The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-03-22
BOARD OF HEALTH
Move For a Complete Overhaul
ing of the State Health Laws.
Big DAYS Work in the HOuse.-SOme Of
the Bills That are Before the
SrlOns.

st. Paul, March 20.-A thorough
overhauling of the laws relating to
the authority and scope of boards OF
health, local and state, is prepared In
four bills introduced in the senate by
Senator Chiffon. But it is already
claimed that the reforms will not be
realized, as the bills are believed to
contain much that is Objectionable.
They have been prepared by the state
board of health and their object is to
make more effective the machinery for
the enforcement of the health laws.
The state board, by the bills, is to
be placed in closer relation with the
township and village boards A most
important link between the little
boards and the big one, as proposed
by the bills is the county boards.
These will be composed of the chair
man Of the county commissioners, the
county attorney and physician, who
will be selected as the county health
officer
1t is believed that one of the aims
of the author of the bills is to make
local boards directly responsible to
the county boards which will be I'M
der the absolute control of the state
board. This may be an erroneous as
sumption. but the members of the
Hennepin delegation will carefully
scrutinize the proposed measures to see
that they do not include provisions
which might handicap the Minneapo-
lis health department, which has be-
come known as one of the most pro-
gressive in the country.
In one bill it is provided that the
boards of health in cities and incor-
porated villages shall consist of three
members, all Of whom shall be prac-
ticing physicians, but this shall not
apply t'where special provision is
made by charter. " From the words
quoted, it might appear that cities
which have boards of health differ
emily made up, are to be exempted
from the provisions of this act. but a
MINNEAPOLIS senator makes the point
that if the Minneapolis Charter was
authorized by a special law is not any
of the charter provisions superseded
by a subsequent general law. A great
deal of light will be thrown on these
bills before they are allowed to become
laws.
All records were shattered in the
lower body this morning by the pas
sage Ol 6lSul6Su Dl1lS. IAO "O1h OlA
the calandar was resumed at the after
noon session. Just at this time the
house is very intent on enactlng
measures into law which have their
origin with the representatives. Sen
ate bills are being indifferently treated
because it has been noted that MEM
bers of the upper body are sometimes
disinclined to take up house bills when
there is any work to be done upon
their own legislation.
Among the bills passed was that by
Mr. Sweet, penalizing the solicitation
of divorce business through advertise
ments. The effect of the Sweet bill
will be to seriously curtail the prac-
tice of those attorneys who stand
charged with the responsibility for
suggesting and pushing divorces in
many cases where marital differences
have been slight or quarrels have been
minor.
As the law now stands summons
may be issued from justice courts in
Minneapolis. To render complete the
abolition of these courts, Mr.. Dobbin
has introduced a bill providing that in
the future on summons or process of
service shall be allowed. Another
bill by Mr.. Dobbin provides a perma-
nent headquarters for the Minnesota
department of the G. A. Rim the new
capitol building.
Another Hastings and Anoka hos
pital bill has made its appearance.
Mr.. Lee is its author. 1t provides for
two cottages at each of the hospitals
mentioned, the cost of construction
and equipment not to exceed $500 per
patent. Accommodation is to be fur
nished in each cottage for one hundred
patients. There is an arrangement
made also for the transfer of patients
from Fergus Falls, Rochester and st.
Peter to Anoka and Hastings.
1t is apparent that in some counties
physicians and apothecaries make use
of their privileges to violate the law
regulating the sale of liquor. Mr..
Hillmond, in bill, for which he
stands sponsor, places limit on the
amount of intoxicating liquor which
may be prescribed for medical pur-
poses. The m aximum quantity is
made two ounces to any one person
the same day.