The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1909-03-03
FUNDS TO FIGHT
White PLAGUE
Legislature Seems Disposed to
Give Or. Dixon All Possible
Latitude in His Great Work
EARLY VOTE ON LOCAL OPTION
Republican Leaders Keep Pledge That
Measure Shall Be Given Fair Play.
Not in Quarter Century Has Legis.
Iatiya podv worksd CO Larr,o. ,iop..

Not in Quarter Century Has Legs-
lative Body Worked So Harmonious.
ly and lntelIisently.
The state of Pennsylvania is cv'
IDENTIFY determined to go the full limit
in providing DR.. Samuel G. Dixon,
State Health Commissioner, with the
necessary iinds to do battle with tho
great white plague. DR.. Dixon seems
to have demonstrated that his meth
cd of treating tuberculosis victims Is
no longer an experiment. So FAR as
his work is concerned he has, appa-
rently, produced the goods in the
vernacular of the streets. Ever since
he entered the states service he has
been giving abundantly of his wonder
ful energies and his accepted skill as
a physician for the best interests of
the state. No employe of the common
wealth has worked harder or with
more intelligence than has DR.. Dixon.
Though in receipt of only compara'
lively small salary he burns the
midnight oil" constantly and he reg
ularly brings to his work skill of tho
highest order,
The Legislature some few years ago
was slow in acceding to Or, Dixons
demands for financial support in his
work For the first three years OF his
service DR.. Dixon was actually ham
pered for funds with which to carry
out his splendid system of work. La
ter, however, he became better known,
because of his works and now the
Legislature seems wiling and anxious
that he shall be given all possible lat
itude in the important labor he has
undertaken.
Notwithstanding the gracious sup
port extended to Or, Dixon, he is not
in favor of having the hospitals OF the
state hampered to the end that his
own particular work may be extended.
He is opposed, however, to having the
general hospitals equipped so that tu'
bercular patients may be treated In
them. Such proposition does not ap'
peal to DR.. Dixon. Discussing the mat
the recently DR., Dixon said
Our department is in hearty SYM
pathy with every practical effort to re-
duce the fearful tribute which our poo-
pie are today paying to tuberculosis
We must not, however, in waginS war
against this disease do 1t at the ex-
pense of the fight we are also making
against all communicable disease,
which like typhoid fever causes SO
much death and suffering and pecu'
mary loss in Pennsylvania today, II
therefore does not seem a wise move
to let tuberculosis jeopardize In any
way the work of our general hospitals
throughout the state. Such would, |
fear, be the result of the plan that
has been proposed for such hospitals
to admit tuberculosis patients on con-
dition of state aid.
"The provision in this plan that sep
arate wards be equipped at our gen
eral hospitals for this would not work
out. for these cases can only be prop
erly handled by especially equipped
and entirely separate buildings. and
this would necessitate an enormous ap-
preparation to all hospitals for tuber
culosis buildings. Without such sepa-
ration the danger to other patients in
the hospitals would be too great TO
consider for a minute
There is an impression that the Leg
islature will do largely as Dr Dixon |
suggests. The appropriation for the
Department of Health will be liberal
and will be given with the full con
sciousness that the money voted ~ |
that particular department Will be
spent for the best interest of the state,
and that is a sufficient guarantee for
the Legislature. The appropriations
for the charities of the state--the indi'
gent insane, the feebleminded and all
the other wards for which the state
has assumed responsibility, are to be
cared for first by the Legislature.
This. IL is believed, will take most II
not all the time Of the session now
rapidly drawing to o close, so that in
what time remains between now and
the date of final adjournment, April
Is. only measures of real merit and
need will be taken up for
OF course, the anti-saloon or local
option bill will be given serious con
sideration and that without much fur
ther delay The liquor people were dis
posed to have that measure disposed OF
by this time. but the anti-saloon people
fought successfully for delay, and
while there was no particular reason
for granting them more time for prep
aration the pledge of the Republican
leaders of the state that local option
legislation should have absolutely fair
play was redeemed to the very letter
and the delay asked for by Represent
atye Fair. who has charge of the local
option measure, was granted through
the personal efforts of the Speaker Of
the House.
If the local option people are stronS
enough to pass their bill II will be
passed. for it is very evident that the
leaders in the Legislature and tho
state are not disposed to interfere in
the matter. At last accounts Repre-
sentative Fair was confident that mis-
bill would be passed finally, by the
House side at least. The liquor peo
pie on the other hand, were just as
confident that they would have enough