Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-01-28
TIE TRUTH or THE MATTER,

The secretary Of the state board Of
health states through the press. that
he has received the following letter
from A. +. Jonas. chief surgeon Of the
U. p. railroad; -,
II am Informed that your legislature,
now In session. has before It several
bills that aim az weakening. and possl-
bly, destroying. your health laws. Since
the Union Pacific Railroad company en-
tiers your State and has many employees
within your borders, we naturally feel
interested IN the matter OF contagious
diseases particularly IN reference TO the
prevailing epidemic OF smallpox. Is
there anything that we can do to as
sist you IN the matter Of kfalth laws2
II 80, please drop me line ~ your con-
venience. Our company has been at
considerable expense In maintaining
quarantine at various points In Wyom-
ing, 30 that we feel Intensely interest
ed"
That IL one piece Of evidence that
shows how the matter now In contro-
versy Is misrepresented by persons who
are responsible for the agitation that
has stirred up the people oil over the
State. There is no movement in Utah
to destroy the health laws" There Is
nothing In progress TO weaken the au-
thorlty OF health boards TO establish
quarantine. There Is no effort being
made 10 limit the power Of any health
board, to prevent contaglon on the
trains that enter and leave Utah. The
people here are as much interested as
any one elsewhere can be, to maintain
the public health and prevent the
spread Of disease.
But instead Of carrying out the pro-
visions Of the health laws, relating TO
the entrance and transit in the State
OF infected persons or goods, causing
them to be stopped at the State line
or removed from cars or other convey
ances, and exercising vigilance as to the
shipping or removal OF persons afflicted
with contagious disease Of any kind.
either from one building to another or
into or from the State, as positively
required by the health laws Of Utah
(see Laws Of 1899 p CD the officer re-
ferred to has gone of on tangent,
and employed his energies in prevent
ing healthy children from receiving the
education In the public schools to which
they are entitled.
The legislature has not contem-
plated any change in the laws which
viii. in the least. affect the Union Pa
olno. or any other railroad, In It's law
ful traffic or In the prevention Of the
spread OF disease. 1t has simply under
consideration a measure 10 prevent the
improper construction OF a law relating
70 the public schools. The only proyls-
lon IN II that appears TO give authority
to enforce vaccination OF children, is IN
these words. defining the authority OF
local boards Of health as 10 the public
schools.
ITO exclude from said schools any
person. including teachers, suffering
with any contagious or infectious dis
ease. whether acute or chronic, or liza.
bic TO convey such disease to those In
attendance"
There are duties imposed upon the To-
cal boards OF health as to inspection
OF school buildings, for the purpose Of
learning their hygienic conditions, 10
which few Of them seem 20 pay any at
tentlon. But on the strength Of the pro-
vlnlon we have quoted they have en-.
deavored 70 enforce vaccination upon
school children and teachers. denying
them admission TO the schools unless
they submit 10 an operation not re-
qulred by law
There IS no endeayor on the part Of
any board Of health TO compel adults
to be vacclnated There Is no law re-
curing Il. But there Is just as much
law as to that for one class Of citizens
as for the other In the same statute
which we nave cited, appears this pro-
vision.
The necessary rules and regulations
concerning cholera. smallpox, yellow
fever, diphtheria, scarlet fever typhoid
fever, whoopng cough, measles, and
other contagious and infectious dis
eases, shall Doc enforced by the local
boards OF health under the supervision
OF the health officer"
Now, II the law authorizes ths ex-
clusion Of unyacclnated children from
the schools, Il also authorizes acy
other arbitrary regulation the health
officers may impose, aud they can eN-
clude from any public gathering Of any
kind adults az we'll as children who
have not been vaccinated Indeed, u
their theory Is correct. there would be
some show OF reason In making the
rule general There IS vastly more
danger OF contagon and the spread o.
disease from the massiug Of people IN
iarge numbers in theatres. concerts. on
street cars ana other public places. than
there + IN the congreratng OF school
chndren who are healthy and have
been under inspection, IN places also
inspected as TO their hygienic condi-
lions.
The measure considered by the legis-
lature simply contcmplates the relief
~ healthy childrcn, from the embargo
placed upon them hy a strained con-
s,ructlon OF the law, such as was never
INTENDED by the lawmaking depart
49,, bodv having refused 20 mass