Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-09-12
New Law, Passed by Thirtieth
General Assembly, Now
In Effect
HEALTH OFFICER IN CHARGE
Work of Compilation of Vital Statistics
is Taken From City Clerks Office and
Made Part Of Duties Of Health Phys
Ician Duties Are Outlined Births
Must Be Reported Promptly,

The new law, passed by the Ihlr-
tieth general assembly, regarding liie
Ming of vital statistics, to be reported
TO the state board of health, Is now III
erect. and is causing some little COM
ment locally. Physicians do not IKE
the law, especially as regards the nj
Ing of certificates of births. as 1T takes
their time and gives them no 7remun-
Grafton. The work OF the vital stat
astics, according to the provisions OF
the law, is taken from the office OF the
city clerk and placed in charge Of the
city health physician. Township
clerks are registrars for births and
deaths for the townships. including
towns or villages in their respective
townships, but in cities health ofncers
are to do the work.
This provision of the law has leu
City Clerk Derby to believe that pos
sibly he is violating the law In issuing
certificates of burial, as this also Is
among the duties of the health ofncef,
DR.. r. p. Lierle. undertakers must
cause the certificates to be filed out
with the certificate for death signed py
the attending physician at the Tune OF
death, and file them with the local reg
istrar or sub-registrar, who Will issue
burial or removal permits before any
disposition can be made of the BODY.
Physicians and midwives are compelled
to file certificates of birth within ten
days with the local registrar or sub
registrar Parents, householders, or
others should file certificates of birth
in the advent of birth without the
attendance of a physician or midwife.
Agents Of transportation companies are
not permitted to accept for shipment
corpses without registrars removal
permit and sections or superintendent
Of cemeteries are not permitted to ac-
cept bodies for interment without
registrars burial permit.
The penalty for compliance
with the provisions of the law, apply
ing to all undertakers, physicians, mid
wives local or Sub-registrars, sections,
agents of transportation companies, or
any other person violating the law, is a
fine of not less than IS, nor more than
$1OO or imprisonment not more than
sixty days.
The Iowa state board Of health has
sent out the following circular, adj
dressed to the health officer as regis
trar sefseitiesa ans. towns:
Dear Doctor-U Under Chapter 100,
laws of the Thirtieth general ASSEM-
bly,, you are the most important factor
In the collection, compilation and trans
mission to this office of the reports Of
ksrAhr a,,d daof1oS nccnrri11es within
your district. AS heath office of your
city, or town you are the local registrar
Of, it's vital statistics.
"The law requires that you appoint
4 deputy to receive certificates of
births, deaths, and burials from physi-
clans nidwives, coroners, undertakers,
etc; to record and number the same IN
the order of filing and to mail them
to the state board of health on the 9TH
day of the following month, Including
statement card showing the number VI
ratnrns. "A -
There is some question as to wheth-
er the health officer or the clerk OF an
incorporated town should act as reg
istrar After due consideration and
legal advice the state board OF health is
convinced that the evident intent OF
the legislature was, and the best IN
terests of the registration demand, that
the health officers of town, as we'll as
of cities, discharge the duties of reg
istrar for their respective jurisdictions
and the blanks and instructions will
be sent out accordingly. All banks
and instructions necessary for you to
discharge your duties promptly and
satisfactory will be furnished by the
secretary Of the state board of health.
Don't allow yourself to run out Of
these blanks. You will supply physi-
clans. n1idwives, and all other persons
designated in the law with all the
blanks to be used by them.
eAs registrar for your town or city
you are the trusted agent of the state
and of this board for the collection
and transmission to the secretary Of
this board, on the 5th day of each
month, all the births and deaths oc-
curing within your jurisdiction for
the month Immediately preceding. This
service is not asked simply as favor,
but it is imposed upon you as most
important duty.
~. F. KENNEDY, Secretary.
Attest: HENRY MATTHEY. Pres"