doctor Sarah Hackstt Steven
.or, of Chicago. the late Doctor Il. VI. GrIf-
nm OF Springfield, Doctor julius Kohl Of
T2syI.yt,le. Doctor William Z. Quine of Chi
c.ro- ana Doctor J. \. Vincent of Spring.
t;sIa the latter a representative of the
Doctor J. ". Scott of Chicago
Ms chosen secretary. anu. after the H-~-~- :