Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1910-02-25
HEALTH BUREAU
STRONGLY URGED
Bill Soon to Be Introduced Is
Backed by Associations
and Physicians.
WOULD SAVE NATION BIG SUM
President Taft and Senator Aldrich
Busy with Financial Legislation
Observation-Disclosures Favors
Central Bank Scheme.

SSHtTdt Bank SCnetUcs
Observation-Disclosures is to be
asked before long to pass bill Gre
ating what shall be called National
Bureau Of Public Health. 1t is urged
that great associations and thousands
of individual physicians are anxious
the government shall take cogniZance
OF the necessity for a more adequate
system of guarding the health of the
American people. Time and again
suggestion has been made that there
should be a department of health with
a chief who would have a place in the
presidents cabinet. 1t is not likely
that congress for years to come, at
I eny rate, will sanction the creation of
such a department of government, but
1t is likely that a health bureau of
some kind before long will be estab-
lished.
1t must not be taken for granted
that Uncle Sam does not do anything
to look after the health of his nephews
and nieces. The Marine hospital serv.
ice is efficient, and It is aided in its
work by the medical corps of the army
and navy. The American Health
league is petitioning congress to es-
tablish a National bureau of health,
and it is asking the people TO back up
fits request
Plea Of Health Officers.
In communication recently put out
from its New York headquarters, Off
cials of the bureau of health. say:
Responding to general demands for
such scientific check to the prevent
able diseases and deaths that are now
900 in life and labor each year, Off
GERS of this organization are making
every effort to have a law speedily
made of their recommendation, which
was contained in the platform OF the
three leading parties in the last pres
idential campaign and which has been
advocated by leaders Of every political
faith since that time. President Taft
has Just assured representatives of
the American Medical association and
American Health league. they declare,
that he is heartily in favor OF this
plan. II the people OF every section
of the land will declare themselves on
this vital question in the next few
weeks, It is asserted Uncle Sam soon
may be persuaded to give the same at
tention to the physical welfare OF hui
man beings that he now does to that
of sheep. cattle. hens and hogs"
The friends of the plan for health
bureau under government control say
4, - II
sary to warn the people of this coun-
try "of the dangers that menace their
vitality In the most common walks OF
everyday life" Then the American
Health league says that 1t is calling
attention to drugs as well as diseases.
Declaration is made that numerous
forms of drug habits are becoming
more prevalent everywhere in the
United States than people realize. The
dangers of cocaine. morphine and OPT
um are pointed out. and 1t Is said that
vigorous efforts which are being made
to control and minimize their sale
ought to have the sanction. the back
ing and the aid Of a government bu-
reau.
While physicians are trying to get
government recognition OF the need
of federal safeguards for the health
OF the nation, sociologists are trying
to get Uncle Sam to establish what
for lack of a better name they call
Laboratory of Criminology The
subcommittee of the committee on ju.
dietary has Just reported fayorabiy a
bill which appropriated sum OF
money for the establishment OF such
q laboratory or bureau. II is not the
intention of the lawmakers. If they
pass q bill of this kind, to make the
bureau a large affair, What the
friends OF the measure want is to
have appointed three or four special.
lists in criminology who will make
a deep study of the causes Of crime
with, a view of finding out If 1t Is not
possible in some way to bring to bear
the preventive measures which are so
much better than cure measures.
Crime ! Disease.
Some people go so far as to say that
crime in many of its forms is dis
ease. A great many people admit that
crime is frequently committed by per.
sons who are the victims OF circum'
stances and who are not impelled to
crime by what may be called real
criminal motives congress shall
establish a bureau OF criminology. the
experts will study living conditions OF
the people, the effect of poverty and
liquor drinking on crime. and many
other subjects which may shed light
upon the main question. The same
argument that is used by physicians
for the establishment of such bureau
as they want is used by the friends oil
the other project, They say that II
Uncle Sam is willing to spend millions
every year through the agricultural
department to check the ravages of in
sect pests, that he ought to be willing
to spend few thousands to check the
ravages Of crime. In recent years