The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-05-25
CALLING ALREADY ron REPEAL.
Tho Signing OF the Goodsell.BedelI Bill by
Governor Odell . Public Calamity.

uoSeEuOr Oucu y fuUuc NoNnhty.
To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sr: Not
in the history OF sanitary legislation Of this
or any other State has there ever been a
proceeding so pernlcious so detrimental 10
the public health. SO harmful to the philan-
thropic and hysienic endeavors Of public
spirited citizens. as the signing OF the Good
sell Bedell bill by Governor Odell.
Under the laws OF 1919. chapter 1927. cities
OF the first class were authorized to erect
sanatoriums for the treatment Of consump-
tives outside the city limits such acts and the
selection Of the site to be subject 70 the AZ
proval Of the State and local boards Of health
Private property was sufficiently protected
by the general laws. The effect Of the Good
sel-Bedell law Is to make II nereafset PRIV
tically impossible to establish such sans-
torium anywhere in the State. II any Board
OF Supervisors Of a county or a town board,
should be opposed TO the establishment Of an
institution for consumptives the mere adop
ton OF resolutions would prohibit the creation
OF such an institution.
To my personal knowledge q number Of
eminent physicians Of this State wrote to the
Governor begging him not to sign the bill.
Two important medical associations. the
New York Academy Of Medicine and the New
York State Medical Association (Fifth dis
trictj. passed resolutions requesting the
Governor. in the name OF Justice. science
and humanity. to withhold his signature
from the bill. The following Is the closing
paragraph Of one of those resolutions:
That the New York Academy Of Medicine deeply
his pnseeeney tie sV
w we the III 81
and increase the spread OF tubercalosis within
Which n an se. Of
greatest Injustice and lnhumanity.
The committee, on the Prevention Of Tubsr
appeal ed to I'll the d governor for Tie same pur
bevine. BY a lengthy. ara explicit letter;
New York ~ y. f HdSaTd NJ !. Ehier.
wrote on behalf Of the Masonic fraternity ,s
hod his ssnatsre ro ONE the e' Goodse Bede
bill, The aforementioned two medical
sentative OF modern scientific medicine and
have the public interest at heart and the
Masonic fraternity and the Charity organizs-
stand for true practical philanthropy. Why,
IN spite Of the protestati0ns e these four
1T TO rgn tHe bi Il IS dcaIt to expain
was considered hopeless disease: now.
81 to Is per cent; are cured. For the con
sumptive, poor and those in moderate circum,
TIE ,nb is the only nsys1 on
methods in their own homes. with perhaps
equal success for the poor II has been demon,
Treatment Is the only sai vat lon. In ali States
a most active propaganda for the establish,
%ens Of ssnatoriun,s + going op Ihs United
the lead in the prevention q Tuberculosis.
Of dsease AND noW this
terrible blow. which puts an end for the pres
ent to the work Of combating and Iestre aH
Stos per.en VIII
hieted from proyidihhs bone Tor the treat
am con WINGED that could the Governor see
the sufferings Of body and mind Of the THOU
State who are daily hoping and praying TO,
,hs Spsnne Of sic. sSc ns9 vito he KSuls
Institution, and most OF them VIII have to
no places to cure it. Petty local and private
viii be o
every little. town and county board which
Experience has amply demonstrated that
properly conducted sanatoriums are no
4. the but Il:
years. the mortality from Tuberculosis IN
creased since the establishment Of thess
Doubtlessly the clean and
hygienic habits OF the sanstorium inmates
have been Initiated by the villagers for their
own good and for the sanitary Improvement
of their communities.
cannot help thinking that the Governor
has signed this bill under a misapprehension
and sincerely trust that he himself VII be
In it's early repeal. The Law
as it stands is a calamity. a discredit TO our
State and detrimental TO the best interests
OF the citizens at large 1t will deprive thou
sands Of consumptives who are still IN 4. our
able state from being cured. and as the hope
less cases cannot be removed from the crowded
tenement districts where they are constant
centres of infection, it will tend to increase
the frequency Of and mortality from tubercu
losis TO most alarming degree. The SOONER
the law is repealed the more lives will b..
saved. and more homes be made happy. and
the more breadwinners given back to the
community as useful citizens.
May this appeal to the Governor and states
men at Albany not be in vain;
S. A. KNoPF. NJ. D.,
Chairman of the Committee on the Relief Of
the Sick Poor Of the Third New York State
Conference Of Charities and Correction
NEW YORK, May 23