Daily Arizona silver belt., 1909-12-08
Bureau of Public Health

fedefal law.
 Bureau of Public Health
 For very considerable period a movement has been gathering strength, especially among the members of the medical profession, in favor of con eentration of the instruments of the national government which have to do with the promotion of public health In the nature of things the medical de- partment of the army and the medical department of the navy must be kept separate. But there sceems to be no reason why all the other bureaus and offices in the general government which have to do with the public health O, subjects akin thereto, should be united into a bureau to be called the "bureau of public health.' This would neces. sitate the transfer of the marine hos pital service to such bureau. l am aware that there is wide leld in re spect to the public health committed to the states in which the federal govern ment cannot exercise jurisdiction, but we have seen in the agricultural de partment the expansion into widest use fulness of department giving atten tion to agriculture when that subject is plainly one over which the states properly exercise direct jurisdiction.
 The opportunities for useful research and spread of useful information in re- gard to the cultivation of the soil and the breeding of stock and the solution of many of the intricate problems in progressive agriculture have demon strated the wisdom of establishing that department. Similar reasons, of equal force, can be given for the establish' ment of a bureau of health that shall not only exercise the jurisdiction of the federal government respecting quaran- tine. but which shall also afford an opportunity for investigation and re. search by competent experts into ques tions of health affecting the whole cOun. try, or important sections thereof, ques- tions which in the absence of federal governmental work, are not likely to be promptly solved.
 The work of the United States civil service commission has been performed to the general satisfaction of the eX- ecutive officers with whom the commits. sion has been brought into official com munication. The volume of that work and it's variety and extent have under new laws, such as the census act and new executive orders, greatly increased. The activities of the commissioner re- quired by the statutes have reached to every portion of the public domain.
 The accommodations of the commits sion are most inadequate for it's needs. l call your attention to it's request for increase in those accommodations as will appear from the annual reports for this year.
 Recommendation have been made by my predecessors that congress appropri- ate a sufficient sum to pay the balance about 3S per cent-of the amounts due depositors in the Freedman Savings & Trust company. l renew this TecOm- mendation and advise also that proper limitation be prescribed fixing a period within which the claim may be present. ed, that assigned claims be not recOg. nized and that a limit be imposed on the amount of fees collectible for ser vices in presenting such claims.
 Emancipation Anniversary
 The year 1913 will mark the fftieth anniversary of the issuance of the emancipation proclamation granting freedom to the negroes. 1t seems fit ting that this event should be properly celebrated Already a movement has been started by prominent negroes, en- couraged yprominent white people and the press The south especially is man. ifesting it's interest in this movement.
 It is suggested that a proper form of celebration would be an exposition to show the progress the negroes have made, not only during their period of freedom. but also from the time of their coming to this country.
 1 heartily endorse this proposal and request that the executive be authorized to appoint a preliminary commission of not more than seven persons to consider carefully whether or not it is wise to hold such an exposition, and if so, to outline plan for the enterprise. l fur ther recommend that such preliminary aarua wifi hnut galary ayenpt