The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1910-03-24
OF
PUBLIC HEALTH
Argument Presented in the Sen
ate for Establishment Of
Such a Bureau.
CONSERVATION OF LIFE URGED
Senator Owen Declares United States
as Commercial Nation Should Rec
oanize Need of Fighting
Preventable Disease.

Washington March 24.-In a speech
today in favor of the passage of bill
introduced by himself providing for the
establishment of a department of pub
lic health, similar to the nine other
departments of the federal govern
ment, Senator owen, of Oklahoma, de-
clared that, while he was in favor OF
the conservation of the natural re-
sources. of the nation, "the conserva-
ton of the life of our people is of far
greater Importance, and the conserva-
tlon of the vitality and efficiency OF
our people is a problem of the first
magnitude, demanding immediate in
telligent attention"
He spoke against the bureau system
of looking out for the public health,
asserting that the question was of
such great Importance that 1t could
not be handled efficiently except by
separate department with powers as
great as those now enjoyed by any OF
the other departments of the govern
ment.
1--WE have had bureaus for one hum
tered in eight departments: They
have been disconnected and without
co ordination. They ever have been
jealous of each other, the one nullify-
| ing and hampering the work of the
other. They have been without re-
sponsible head because of this subdi-
vision and because the chief of the
most important of these bureaus, the
surgeon general of the public health
and marine hospital. service, cannot
express an opinion or give information
until he has consulted the secretary of
the treasury"
The secretary of the treasury was
selected as a cabinet officer he added.
mot because of his knowledge OF the
public health but because he was an
expert on finance" This government
officer, he thought, should not direct
government activities in lighting di-
sease. He declared that in the case of
certain reports on the bubonic plague
on the Pacific coast "the bureau deal
ing with public health was easily sup
pressed by commercialism and its sup
posed interests. putting in jeopardy
the national health, the national inter-
ests and the national wealth and was
required to withhold and suppress the
truth i'm violation of section a of the
quarantine laws"
Under a subordinate bureau, coop
Grafton in the fight against disease Is
| impracticable, he declared. The bu-
reau has not sufficient dignity or pow
er in an emergency he continued. 1t
has no national standing. 1t cannot
take the initiative, but must always
stand subject to the orders of a secre-
tary too greatly influenced by mere
apparent commercial and fiscal inter-
est
The bill introduced by Senator Owen
would coordinate into one working
body all of the various health agencies
of the government. 1t proposes no
new officers, except the secretary and
his assistant, and calls for no new ap-
preparation aside from the salaries or
the secretaries. 1t will provide num-
Der of efficiencies, said Senator owen,
by preventing duplication.
A commercial nation, he said,
should not be unmindful Of the COM
mercial value of the saving of all life
and efficiency possible. which is worth
SO, 600, 900, 900 per annum. A humane
ration will not fail to act when IL is
known that we could save the lives of
600, 900 of our people annually. prevent
the sickness of 100000 of people per
annum. who now suffer from preventa-
BILE disease"
The BILL he said, was in accordance
with the earnest repeated desires of
the American Medical association,
which he declared was probably the
largest and most honorable associa-
ton of physicians and surgeons In the
whole world"
Senator owen quoted numerous sta
tistics i'm proof of the arguments which
he advanced as to the Importance of
the work that the department would be
called on to do. He expressed the
hope that action would be taken on the
matter at the present session.