The Minneapolis journal., 1901-03-19
FOUR OF A KIND
An Overhauling of the Health Laws
Proposed.
SCHEME FOR SYSTEM OF BOARDS
The Hennepin Delegation Is Very
Shy of the PIan-Wil Wait
for Light.

A thorough overhauling OF the laws re-
lating to the authority and scope OF
boards Of health local and state, is pre-
pared in four bills introduced in the SEN
ate this morning by Senator Chiffon. But
1t is already claimed that the reforms
will not be realized, as the bills are be-
lteved to contain much that is objection
able. 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 town
ship and village boards. A most i'm
portant link between the little boards and
the big one, as proposed by the bills Is
the county boards. These will be COM
posed of the chairman of the county COM
missioners the county attorney and a
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 under the absolute
control of the state board. This may be
an erroneous assumption, but the mem
bers of the Hennepin delegation will care
fully scruttnize the proposed measures 10
see that they do not include provisions
which might handicap the Minneapolis
health department, which has become
AAOWn GS OQS VI lu6 uuOSI pAO6AOSoAhO 49,
the country.
In one bill it is provided that the boards
of health in cities and Incorporated vii
lagos shall consist of three members, all
OF whom shall be practicing physicians,
but this shall not apply where special
provision is made by charter" From the
words quoted, it might appear that cities
which have boards Of health differently
made up, are to be exempted from the
provisions of this act, but a Minneapolis
senator makes the point that if the Min
neapoliS charter was authorized by
special law is not any of the charter pro-
visions superseded by a subsequent gen.
eral law great deal of light Will be
thrown on these bills before they are al
lowed to become laws.
G. A. r.. Headquarters Bills.
room for G. A. R. headquarters is
wanted in the new capitol and Senator
McGill has introduced a bill authorizing
the governor to select a suitable room.
This room, according to the bill, besides
being executive headquarters, may also
be used for storing it's records and relics
OF the civil war.
Senator Miller proposes that the secre
tary of state be allowed to publish 10000
copies Of the legislative manual, known
as the Blue Book. The bill was passed
under suspension of the rules.
Justice Court Records.
bill providing for the removal of the
records and documents of the justice
courts in Minneapolis to the municipal
court has been offered by Senator Nc
Gowan. The act is simply corrective, as
the law which abolished justice courts in
Minneapolis did not specify what should
be done with the records.
A duplicate Of the house bill placing the
boiler inspection on a salary basis has
been introduced by Senator McNamee.
ChiltOn's Marriage Bill.
Much to the surprise of Dr. Chiffon, his
bill prohibiting marriage by or with per-
sons afflicted with imbecility, feeble mind
edness epilepsy or insanity, was killed
Many declined to vote and the proposition
secured only 29 votes, or three less than
a majority of the senate. Mr. Chiffon
said that the vote would be reconsidered
in short time.
Drainage Bill Passes.
The bill prepared by the joint drainage
committee, appropriating $4,000 for the
drainage Of swampy and marshy lands,
was passed by the senate without debate
1t had also passed the house and needs
only the governors signature to become a
law.