The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-04-24
HEALTH BOARD FEARS
FRICTION WILL
RESULT
tI-;It
Members Voice Reasons for
Deprecating the Establish
ment of a Live Stock Com
mission = They Say En-
forcement of Laws Will
90 Be More Difficult.

Members Of the state board Of health
are unanimous In their expression Of
disappointment at the passage Of the
state law which creates q state live
stock sanitary commission and re-
moves from their body all supervision
of infectious diseases among animals.
From the very introduction of the bill
it has been plainly apparent that the
members Of the state board Of health
were unfavorable TO the contemplated
division of it's work and authority, and
the creation of the new board. but it
has not been generally understood on
what grounds their objections were
based.
.si DR.. H. M. Bracken. secretary Of the
board Of health, when questioned yes
terday by e Ito b e on that sub
ject, said: ,,r
Members Disappointed. --
"The passage of that bill was dis
appointment to every member Of our
board, and they regard 1t in the light
of a great misfortune to the state.
For some years past the joint study of
infectious diseases among animals and
men has been carried on most salts
factorily in this state, and our work
and the methods by which it has been
accomplished have been looked upon
by the health departments of other
states as ideal It must be admitted
that two boards cannot be operated
as cheaply as one, and we feel that the
tendency Of the new law in operation
will be to weaken the power Of the
state In STAMPING out infectious dis
eases.
1T is to be hoped that in the organi-
cation of the new board men will be
chosen who will be unselfish in their
efforts to serve the state to the best
advantage. If such board is appoint
ed, the damage which might result
from the new system may be obviated.
or at least greatly reduced.
Hope for Harmony.
at is to be hoped that the relations
of this board with the state board of
health will be as friendly as those of
the dairy and food commission with
our board. If the work is not to be
carried on by one board, the greatest
good may be achieved by harmonious
operation of the various boards. 1t is
apparent that even at the best some
difficulties will arise from time to
time in the division of authority and
responsibility.
I'm the condition of affairs which
arises out of the adoption of this law
there is one feature which may not be
of vital interest, but is particularly
distressing to our board. That is that
we are under obligations for rent and
the salaries Of the employees of our
veterinary department until the end
of our fiscal year. July 81. although
this branch of our work is taken from
us at this time. Our appropriation
for the year is only $4,000, including
the $1,000 allowed us for vital statis-
tics. which is, of course, not involved
in this connection. and the addition to
our expenses by reason of carrying the
veterinary department to the end Of
our fiscal year will be $500 a month
for the three months, or 81 500.
The veterinary branch of the state
department of health comprises two
veterinarians. Drs. S. G. Brimhall and
J. G. Armand; one stenographer and
one inspector. beside one bacteriologist
in the laboratory of the board, an cS-
flee boy and a man IN charge of ami
mails.