Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1910-10-15
lUUR MOiIEl Or Oh f0i6jR DF q

MeCIure,s Magazine recently
E,pnblished an article by Irving
Fisher. professor Of political econ
omy atYale university. in regard
to the proposed new department of
health at Washington, According
to Professor Fisher, the almighty
dollar gets more attention from
congress than the life and limb of
oar people. He says in part:
"At present there is little con-
seryation of life except in the cases
sef.of animals and plants. The se
have commercial value. The
Eabsurdity of the situation, which
is notpeonfined to the national
government, is well illustrated in a
wesesn ststss The dairiea so =
rate milk into Two pngts St6e Skin
Rilk,Ato ba,nsed ias fesang tA
swines and the cream. to He used
in ma&ingsbutter. se 8
The law actually compcls the
diaries to sterilize 1g's part,
but does not compel them to ster!
ihze tie part used forhumah dom
sumption!
Commercial interests seem to
get what legislation they want.
Not only does the department of
agriculture save millions for the
farmer and the department of
commerce help the merchants: and
the department of the treasury
step into Wall street when there is
tight money market, but a large
part of congressional Legislation,
especially tariff legislation, is
framed to suit particular interests.
Bat the trouble is not simply
that the almighty dollar gets more
attention from congress than the
life and limb of people. The
shocking and outrageous fact is
that the almighty dollar has actu-
ally opposed the protection of
human health. Senator Owen in
his great speech in the senate, dur
! ing the last session of congress, on
thil$bil] for a national department
of'health pointed out that in 1901
the commercial interests of San
Francisco concealed the existence
Sfplague TO prevent their port
from being closed. Rather than
loSe a little money they were will
ing to run. the risk of plague en-
tering and spreading throughout
The country!
In vain did the representative in
Sap francisco of our little bureau
1.-THE Public Health and Marine
Hospital Service) raise it's voice in
protest. This bureau was and is
under the department of the treas
ury, the head of which naturally
has been more interested in
financial than hygienic considera-
tioas. The commercial interests,
through the secretary Of the treas
ury,, compelled the?little bureau to
suppress the facts, although such
suppression was violation of law
and of treaties with foreign
courtr les. =
In the old yellow fever days south
Eern ports concealed the existence
of the scourge lest their commerce
should be injured. When recently
aSUnited States senator showed the
prevalence of the fookworm
disease in certain coutheIn. states,
the sena ors from those states pro-
tested for fear the tourist business
might. be affected. Commercial
opposition almost r. invariably ZEN.
deavors to conceal itself, but it is
bound to show it's presence In vari-
ous ways. nt4,T it3#G ly&q o.
There is strong hope that COM
gress will act on this question at
the next session. All who appreci-
ate what national. health conserve
tion means for them personally
and for the country at large should
write. their congressman. A little
simple Legislation would result IN